Firebrick Build-Up

My stove has proprietory custom fire brick and the company that made them is out of business. There is another company offering replacements but the price for 1 brick is what I paid for my stove. I'm on the lookout for another parts stove (Warm Morning 617-A) and in time I'll find one but in the meantime I'm trying to figure out the best way to remove the build-up of the firebrick in the bottom of the fire box. The build up makes a restriction that causes the coal and ash to bridge instead of settling down when I shake the grates. It is a minor problem but one I'd like to resolve. I have had some limited success removing the scale with my "fireplace" poker but I'm reluctant to try too hard for fear of breaking a brick. I suppose I could disassemble the stove and take a grinding wheel to the offending protubences but being rather lazy I'd like to find a better (read easier) way. What causes the build-up and does anyone have a solution? I'm burning anthrocite, not coke or bit. Jonathan

we haven't had any buildup on our warm morning, but the kenmore gets buildup and so did the sunbeam we scrapped last winter.......we used a grinder to clean the buildup on the two stoves, being careful not to grind into the brick......we do it once a year with the kenmore, but it does not need to come apart because it's a top load and the opening is large

cokehead wrote:My stove has proprietory custom fire brick and the company that made them is out of business. There is another company offering replacements but the price for 1 brick is what I paid for my stove.

If you want, you could cast your own refractory. The stuff is cheap and you could get it fired at a pottery joint I would think. I doubt the whole thing would cost $30-40. Google it, there should be endless info.

It wasn't all that long ago that a guy was selling all new fire bricks for that model warm morning on ebay and they were fairly cheap and I don't think they sold I bet they will come around again
Dan

I have a warm morning (521) I bought this summer to put in my garage, but haven't burnt it yet. It has some buildup on the firebrick, though probably not enough to cause bridging. Some of the brick are in pretty bad shape too.

I think the best way to get the buildup off without removing the brick may be to use an portable angle grinder rather than a bench grinder. Borrow, rent, or buy one at Harbor Freight. I got one a year ago and couldn't live without it now.

I haven't found a cheap source for brick either. Have been thinking of trying to cast my own like was mentioned above. Good luck.

I had a few links to some castable refractory brick info below.

http://www.visi.com/~darus/foundry2/refractory.html

http://www.handymanusa.com/forum_five_msg/3160.htm

Steinke