Problem with firebrick mod?

[kcquer]

I recently cleaned out the BSKD thoroughly, as I thought it might be a while before I cooked in it again. I wanted to pay special attention to getting all the ash out of the firebox, to this end I went to the trouble of removing my "firebricks" (quarry tiles in my case). I found a lot of ash had worked its way between the gaps and I had a good bit of surface rust starting in the bottom of the firebox.

I was planning on replacing my tiles with firebricks as they have proved to be too fragile for use in the firebox (work great in the smokebox). I am reconsidering this as regular removal for cleaning seem a big pain and having the brick fall out the bottom of the firebox due to rusting is not an option either.

Has anyone with the fire brick mod checked for rust under the bricks or do you have a good fix for this ash problem?

[BBQchef33]

i didnt put the bricks in the firebox jsut fro that reason.. only put them in the smoke chamber. Honestly, the only place i would put them in the firebox is along the walls.

How about for and alternative, what i did in my smoke chamber is but a piece of aluminum foil over the bricks to keep out the grease and i remove it each time. maybe in the firebox, a piece of sheet steel on top of the bricks would stop ash from gettin in. Or pieces of angle along the edges of them place upwards and have the askpan site inside the angles. (did i explaiun that right?)

[kcquer]

i didnt put the bricks in the firebox jsut fro that reason.. only put them in the smoke chamber. Honestly, the only place i would put them in the firebox is along the walls.

How about for and alternative, what i did in my smoke chamber is but a piece of aluminum foil over the bricks to keep out the grease and i remove it each time. maybe in the firebox, a piece of sheet steel on top of the bricks would stop ash from gettin in. Or pieces of angle along the edges of them place upwards and have the askpan site inside the angles. (did i explaiun that right?)

I considered a metal liner inside the bricks, but with a cooker upgrade on the horizon I'd rather save the money for the new rig. At this point I'm leaning toward pulling the tiles and installing the CB/NB tabs and calling it good.

[kcquer]

what i did in my smoke chamber is but a piece of aluminum foil over the bricks to keep out the grease


TK, any advice on the aluminum foil mod? :wink: :twisted: :lol:

[tommykendall]

TK, any advice on the aluminum foil mod?


I'll check my reference book and get back atcha's.

[badger]

Even if you cover the bricks with foil or something, is that is going to solve the moisture problem under the bricks cuasing rust?

[kcquer]

Even if you cover the bricks with foil or something, is that is going to solve the moisture problem under the bricks cuasing rust?

John, not that moisture under the bricks isn't a problem, it is. The big problem is wet ashes, they become quite caustic (or is it acidic) and eat at the metal.

[badger]

Ohh, good to know. I should have stayed in skool longer. :oops:

[mrkkti]

I blow the fire box out with my air compressor at a very low setting. Seems to get the ashes out just fine (after they're all dead of course!).

[jt]

Shop Vac mod. Cleans it out good.

Course then ya gotta clean the vac filter occasionally, too.

[BBQchef33]

I blow the fire box out with my air compressor at a very low setting. Seems to get the ashes out just fine (after they're all dead of course!).

i use my leaf blower on high.


Fog mod.


yes... im serious. :)

[Neil]

is it a problem if you are able to keep the ashes in the firebox dry?

[BigAl]

Fire bricks in bottom of Fire Box and ZERO rust problems here :D ......But then, Chevys and Fords don't rust out here either, Chrysler products , well what can you say :shock: ...they rust on the factory production lines.... :cry: