Drilling Fire Brick

[802maple]

If you keep the air to the rear you might not need a high pressure blower. The reason I use the high pressure blower is due to the complexity of the duct system in getting air to our door. A standard blower just won't cut the mustard. If you add a few more nozzles in the rear it would most likely work and the system you say you are going to use will probably achieve that.

I would not supply air to a bubbler form the same source as you want a very protected air source as to not add flavor to your syrup.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Ryan,

I would think that using these type of brick on a stanard arch without a blower would cause the holes to get plugged up and kill the draft. You might get by with 1" or 1.25" inch holes, but you need a lot more air coming thru in natural draft or it won't pull enough draft.

[danno]

Drilling the fire brick was not too bad. Found that it helped to first drill with a 1/4" and then hit it with the 3/4".

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Danno,

Good point to bring up and I had forgotten to mention it. It made it a lot easier for me to drill a 1/4 to 3/8 hole first which gave the larger bit a guide and it was a lot faster.

Amazing how soon we forget the little details.