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Thread: Cinder block arch

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    14

    Default Cinder block arch

    Im making a cinder block arch for 2x4 Flat pan from smoky maple. Could i keep the bottom blocks sideways to make a better draft for the fire and just keep door closed?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    MA
    Posts
    588

    Default

    Do you mean a bottom block on the sides or the front? I would keep the sides closed off. A sideways block in the front would be useful, especially if the fire is raised up on grates. Have fun!
    60ish taps on buckets
    D&G Sportsman 18x63
    Turbo RB15 RO Bucket

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Frankford, Ontario
    Posts
    1,045

    Default

    Short answer - yes.
    With a block arch, you want the front 20" - 24" to be nice and deep so that you can put a grate on the bottom to get air under the fire.
    For the rest of the way back to the smoke stack, you only need 2-4" of space under the bottom of your pan.

    If you place the lower row of block for the back half sideways, you would fill up the lower half of the space and move the flames closer to the bottom of the pan.
    You could also toss sand, gravel, dirt, loose blocks or anything else into that space to fill it up.

    Either way - by reducing the gap under the back half of your pans, you will increase the overall efficiency of your block arch.
    Big_Eddy
    Eastern Ontario (Quinte)
    20+ years on a 2x3 block arch,
    Homemade 20"x64" drop flue since 2011

    Build a Block Arch
    Build a Flat Pan
    Build a Flue Pan
    Sweetening the Pans
    Build a Bending Brake
    Using a Hydrotherm
    How much Sap to Sweeten?

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