Which bricks should I use?

[tenpin2]

Hi there I would like to know if anyone can tell me if refractory bricks obtained from the inside a kiln in a closed down Pottery manufacturers will be ok for linning my pompei oven. They are off white in colour and quite light in weight resembling polystyrene almost.
Many thanks
J

[Lburou]

Originally Posted by tenpin2

Hi there I would like to know if anyone can tell me if refractory bricks obtained from the inside a kiln in a closed down Pottery manufacturers will be ok for linning my pompei oven. They are off white in colour and quite light in weight resembling polystyrene almost.
Many thanks
J

I'm using recycled firebricks from a giant kiln. The kiln was used to make bricks for the building industry. My bricks were not around any contaminated products or processes, so it is an acceptable risk for me. After exposure to pottery products, will those bricks be contaminated with something detrimental for your health? You will have to live with the risks, so do your due diligence finding out.

How much do the bricks weigh? Will they float in water? I ask those questions because a 'white' brick might be an insulating firebrick (insulated firebricks will float in water) and not suitable for a brick oven.

[Karangi Dude]

Hey Tenpin2,
The bricks you are referring to are more than likley insulation fire bricks as Lee said if they are really light then they are not suitable for the inside of the oven, but they can be used as insulation to build your oven on under the hearth.

Cheers Doug

[tenpin2]

Thanks for your advice, the bricks weigh 4lbs and don't float but when heated for 3 hours in my oven on 250 degrees they cool down quite quickly and can be handled after 30 minutes.
Thanks again
J