Re: Fire Bricks
and regular masoary bricks don't pose the slight radiation hazard that most refractory bricks do- they can apparently contain thorium. See: <http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/9705/msg5.html> and <http://www.epa.gov/radiation/radionuclides/thorium.htm> -Bede > From: Harry Wade <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Date: Mon, 08 Dec 2003 15:21:55 -0600 > To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: Fire Bricks > > At 07:34 AM 12/9/03 +1100, you wrote: >>> firebrick > > There are two general types: > Masonry firebrick - heavy (dense), yellow to white, always made of clay > Refractory Liner - lighter, cream to white, not always made of clay > For our purposes both will do essentially the same thing but my own > preference for a hearth would be for the masonry firebrick because it will > stand up to having stuff laid and flopped around upon it much better than > refractory and most people can get it cheaply (ie 92 cents) at the local > brickyard. > In my hearth I use some old clay masonry firebrick which was salvaged out > of a 70 year old boiler firebox and in that case would have been in > "refractory" use, so there appears to be no hard and fast rule. > > Regards, > Harry > >
RE: Fire Bricks
Hi, The bricks that I purchased ($3.25 US ea) were called "high sand content" fire brick. I purchased them from one of our local stove and fireplace supply shops. They are like the refractory bricks that Harry described, cream colored and light weight. I suspect they are used to line modern fireplaces as they won't be much good structurally. These are what I could get my hands on easily. They are also flat as compared to building bricks (9 x 4.5 x 5). So a table layout uses relatively few bricks and light enough to be portable. I purchased 12 bricks for my brazing table project. I started the welding of the steel frame yesterday. It will be nice to have a fireproof work surface that can be moved and stored out of the way when not needed. I really liked Steve's lazy Suzan idea and am thinking of how I can incorporate it into my table. Going to look for lazy Suzan bearings during my next trip to H*me Dep*t. I could post pics of the table, when I am done, If anyone is interested. Ken Lafayette, CO
Re: Fire Bricks
At 07:34 AM 12/9/03 +1100, you wrote: >>firebrick There are two general types: Masonry firebrick - heavy (dense), yellow to white, always made of clay Refractory Liner - lighter, cream to white, not always made of clay For our purposes both will do essentially the same thing but my own preference for a hearth would be for the masonry firebrick because it will stand up to having stuff laid and flopped around upon it much better than refractory and most people can get it cheaply (ie 92 cents) at the local brickyard. In my hearth I use some old clay masonry firebrick which was salvaged out of a 70 year old boiler firebox and in that case would have been in "refractory" use, so there appears to be no hard and fast rule. Regards, Harry
Re: Fire Bricks
Me thinks you are right, and they are very effective. Tim > Were they refractory bricks (not fire bricks)? I bought some very > light-weight tan colored refractory bricks a few years back for ~$6.00 (US) > ea. They are extremely brittle but very effective. It is my understanding > that the refractory bricks reflect more of the heat to the workpiece. > > Mike > > > Tim de Haan > Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2003 12:02 AM > To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam > Subject: Re: Fire Bricks > > > M, 92 cents I just bought 10 from the local fireplace > supplier at Au$ 9.00 each. > > > > >
Re: Fire Bricks
I would echo Mike on this...fire bricks are heavy like clay bricks and relatively cheap. Refractory are light and expensive. Both can be tan in color, from what I have seen. Jon - Original Message - From: "Michael Martin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Multiple recipients of sslivesteam" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, December 08, 2003 9:13 AM Subject: RE: Fire Bricks > Were they refractory bricks (not fire bricks)? I bought some very > light-weight tan colored refractory bricks a few years back for ~$6.00 (US) > ea. They are extremely brittle but very effective. It is my understanding > that the refractory bricks reflect more of the heat to the workpiece. > > Mike > > > Tim de Haan > Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2003 12:02 AM > To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam > Subject: Re: Fire Bricks > > > M, 92 cents I just bought 10 from the local fireplace > supplier at Au$ 9.00 each. > > > >
RE: Fire Bricks
Were they refractory bricks (not fire bricks)? I bought some very light-weight tan colored refractory bricks a few years back for ~$6.00 (US) ea. They are extremely brittle but very effective. It is my understanding that the refractory bricks reflect more of the heat to the workpiece. Mike Tim de Haan Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2003 12:02 AM To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam Subject: Re: Fire Bricks M, 92 cents I just bought 10 from the local fireplace supplier at Au$ 9.00 each.
Re: Fire Bricks
Hi Steve, I have to ask the obvious. What size boiler are you intending to hook up to your 24 brick firegrate!. Must be heck of a project 1 loco. Have you give up on the meths?. It is a little late for a scary halloween project. Have lots of fun, Regards, Tony D. At 03:10 AM 12/7/03 +, Steve Shyvers wrote: To all who've put up with my many questions in the past regarding coal firing and boiler design: yesterday I made significant and tangible progress toward building my own boiler by purchasing twenty-four genuine fire bricks to use to make a decent-sized hearth for silver soldering. It took only two telephone calls to find a local source, and the bricks could be bought in any quantity from one up. Whole and "split" bricks were available, and I chose the whole bricks at 92 cents each. Split bricks are half the thickness of a whole brick. My experience using regular bricks has shown that they heat through fairly quickly, so the whole bricks might provide a better heat shield for the tabletop, or whatever they're resting on, than the thinner split bricks. The fire bricks are larger than typical construction bricks. The measured L x W x H are 9 x 4.25 x 2.5 inches. The color is a light mustard. The manufacturer's specifications claim "a stiff mud refractory fire brick that meets or exceeds ASTM C27-70 for Low Duty fire brick" They weigh 7.4 pounds apiece, too. The quantity of twenty-four bricks was arbitrary; I have no specifiic plan in mind for the hearth. However with twenty-four bricks I should be able to make a hearth and stack some up to make a backstop and wings on either side. I do not intend to mortar the bricks together. Just stack them. Maybe I'll rig up a lazy-susan bearing with a couple of bricks on top for larger pieces. The bricks, by the way, were made by a company in Sacramento, California, that claims to have been in the business since 1878. I was curious and looked it up after hearing rumblings about the scarcity and unavailability of fire brick these days. Steve
Re: Fire Bricks
M, 92 cents I just bought 10 from the local fireplace supplier at Au$ 9.00 each. > It took only two telephone calls to find a local source, and the bricks > could be bought in any quantity from one up. Whole and "split" bricks > were available, and I chose the whole bricks at 92 cents each. Split > bricks are half the thickness of a whole brick. My experience using > regular bricks has shown that they heat through fairly quickly, so the > whole bricks might provide a better heat shield for the tabletop, or > whatever they're resting on, than the thinner split bricks. >
Fire Bricks
To all who've put up with my many questions in the past regarding coal firing and boiler design: yesterday I made significant and tangible progress toward building my own boiler by purchasing twenty-four genuine fire bricks to use to make a decent-sized hearth for silver soldering. It took only two telephone calls to find a local source, and the bricks could be bought in any quantity from one up. Whole and "split" bricks were available, and I chose the whole bricks at 92 cents each. Split bricks are half the thickness of a whole brick. My experience using regular bricks has shown that they heat through fairly quickly, so the whole bricks might provide a better heat shield for the tabletop, or whatever they're resting on, than the thinner split bricks. The fire bricks are larger than typical construction bricks. The measured L x W x H are 9 x 4.25 x 2.5 inches. The color is a light mustard. The manufacturer's specifications claim "a stiff mud refractory fire brick that meets or exceeds ASTM C27-70 for Low Duty fire brick" They weigh 7.4 pounds apiece, too. The quantity of twenty-four bricks was arbitrary; I have no specifiic plan in mind for the hearth. However with twenty-four bricks I should be able to make a hearth and stack some up to make a backstop and wings on either side. I do not intend to mortar the bricks together. Just stack them. Maybe I'll rig up a lazy-susan bearing with a couple of bricks on top for larger pieces. The bricks, by the way, were made by a company in Sacramento, California, that claims to have been in the business since 1878. I was curious and looked it up after hearing rumblings about the scarcity and unavailability of fire brick these days. Steve
