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Post by craypappy on Jan 12, 2018 12:33:36 GMT -8
I finally completed my 8” batchbox and fired it up a few days ago. Yay!!
Bell is 2 layers of brick laid flat. Upper part (starting just below the top of riser) of the inner layer is firebrick to withstand the highest heat. Very pleased with its performance so far.
Issues (minor I hope): 1. A vertical crack developed almost immediately near the top of one wall of the bell. Crosses at least 6 courses of brick. Crack is widest at the top, probably 2mm. I’m presuming this crack developed from the inner “ring” of bricks becoming hotter and expanding more than the outer bricks. Should I have included an expansion joint? Do I need to be concerned about this crack? It is my understanding that there is negative pressure inside the bell, so no danger of noxious gasses leaking out through this crack into my house. Correct?
2. Somewhat unpleasant smells are venting from heater for 2-3 hours following firing. I’m presuming this is normal from the new bricks and other materials being fired for the first time and will subside over time. True?
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Post by peterberg on Jan 12, 2018 12:45:42 GMT -8
I finally completed my 8” batchbox and fired it up a few days ago. Yay!! Bell is 2 layers of brick laid flat. Upper part (starting just below the top of riser) of the inner layer is firebrick to withstand the highest heat. Very pleased with its performance so far. Issues (minor I hope): 1. A vertical crack developed almost immediately near the top of one wall of the bell. Crosses at least 6 courses of brick. Crack is widest at the top, probably 2mm. I’m presuming this crack developed from the inner “ring” of bricks becoming hotter and expanding more than the outer bricks. Should I have included an expansion joint? Do I need to be concerned about this crack? It is my understanding that there is negative pressure inside the bell, so no danger of noxious gasses leaking out through this crack into my house. Correct? 2. Somewhat unpleasant smells are venting from heater for 2-3 hours following firing. I’m presuming this is normal from the new bricks and other materials being fired for the first time and will subside over time. True? 1. Yes, you should have included an expansion joint. Most of the time done with 1/2" superwool, sometimes just cardboard. Use some clay/sand to close the crack until spring. You need to dismantle part of the bell and rebuild it with an expansion joint this time. To be sure: buy a CO sniffer of whatever kind. 2. That unpleasant odor smells like wet cement and bricks I presume. That's normal, should be away in two weeks or more.
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Post by craypappy on Jan 12, 2018 17:04:47 GMT -8
Thanks Peter. Will do. I do have a CO detector that has not alarmed (yet).
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Post by coastalrocketeer on Jan 13, 2018 1:43:53 GMT -8
Thanks Peter. Will do. I do have a CO detector that has not alarmed (yet). That should be good, as a CO sniffer, I would think. Definitely get a temporary seal on that crack as soon as you can. peterberg - or anyone who has experience with this sort of masonry failure in heating devices: would it be better for craypappy to apply his patch when the stove is hot and the crack (I presume) is wider? cool/narrow? Somewhere in the middle? Any other process advice (or links to) such as whether to prepare the area and apply the patch, such as by pre-moistening or other techniques?
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grga
Junior Member
Posts: 76
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Post by grga on Jan 16, 2018 5:44:19 GMT -8
I would suggest hi temperature silicone and repair the crack by it. Then after sime time you can also put some plaster over it (to mahe the heater nicer) and reinforce it by some mesh (juta or similar, maybe regular house facade mesh).
You can get silicone resistant to 300C (probably enough) which will stay elastic when dried and squeeze it inside the crack - it should be wise to do it in a wormer state when the crack is wider...
you can easily buy also 1000c silicone (they are both cheap, under 10 eur) but this one usually is not elastic when dry and probably you also do not need such a high temps...
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