Reason for firebricks?

It's refractory. It insulates the sides and bottom where your load sits. Burning right on top of steel long enough will cause it to bend and warp.

They also help to keep the firebox hotter for more efficient burns.

If the brick is on the side, it is easy to replace and on the bottom the crack will fill in quickly, no worries. Tim

The bricks are there for insulation to retain heat in the firebox for efficient burning. If the broken brick simply stays in place, just in two pieces, all is good. If you want to add some insurance, pull the two pieces out & slather some furnace cement on the broken face and push them back together, then replace the brick. If you find you have a brick (or bricks) that are just really busted, then get some replacement bricks. They are readily available, and easily cut, if necessary, using a masonry blade in a power tool, or a simple hand saw. As far as your observations of the gas flow through your stove go, I'd suggest addressing your concerns to the people who designed, built, and marketed your stove. Rick

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1366795&KPID=1109409&pla=pla_1109409

I have 2 bricks that cracked years ago, where the rear air ports are. they stay in place so i have not replaced them.

Another trick that might work is if you have a bottom brick that matches the cracked brick just do a switcharoo. The cracked brick line will quickly fill with ash and be undetectable.

begreen said:

Makes me wonder, why slam splits into the firebrick? Our bricks are 5 seasons old and still hanging in there with no cracks.

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I have to agree with this. I can't imagine tossing a split in the firebox so hard it smashes a brick. I feel like i'd have to be super pissed off or something to be jamming splits in there with that kind of force.

bricks provide both protection to the body of the stove as well as thermal mass for heat retention. newer stoves have "refractory panels" which focus more heat inward to aid in cleaner burning.

BB I though you were chiting me, you really only got 11 bricks in that box? gawd it felt like 30 of em toting it around.

guess next get together i'll be bringin brick. cant have that hanging over my head

BrotherBart said:

I cringe when I hear the "thunk" sometimes loading the 30 N/S. My old big insert didn't have firebrick in it and I am convinced that the weld that busted in the top back of the firebox was the result of shoving big splits into it too hard trying to avoid incinerating my hands.

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Get some gloves you old coot.

Couple bucks a piece or so at tractor Supply - I used my angle grinder w a masonry wheel to cut them to fit when I took out the Plug and also replaced the notched one at the handle latch because a complete brick fits in my stove w/o effecting the latch so why not. The rest are on yr 3 with no problems

ironspider said:

I have 2 bricks that cracked years ago, where the rear air ports are. they stay in place so i have not replaced them.

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......got at least one. noticed it the other day. same here, as long as it doesn't fall out of place, its staying put till spring.

Firebricks seem fairly durable, but brittle. I cracked one at the back of my firebox when a hot bed of coals got the better of my hand and I ended up tossing rather than laying a big hickory split with a stub sticking out in there.