Outdoor fireplace.

**soundbeltfarm** · 21st June 2009, 19:34

Originally Posted by Headbanger

Very cool. I was told not to use rocks from a river as they hold water, when they are in a fire the water expands causing the rock to explode.

Myth?

not really a myth.
i have done a shitload of hangis now and i sometimes have a rock break but not explode and that is only when i pour some water over them to get some steam happening.

i always use river rocks and i also have a couple of railway irons cut up as they hold the heat so well.
get the river rocks that are dense.
you will know what i mean as they are the heavier than others the same size.
they are also smooth and dont have any pitting on the outside of them.

**peasea** · 21st June 2009, 19:38

Originally Posted by Headbanger

The plan is to build an outdoor fire in my BBQ area, So far I have removed the cobble stones and laid down a slab of concrete, Next stage is to lay a rectangle of bricks, about 5 bricks high, Then 1/3 fill with shingle, then a layer of rocks, and then the wood to be burned goes on top, as it burns down it reduces to ashes exposing the rocks which will be glowing and radiating heat.Much like in a hangi.

That's the plan anyway.

The question, will regular red bricks be up to the task?

Does the general plan sound plausible or doomed to failure?

Sounds cool mate. We have some friends round the corner with an outdoor fireplace and it rocks! I have also seen one with about four short lengths of railway iron for the base. When the fire burns down they're still running hot.

Fire bricks only dude.

**98tls** · 21st June 2009, 19:38

Cheers O,some great stuff in there.

**peasea** · 21st June 2009, 19:40

Originally Posted by soundbeltfarm

get the river rocks that are dense.

Are you suggesting that coastal rocks are smarter?

**Max Preload** · 21st June 2009, 19:42

Originally Posted by soundbeltfarm

not really a myth.
i have done a shitload of hangis now and i sometimes have a rock break but not explode and that is only when i pour some water over them to get some steam happening.

and that's only because of the temperature gradient through the cross-section and the expansion of the core and the outer being cooled rapidly.

**soundbeltfarm** · 21st June 2009, 19:47

Originally Posted by Max Preload

and that's only because of the temperature gradient through the cross-section and the expansion of the core and the outer being cooled rapidly.

why is it only the odd rock and not alot of them.

**Jez** · 21st June 2009, 19:51

I was thinking of building a frame from railway irons, then making a "facade" out of river stone to surround the iron frame. Idea being the frame, and stone absorb alot of the heat, and you basically have a large radiator for everyone to sit around.

Would look alot like the pic Doc posted from Cold Duck, but with a "hood" to catch and channel the smoke away.

**Headbanger** · 21st June 2009, 19:59

Heaps of good info. I'm going to pick and choose what suits

So I'll have a crack with the normal bricks and see if she holds up. I figure its not going to be anywhere as hot as an oven so we shall see.

I'm not intending to cook with the fire as I built a brick BBQ over Christmas.......well, I mounted my bbq on a brick base.

Can't provide pics as my work is so shit.

**geoffm** · 21st June 2009, 20:04

What a bout a pizza oven? I have a hankering for one, although our back yard and house layout doesn't really suit that sort of thing.
I blmae Hinny for this pizza addiction.
Geoff