My coal forge was smoking me out until I tried a simple brick trick

I was working on a set of fireplace tools last month and the smoke in my small garage shop was getting so bad I had to stop every ten minutes. I saw a guy on a video from a forge in Montana stack some old firebricks around the back of the hearth, so I gave it a shot. I arranged three bricks in a half circle behind the firepot, and it totally changed the air flow, pulling the smoke right up the hood. Has anyone else found a cheap fix for a smoky coal fire?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_hugo17d agoMost Upvoted

Yeah, the "loud pop and some flying bits" is nature's way of telling you your brick setup needs work. My first try with a regular patio brick sounded like a gunshot and left a chip in my workbench I now call "the reminder." Pre-heating firebricks in the oven sounds way better than my method of just hoping for the best.

troythompson21d ago

Oh man, that brick trick is a total lifesaver, isn't it? It works because it acts like a little wall to steer the air. Just a heads up though, you gotta use real firebricks for that, the kind that can take the heat. Regular red clay bricks can actually explode if they get too hot and have moisture inside. Found that out the hard way once with a loud pop and some flying bits.

taylor_hayes2521d ago

How hot does a firebrick need to get before it's safe to use? @troythompson is totally right about the regular bricks, that moisture turns to steam in a flash. I learned to always pre-heat my firebricks slowly in the oven for a few hours before they go near a serious fire. It drives out any leftover dampness. Saves a lot of worry and avoids a real mess.