55 gallon drum bricking/ forced air

[Milton]

I'm in the process of bricking my 55 gallon drum. Anyone have suggestions or photos for bricking? I'm also consider ing adding forced air and a grate and would like suggestions for that as well. I did make a half wall about 2/3 back to act like an arch.

[jrm]

I used an old fireplace small/med log rack for my barrel grate. Size is perfect for my needs, and since I don't weld, was quite simple. (Others have used various things such as angle iron, rebar, street grates. There have been various threads, recently that have had some pictures. I'll see if I can find them and then link.)

I don't have pictures of how I bricked. However, I used a combination of full size and half-size fire bricks. I've typically placed the grate in getting it as close to the door as possible. I have then used full-size bricks to create a wall (for the arch) at the back leading up to my stack outlet. Because the fireplace rack has a lip to it, I've used full size bricks resting on the edge to start lining the firebox. I've then added in half-size bricks to fill in as many open areas as possible. Typically, I've used the half-size bricks after the first course in the firebox as they stay in place better. I've also put half-size bricks on end at the front, on either side of the door opening, and between the end of the fire rack and the main arch-wall to fill in that space and help funnel the heat.

Good luck.

[jrm]

Here are a few threads that show different grate ideas


http://mapletrader.com/community/showthread.php?31867-Door-for-homemade-evaporator&highlight=angle+iron

http://mapletrader.com/community/showthread.php?31783-Home-built-amp-ldquo-Davy-Jones-amp-rdquo-type-arch&highlight=angle+iron

http://mapletrader.com/community/showthread.php?32000-Vent-for-secondary-combustion-in-maple-evaporator&highlight=fence