brick or fire brick

[Buxtonator]

I live in NZ. I can get good, old, pressed clay bricks for about 50 cents. Firebricks are about $5 plus. I am tempted to use old school clay bricks for the dome, and firebricks for the hearth.

Either this or I don't do it.

Can someone look into the future and tell me how things will turn out if I go in the direction of good quality, ancient clay bricks?

Cheers

Luke

[Rodneyf]

If these bricks of yours have been fired at 1100F you will have no problems with your oven. The bricks i used came from a 100 yr old fence that were fired in a wood fired kiln and they are doing a great job and have not spalled at all after a fair bit of use.
Good luck with your build.

[GianniFocaccia]

I believe it has been said - "A firebrick oven is best, but a clay brick oven is better than no oven at all."

[ceramicslink]

im also in oz .. adelaide..
and i have also used the old reds that i picked up for free and most of them looked like they were part of a fire place or chimney or?...

anyway i had the oven for about year and a bit and can say there is no cracks nor spaling ... having said that the oven was used once a week on average!
furthermore the hearth of it is two layers of clay pavers (5") thick on top of (5") of perlite.. hope it helps!!

ps $3.50 per fire brick vs free reds.. after a year and a bit im very happy.. no worries at all also the whole project from go to finish came just under a grand!!

[lwood]

I built my oven with all clay bricks, it's over a year old now and no problems.