Fire Bricks? Can’t find any suppliers?

pluto2010

Hi.

Im trying to build a outside bbq/fire stove, reading about what bricks are safe all site say fire/refractory bricks.
I can’t find any suppliers of fire bricks near me.
B&Q etc dell fire cement for repairing fire places but no bricks?

Any recommendations?  I’m worried about facing bricks cracking due to the heat.

Thanks!

FreeBear

I've been using thermalite (aerated cement blocks) without any real problem for a brazing hearth. The blocks get very hot, and the surface turns to powder after a while... Could render them with a heat resistant plaster such as Vitcas, but it is cheaper for me to replace the blocks when they are totally shot.

Alternatively, you could use vermiculite boards/bricks - https://shop.vitcas.com/products/insulation-materials/vermiculite-boards.html - Not cheap though.

Bendy_House

Hi Pluto.

Any chance this might get wet in the rain? If so, I 'think' vermiculite might suffer? And 'thermalite', I think, soaks in water quite easily, so I could anticipate problems when the water content starts to boil with the heat - potentially explosive stuff. (I'm guessing)

I don't know, but I think it's worth checking.

I wonder if an option could be the heat store bricks from inside a storage heater? These are certainly very dense and heavy, so I'd 'hope' they wouldn't absorb much water, and they are clearly designed to withstand red-heat, so - what? - 800oC+?

You could LINE your fire with this, and have 'nice' brick on the outside.

IF this is a goer - and I don't know if it is - then you'll likely be able to pick up an old storage heater on t'Bay for pennies, if you give it some time.

stuart45

Storage heater bricks are often free on Gumtree etc.

DullGreyGuy

pluto2010 said:

I can’t find any suppliers of fire bricks near me.
B&Q etc dell fire cement for repairing fire places but no bricks?

Any recommendations?  I’m worried about facing bricks cracking due to the heat.

If you want recommendations of places near you then you are going to have to say where you are. There are no shortage of online places offering them for sale.

TomokoAdhami

Kilnlinings, Vitcas, Industrial Boilerhouse Supplies and FireTile are good suppliers to choose from. 

pluto2010

Thanks all.

it will be outside so will get wet which is my concern.
havnt fully decided on the design yet, just seems strange there aren’t supplier in the Southampton area.

will have a look at your suggestions

JGB1955

Apparently you can use solid engineering bricks, as long as you use refractory mortar in between the bricks so that they don’t crack.