[Stoves] Diatomous earth insulative kiln bricks

[Paul Stubbs]

Steve wrote 

 

I'm teaching a few people how to make Rocket Stoves at a community CoOp near
Totnes, Devon, England early next month.

Pretty much just following Aprovech instructions.

The course is very short and I won't have time or kiln facilities to get
into making our own insulative bricks. 

I do however have a supply of diatomous earth insulation bricks which seem
to have worked well in a very small (olive oil can) Rocket Stove. 

These bricks are manufactured from the dredged  casings secreted by algae
and are intended for use as secondary insulation in ceramics kilns; if used
at the hot face they melt.  Those in my small stove haven't melted yet.
I've not heard of Aprovecho or anyone else using them in cook stoves.

 I'd appreciate any informed thoughts on the matter. I'm just about to make
a stove of the catering oil can size(which is what we will make on the
course). I'll then see how hot I can get it to see if the bricks melt in
this larger stove.

                                                   Steven Offord.

 

Hello Steve If the diatomite bricks you  are planning to use are the "Moler"
variety they will only be rated as suitable for use at around 800oC so I
would not expect them to last very long if you use the stoves for long
periods.

 

 A better bet are the vermiculite bricks made by the same Danish company.
msa at skamol.dk 

These I have tried for the same purpose in rocket stoves (They are rated to
1100oC) they are used in thinner slab form in wood stoves and can be bought
in good wood stove shops. 

 

 Crispin mentions using washes as a means of perhaps delaying the
inevitable. Purimachos in Bristol UK make a number of refractory glaze
washes but ive never tried them on this type of brick.

      What you may also consider are the various castable refractories that
they make for this project.

I too may be doing something similar in my neck of the woods so if you need
more help with refractories get in touch.

 Paul Stubbs ( potter, kiln builder, potters tool maker,long term stove
enthusiast)