Redoing the fire box

[tonka]

So I'm going to redoing my fire box, for durability is refractory cement more durable than firebrick?

[Pdiamond]

I used refractory cement with my firebrick, just like laying block.

[buckeye gold]

They both break down with the heat we develop in the arches, but you will still get several years out of it. I usually touch up my seams every year as some refractory will come loose. I will set my bricks then skim coat over the seams and end up with probably 60 % of my total brick surface covered with refractory. I completely cover the end with the door as that seems to be where bricks come loose the most. I usually let it dry a day and then build a light fire (put some water in your pan) and cure it.

[tonka]

My idea is instead of replacing all the firebrick with new brick I figured that I would just buy refacrotory cement in the dry powder from menards, I'd make some forms inside the fire box and mix up the cement and pour it into the wooden forms to do the sides, back and the little bit of front walls. I will be buying arch board for insulating the box.

[mol1jb]

I can't remember where I heard it but I want to say that firebricks are more durable than refractory cement. I think this is why most arch manufacturers say to make the joints between the bricks as small as possible.

And in terms of maintenance if you break one brick it is easier to replace then an whole wall of poured refractory cement if it cracks in half.

[buckeye gold]

I would not think it would hold up by it's self

[JoeJ]

I was at a sugar house in Maine in June where the owner had made a wood form to fit the sides of the arch, cut a sheet of 1/4 x 1/4 galvanized hardware wire for reinforcing, mixed the powered refractory cement, and made a block 1 1/2" thick to replace his firebrick. He had used the arch for 2 seasons and the block was still solid.

Joe