Ok, so yesterday I had the wood stove arollin', and twice 2 separate bricks fell away from the side walls. I set them back in place but I was wondering where I can get some good ones as the original bricks seem brittle. Also the panels at the top of the firebox are scarred and in need of replacement too. The panels looks and feel like styrofoam but the don't burn like it, I think they are fiberglass. If anyone has an idea where I can get some good after market bricks and top panels, I'm all ears. I'm gonna let it all go until spring and replace everything during summer.
Hi Steve, fire brick is available in many places, retail and online. Some stove manufacturers will sell you a kit of all bricks you need, or you can measure and replace the ones you need. Just for example, here are some bricks on the shelf at Tractor Supply. US Stove Single Firebrick, FBS 138 at Tractor Supply Co. The baffle board can be had as a sheet you trim or - usually - will be sold in the proper size by your stove manufacturer or their dealer. Post up your stove make and model and maybe someone with your stove will chime in with specific experiences.
The baffle board for my stove can be had on Amazon; I wonder how the price compares to Englander Stove Works? I am guessing this is just one of two boards I would need to purchase. I have two boards that fit side by side in my stove. Lynn Manufacturing Replacement Englander Fiber Baffle Board - 30/50 Series AC-30CFB Price: $46.80 & FREE Shipping.
the bricks are easy to cut with a diamond blade on an angle grinder. Harbor Freight has the blades pretty cheap. I get the firebrick at Menards. I usually replace a few every season. The high temp baffle board I haven't had to replace yet but I haven't been able to find it "cheap" anywhere yet. About 60-80 bucks to replace it in our stove.
TSC is probably the best place for inexpensive bricks in SD...and firebricks are all kinda brittle...gotta find out why they are falling over though...sounds like something is not in place correctly. Ceramic fiber board can be bought all over the internet to replace that baffle...just need the approximate dimensions, then cut to fit once you get it.
I used an Amazon baffle board for my quadrafire. I had to cut it to size, but it was easy and it works great. I saved a ton of cash by getting this.
Just a word of caution if you go the do it yourself route, Eye protection and a mask! Eye protection is kind of obvious but the bricks and the baffle material contain some nasty fly dust! I replaced my firebrick last year with locally shopped brick. Used a 4.5 in. grinder and the previously mentioned Harbor Freight diamond cut off wheel. Very easy if you have even a modicum of skills. Also check your stove paper work which may have a size list and placing pattern for your bricks. Mine did.
Never had to replace brick but any stores above will have replacement brick. Some have replaced brick only because it’s absolutely falling apart or in more than 2 pieces and won’t stay. Also if the bare metal is obvious, then that is necessary. The brick or fireplace cement will help you as well so your brick can stick to the stove wall and themselves. Just like mortar, with heat it’ll wear out but since replacement is easy, it’s no biggie or need to make it pretty. With some stoves they just don’t have the metal slots where you build the brick into it and it keeps them all from falling. Most are just held up by other brick pieces in the ‘puzzle’ and don’t necessarily need cement but personal preference will suffice! As for the cement board or baffle, interesting stuff no? Really expensive and usually more so from the stove company than the ‘Zon. If you can order two, that way you replace it and have a back up for later, if the chance comes up.
I’ve never seen these ceramic baffleboard stoves tho they do come up in conversation here frequently. Anyone ever try replacing these baffles with standard ceramic tile? Just wondering, I know I would try it if I had one LOL I got lots of leftover tiles from jobs. Tile is fired at up to 2500 F. Don’t think our stoves are getting g that hot. For a couple bucks I’d give it a go.
I’d wonder about this alternative but would the tiles become more prone to being brittle? I’m interested especially if the tile is easy to cut two medium sized pieces for the stove if needed
Yeah I’m sure they’d become brittle. Then again all I here about these baffles is how brittle they are. I once toyed with modifying an old stove into a secondary burn unit. Experiment didn’t work well because I only had six feet of pipe on it. Couldn’t maintain enough draft to keep the secondary’s burning nicely. It was a hack job and I know it. I used a real thin piece of steel for a baffle. It was like the square cover off a metal cookie tin or something. Can’t remember exactly where I scoffed it up. Only used the contraption for two months before I replaced the stove anyway. Thought that tin might curl up and melt. It held up just fine,,,,,,,for two months anyway.
Ok but we really need to know what stove it is. There are different types of firebrick. Standard refractory brick and lightweight insulating brick. You should replace with the proper type. There are also brand specific cast or vermiculite panels instead of brick in some stoves. The baffles also come in many different materials and thicknesses.
I replace firebrick about every 3-4 years. They typically crack about mid way up. I just chalk it up to wood stove maintenance. I too use the Tractor Supply ones. Wish they were more durable. With my wife and son helping feed the stove, I can’t control how gently splits are being placed into it.
Hey something worked and I think that having tile would be a great replacement in a pinch if something were to go wrong during burning season. Never know but let me know what kinda tile you have because if that’s a cheap alternative (baffle board is crazy expensive from stove manufacturers direct) it will work if it holds heat in and tolerates it well.
My baffle boards have dents from feeding the stove; not from trying but just accidentally hitting when putting in some wood. I try to be careful with both hitting the brick and the baffle board. The baffle boards are rather delicate in a way; I would think a more durable solution that does the same job would be nice.
Not saying tile will work or is appropriate. But hey if anyone wants to give it a whirl just go to a local tile supplier. Hit em at the right time and they’ll probably have a few leftovers they could care less about. They’ll go in the dumpster if it’s only a few. Can’t mix lot numbers I think they come up to 24”x24” these days. I’ve been out of the tile biz for many years now. But bigger is in style these days.
