Fire brick or no fire brick under the grate?

[Marvel26]

Just wondering if I should brick underneath my grate or not? I wasn't planing to as the draft should keep it "cooler" than above the fire....at least that was my hypothesis. I have seen a few pics of grates that have brick under them though...

Thoughts?

[Ausable]

Marvel - I have a homemade arch. My Arch is an old 2'x5' Fuel Oil Tank. I use sand under the grate and fire brick on the sides. Mine is just natural draft.
You will probably get many different answers on this question. What I have - works for me.

[Schiefe4]

I use fire brick under my grates to keep any loose hot coals from messing up my concrete.

[Marvel26]

Thanks Mike,

have you noticed any difference in the heat coming from under the fire without sand....if you tried it that way?

[Marvel26]

Sciefe4

do you have an open bottom on your arch?

[Schiefe4]

Yes, I have an open bottom on my arch.

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

I have a 4x12 lightning and we had a similar older lightning before this one. Both evaporators sat on the concrete floor. There was nothing on that floor and ashes fell directly through the grates onto the concrete. We have made thousands of gallons of syrup with no problems to the concrete.

[Waynehere]

I have the split firebrick supported by a small frame drilled some 3/4" holes in them for my AUF setup. But just steel for the bottom under that... WIth the air flow coming in through there from the fan, never had any heat issues.

[maple flats]

Under the grates I've never had any firebricks, over the grates you need firebricks.