Using Dura Rock cement board

[Trevor5]

I have upgraded to a 2x4' flat pan this season, thus my block arch has grown in size. I ran a test boil with the new set up over the weekend and we used a piece of dura rock as the ramp and the back of the arch to help hold the smoke stack. During the test boil there was an odd smell only when near the rear of the arch, my concern is that this smell was coming off of the dura rock and if that is harmful or would impart flavor to the syrup. I know it is not fire proof but is fire resistant, should it hold up for any duration of time for a full boil and more importantly is it safe? I was thinking of filling in the ramp area with block instead. 9127912891299130

Has anyone used this material in a block arch before? Could it be possible the pans were giving off an odor as they have never had a fire under them before?

Thanks for any advice.

Trevor

[Swampmapleman]

It's fine. Yur smelling something else. I use it inside my homemade cooker and it works greats. Beats buying firebrick for a temporary cooker.

[maplestudent]

I can almost smell the steam coming off pic #4

[md2020]

It might be that the guy in the picture burnt his glove to the stack trying to dry it out. Just sayin'.

[Quagmire33]

I bet the smell you noticed was the paint burning off the new stove pipe.

[tendermason]

some brands fiber glass mesh on each side.But it should burn off.

[backyard sugaring]

I have dura rock inside my evaporator, but it is covered with ceramic blanket. Lee

[Trevor5]

Thanks for the replies, I think I will keep it in there, it really didn't look too bad after the 3 hr test boil. The smell was worse when we really got the arch hot, so seems logical that it could be the new stove pipe burning paint and whatever off of it.

Trevor

[DoubleBrookMaple]

I used it last year with no problems.

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