Firebrick

[RavensRoost]

Nephews found a free wood heating stove for new hunting cabin, free is good has been our motto. Unfortunately, several of the firebricks are cracked and/or broken. The size it uses is 12" x 6" x 1" -- 4 across the back and 2 on each side -- held in place by steel racks.

I have not been able to find replacement firebricks in this size, most only carry the 9" x 4.5" x 1.25" "standard" size. Hesitant to burn it without replacing the firebricks, at least the broken ones, beginning to see why the stove was free.

Any suggestions on where to get this weird size firebrick?

 

[jcims]

May try asking over at hearth.com. It's like TBN for wood stoves (and equally addicting).

 

[Western]

I have cut some to size for a shop stove once. Not that hard if you have the right blade.

I had a buddy use sheets of asbestos looking stuff about 1" thick he got from a fireplace store.

Personally I would cut it down to fit if you can, may take a few more pieces but not to bad.

 

[RavensRoost]

I have cut some to size for a shop stove once. Not that hard if you have the right blade.

I had a buddy use sheets of asbestos looking stuff about 1" thick he got from a fireplace store.

Personally I would cut it down to fit if you can, may take a few more pieces but not to bad.

If I could find a 1" slab, I would indeed cut my own, still looking. Phoenix is not a wood stove mecca. ;-)

 

[/pine]

You might consider getting some fireclay (and portland) and casting your own bricks...

 

[polo1665]

Is it the hard or soft firebrick you are looking for? I think most larger concrete product (block/brick) suppliers would carry the hard type firebrick and may be able to tell you where you can get custom shapes if you are not willing to cut your own. The soft firebrick can be cut with a wood saw.
Another idea would be to contact an area foundry and ask them who does their masonry work or where they get their fire bricks.
Sounds like a pain, but may be worth a few phone calls.

Mark

 

[Chuck52]

Could you fix the existing bricks with stove cement? I think that's what it's called...a cement mix made for repairing stoves and such. If the cracks aren't too bad it might work. On the advice from a TBN member several years ago, I used it to make a temporary fix to an exhaust manifold. It lasted about as long as the manifold had before it cracked.

Chuck

 

[Western]

If I could find a 1" slab, I would indeed cut my own, still looking. Phoenix is not a wood stove mecca. ;-)

I bought the brick and cut them in half length wise, to get 1.25". Used a masonry blade and a little water to keep the dust down, then cut to size. You may be able to find the hearth brick at Lowes or HD not sure..

Might try renovators online site too.

 

[magicheater]

The soft firebrick can be cut with a wood saw.Mark

Firebrick is extremely abrasive, would like to see this in action. Saw would be useless afterward unless this is some sort of brick I am not familiar with.

 

[nue2farm]

Try and locate a boiler repair business. They have several types od firebrick. They also have castable mix to make your own. They usuall will ship to most anywhere. Just a thought.... :thumbsup:

 

[polo1665]

Firebrick is extremely abrasive, would like to see this in action. Saw would be useless afterward unless this is some sort of brick I am not familiar with.

Soft firebrick is simply that, soft (porous). It can be cut with a wood saw, hacksaw, coping saw, even a thin file if you see fit. I have seen many ovens and preheats that utilize soft fire brick in their construction.
Hard firebrick is mainly utilized in hearth construction and has better wear characteristics than soft, but soft firebrick does have adequate insulating capabilities and would be perfectly acceptable for use in the walls of an oven, preheat, or fireplace.

K-23 Soft Insulating Fire Brick (IFB)

So yes, you must not be familiar with this type of brick

Mark

 

[RavensRoost]

I have found a place that will cast them, but pretty pricy at about $20 per brick including shipping. This is my Plan B, still looking for a low cost solution.

The bricks that are in there are "hard" and the broken ones are truly broken so patching with refractory cement is not going to be an option.

Looking online, when casting your own it looks like you have to fire them in a kiln for a couple of days, so that option is out.

I have also read online about cutting the soft-type firebricks with a carpenters saw, would not have guessed that.