Terra Cotta Chimney flue liner as heat riser?

[hpmer]

Would a terra cotta chimney flue liner be robust enough to be used as a heat riser? There are multiple sizes and shapes, are masonry/refractory and could simplify construction.

www.abbeyhartbrick.com/abbey_hart_website_016.htm

[Donkey]

I've heard that they can't handle the heat and will crack up.. Though I haven't tried it myself, so maybe I got the signals crossed, or the dude mistook something else for the flue pipe..
You'd think they should work..
Are they expensive?

[hpmer]

I don't think so. Might be worth an experiment if it ain't too costly. I plan to go to a home center so I'll check out the prices.

[pinhead]

I've been wondering the same thing.

I'd still insulate it with at least a couple of inches of vermiculite...

[shahborn]

I tried it once but there was a stove pipe linning with wood ash/cement insulation in between, It worked great but was rather heavy for what i was doing at the time. If it was going somewhere perminant it should work fine, but im no expert ,just another tinkering pyro!

[joe]

For a mass heater, I think the flue tile will be too flimsy. Even firebricks can crack after years of abuse...however one advantage of bricks is that the unit sizes are smaller, and cracks are most likely to occur in the mortar joints between them.

For a smaller cookstove, a flue tile might be suitable because it will heat up quickly...although that's just what would cause it to crack.

Joe

[bud]

Any of you guys every read anything about Rob Roy's round, 2-story,23-ton masonry heater he build as a structural component of his round earth-sheltered home? The firebox is mainly fire brick, but the heat exchanging flues and chimney are 8x12 refractory chimney flues. He did experience a crack in one section of flue(after 26 years of use) but he feels that it can be avoided by placing firebrick between the horizontal parallel sections of flue instead of regular brick as he did initially.