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My DW wants me to build a fire pit in the backyard. I have left over brick from an addition that I’m completing, that I can use for the outside of the pit. I figure that I will need fire brick to line(sp?) the inside, but I’m not sure if there is any special morter that I need to use? Any design ideas? Tips?
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DW = Darling Wife? Divorced Woman? Domesticed Wallaby? I'd do a circular structure because it is self-reinforcing, has minimum heat-losing area per volume, and is best at reflecting radiant heat back at the fuel and food. Leave an insulating air gap between the inner fire brick and outer red brick cylinders. The rd brick will last longer and the fire brick will heat up sooner. Likewise, keep an air gap between the fire bricks which form the floor and the concrete slab underneath.
*A fire pit eh? Don't forget to file your Environmental Impact Statement :) Seriously, the best fire pits I've seen have been designed to match the structure and the area. For example, in the Yukon a guy had lots of flagstone so he made the pit out of the same stuff. But all of them, unless you plan on cooking on it, are round. Maybe it is my ignorance but I've never seen any special mortar used in these pits. They really don't get very hot unless you make them r-e-a-l-l-y big.
*I'm planning on making it round and using the same bricks as the foundation for the house for the outside of the pit. The only thing cooking on it is marshmellows. Concerning the mortar, I'm just ignorant and figured since I need special bricks there might be special mortar.
*There is firebrick mortor...Head down to your supply house and check it out...It's not as easy to work with as regular mix....and costs more.Near a stream in NY...aj