Wanting to build wood stove

[Spud Monkey]

Got a piece of 1/2" thick steel plate laying around here not exactly 4' x 8' sheet more like 4' x 5' 2.75" x 1' 4.75" x 2' 9.25" x 2' 7.25" x 8' was thinking of taking it to build a wood stove with measurements of 2' 7.25"W x 2'D x 2'H would I really need to put fire bricks in it or is that thick enough to not need them or is the metal just to thick all around for wood stove. Going to have to buy a 4' x 4' plate to make end caps but at same time curious if it would work, would it heat 1000 cubic ft of space up. Think I got a headache trying to type this

 

[woodgeek]

Firebricks are cheap, and make for a hotter cleaner burn. I'd use 'em.

 

[Spud Monkey]

Firebricks are cheap, and make for a hotter cleaner burn. I'd use 'em.

Yeah they are cheap just thought the only purpose for them was to prevent from over heating the firebox and causing warping in metal along with oxidation that would otherwise rot a firebox out cause of times it got so hot due to thinness of metal.

 

[Jags]

Fire brick is also used to keep the internal temps higher for a cleaner burn

 

[Paulywalnut]

I knew a guy that had a big fisher stove, he took the bricks out to load more wood in it. It was used for a huge workshop though. FWIW a fisher stove is all steel plate with cast iron doors.

 

[Spud Monkey]

Wonder what would happen if I put sand in bottom in place of firebricks, food for thought...

 

[woodgeek]

Sand....that would work too.

 

[gandrimp]

Just leave some ash in the bottom.

 

[begreen]

Making a basic box that burns wood is simple. Making one that burns cleanly and efficiently is a challenge.

 

[Spud Monkey]

Making a basic box that burns wood is simple. Making one that burns cleanly and efficiently is a challenge.

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It's what I am working on doing as you know how hard it is to come by getting your own firewood up in Washington.

 

[begreen]

??? I have done pretty well scrounging the past few years. Follow road crews after windstorms. Get friendly with the local aborists and tree cutters. Or order a grapple load.

 

[Spud Monkey]

??? I have done pretty well scrounging the past few years. Follow road crews after windstorms. Get friendly with the local aborists and tree cutters. Or order a grapple load.

They want $400 a grapple load as I have seen, don't know how many cords that would equal to or if even one but sure looked pretty sitting in that dump truck. I been getting friendly with the person who cuts most firewood in town and follow him around.

 

[Spud Monkey]

Would this stuff work as good as fire bricks themselves so I could just mold it in? Wanting to go with a roundish design on interior for some odd idea I have which is why I want to skip the fire bricks. http://www.imperialgroup.ca/stove_maintenanceproducts.cfm?c=324

 

[valley ranch]

Greetings, Like grandrimp, said leave ashes on the bottom, have your door high enough to allow for 3" to 4" of ash. I've used regular brick on the side of stoves I've made two or three high is enough, you have to use angle to keep them in place. Do it! It feels great to sit by a stove you've built your self. Have fun, keep warm.

Richard

 

[midwestcoast]

Would this stuff work as good as fire bricks themselves so I could just mold it in? Wanting to go with a roundish design on interior for some odd idea I have which is why I want to skip the fire bricks. http://www.imperialgroup.ca/stove_maintenanceproducts.cfm?c=324

I think it would crack, crumble & fall apart. Furnace cement doesn't like movement (like the whole firebox expanding & contracting). Don't think it would like getting bumped while loading the stove either.
You could make a dome by cutting firebricks. It would be slow & tedious using many small pieces.