Fire bricks for base

[Byronius Maximus]

Hi,

I am part way through my build - I'm basically following the instructions in Simon Brookes' ebook. Plinth/base is nearly ready for my cooking surface, and I think I will go with firebricks, but am not 100% sure what I need. Looking on Kiln Linings website, I find these: kilnlinings.co.uk/fire-bricks-42gd-firebricks/fire-bricks-42gd-230-x-114-x-76mm

Are they suitable for the cooking surface, or are they more intended for building a dome (my dome will be from clay).

I'll start putting up some photos of my build once there is a bit more to show...challenge is getting to the clay dome build part before it gets too cold outside!

Thanks

[bry]

Yes that or the 64mm ones is what most use, laid in herringbone pattern diagonal to the entrance seems to be the favoured option. And either 100mm vermicrete or 50mm ceramic board underneath seem to be considered and sensible qty. kiln linings do 2 types of board

[Byronius Maximus]

Thanks for the answer. I've realised that the minimum order value with Kilnlinings is £200 unfortunately, which is a lot more than I need to spend. Now looking for other suppliers of fire bricks but they seem to be surprisingly hard to come by locally (Derby).

Thanks.

[bry]

Vitcas in Bristol do delivery and I don't think they have a minimum order

Most builders merchants should also be able to source them for you but are likely to be more expensive

[Byronius Maximus]

Okay great, I will give Vitcas a try if I can't get some locally. Had seen their website but not found that they do dlivery.

[bry]

Try local reclamation yards you might get lucky and find one that's has some reclaimed fire bricks that are in good shape

[Byronius Maximus]

Seem to have a shortage of those in the area, but I'll certainly search around.
Failing all this, are fire bricks actually needed, or will other bricks types, that are easier to source (and cheaper!), do the job?

[bry]

Iv read people saying using clay bricks is fine but not a compromise I was personally willing to make, that is not to say I'm right or wrong.

[oblertone]

Look for storage heater blocks on eBay, lots around and a lot cheaper than firebricks; will work perfectly well in a domestic WFO.

[downunderdave]

Sept 30, 2016 22:35:23 GMT oblertone said:

Look for storage heater blocks on eBay, lots around and a lot cheaper than firebricks; will work perfectly well in a domestic WFO.

They may work perfectly well, but remember that storage heater bricks are designed for a different purpose and that does not include heating and cooling them rapidly to 500 C. In Australia concrete is used for heat storage and that would certainly not be suitable for an oven floor. I'm sure their composition would vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and even from batch to batch. Many builders in the uk have reported success with them however. It is the floor bricks that get the greatest pounding so if you use them it might be prudent to lay them loose, inside the dome rather than the dome sitting on the floor bricks so that removal and replacement is easier.