Hello from West Cornwall.now I am building a brick oven.

[woodfirechef]

Just joined the group. I have wanted to build a good size brick oven for a few years having bought one of the small clay ovens from Argos which although small and didn’t hold heat for more than a couple of mins. It did work and gave us the taste.

I am now collecting a load of storage heater bricks and have about 50 now. These are the more modern ones not associated with asbestos insulation. I will also be lining it with fire clay all around so that it will act as a partial shield to the bricks. 

I read in one thread of the concern of minerals in fire clay and bricks, alumina oxide silica (non crystalline) this is used in all fire clays including food ovens, it’s main danger is when in powder form when you mix a “dry mix”. This raises the issue of setting base bricks on a dry mix which I would say is a concern.

I will load photos as I progress.

[devontiger]

Look forward to it wfc.

DT

[downunderdave]

Sept 9, 2018 11:25:09 GMT woodfirechef said:

Just joined the group. I have wanted to build a good size brick oven for a few years having bought one of the small clay ovens from Argos which although small and didn’t hold heat for more than a couple of mins. It did work and gave us the taste.

I am now collecting a load of storage heater bricks and have about 50 now. These are the more modern ones not associated with asbestos insulation. I will also be lining it with fire clay all around so that it will act as a partial shield to the bricks. 

I read in one thread of the concern of minerals in fire clay and bricks, alumina oxide silica (non crystalline) this is used in all fire clays including food ovens, it’s main danger is when in powder form when you mix a “dry mix”. This raises the issue of setting base bricks on a dry mix which I would say is a concern.

I will load photos as I progress.

The concern is the inhalation of the dust not ingestion. The dry mix under the floor bricks won’t make any dust issues anyway. The far greater danger is the inhalation of the dust created from cutting bricks because minute particles of fired clay create tiny shards which can lodge in the silia in your lungs. Always wear a decent respirator when cutting bricks.

[oblertone]

Lay your base bricks (heater blocks) on a dry level substrate and you won't need any dry mix; I used a sheet of vermiculite board sourced on eBay but other alternatives are available. However as DUDave has pointed out, the danger is from ingesting dust while cutting the bricks, not from in-use practise. Use a wet cutter such as a tile saw and adequate protection.

[baldywills]

If you need more heater blocks let me know. I am in Newton Abbot, I also have some spare bricks and offcuts, also some lime and clay.

Good luck

Gary