Fire bricks / glass seals

[john.s]

Hi All,
More about my recently aquired stove! Looks like I am going to need a set of new firebricks - the ones inside are pretty badly broken up - but they seem to be made of a heavyish brick/cement kind of material, and I have seen a replacement set of six on ebay for a tenner, made out of vermiculite, which I believe is very light. Can anyone advise what material the bricks can be? Its a Villager bl I think, luckily at least they are a common size (115x230mm). Also - what do I use for seals for replacement glass? Thin fire rope, a dedicated gasket or cement?
Thanks
john.s

 

[Penners]

The bricks are probably made of fire cement. You should be able to get a proper set of replacements from any good specialist woodburner retailer.

Ditto the door seal. I can't speak specifically about yours, but they are usually glassfibre rope, held in place with a special heatproof adhesive. The rope is sold by the metre, but be sure to get the correct diameter for your stove. Take the old seal (or a bit of it) into the woodburner specialists and I'm sure they'll sort you out.

 

[skier-hughes]

I had some vermiculite bricks at the beginning of last winter and two of them have broken already. I won't be buying them again.

 

[JoceAndChris]

We think Vermiculite is far too fragile for anything fire related as well. We kept ordering sheets of it to make new firecheeks, they arrived broken every time. By the third delivery of broken Vermiculite we were so sick of it we made patchwork cheeks; I think they're vile.

Good luck with finding something suitable.

 

[john.s]

Thanks very much for the comments on the vermiculite, the stuff I was thinking of geting is 2.5 cms thick and in quite small sections so would have expected it to arrive unbroken - was worried if it would just burn away quickly. It is about £10 for six plus postage, ideally I need twelve so looking at £20 +p&P, but I have seen what I believe is proper brick ones at stovespares.co.uk £4.40 each, I could get away with ten but I guess that is plus postage, getting pricey! Anyone know a good fire brick supplier?
As for the glass seals the same place has "gaskets" for a fiver each, but I might get 3mm rope and stick it on with adhesive which I will be using for the door ropes anyway (apparently my doors take 9mm rope but I have seen only 10mm or 8mm, and there seems to be hard or soft. Didn't know it was gonna get this complicated!
john.s

 

[FamilyWiggs]

WHy is it necessary to replace the broken firebricks in a woodburner. What purpose do they serve?

 

[john.s]

Well, the reason to replace is that they help keep the fire hot and improve the life of the stove, strictly speaking if the bricks are just cracked you can use them still - as best as I can ascertain anyway - but as I am refurbishing the whole stove it seems a lost opportunity not to just do it all in one hit. Mine are quite badly cracked with a few bits missing anyway.
I found a place selling them for £2.25 each but as its on line delivery is £15, total for twelve thus comes to £42, does that seem reasonable or doeas anyone know where I can just walk in and buy them for a couple of quid each?
john.s

 

[Cloudscape]

Your profile says you're in London. I would have thought there were dozens of places selling fireplaces and stoves? I'm a bit out of touch (putting it mildly) but I remember there being loads of places. Have you tried your local Yellow Pages?

Locally, I can buy fire bricks from stove sellers, or from hardware shops.

 

[john.s]

No I have only tried the internet - you know what it's like as soon as you want something you cant find it! I doubt any fireplace shop round here will sell a fire brick for anything like a couple of quid, thought of maybe chasing round to a few builders merchants etc but then there's the day gone. I have a price of £42 for a full set to beat, but it's not worth driving round all day - doubtless I will see some somewhere, after the event. In the meantime I have found somewhere that does all the other things at good prices so will press on - pictures to follow!
john.s

 

[Penners]

apparently my doors take 9mm rope but I have seen only 10mm or 8mm, and there seems to be hard or soft.

I would try to avoid any product that only gives an indifferent door seal. The great benefit of a woodburning stove over an open fire is its controllability. And to maximise that you need a really good door seal.

So, in the absence of any informed advice, I would risk the 10mm rather than the 8mm, and if you're concerned that you won't get the door closed, use the soft rather than the hard.

But I still think your best bet is to go our to a specialist retailer, where you can get advice as well as the products you need.

 

[john.s]

Thanks - the channels in the doors look deep and there is just a little pitting in the corresponding stove body, so 10mm makes a lot of sense, soft it is! It is not expensive so happy to take a punt and order some up!
john.s