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My custom brick BBQ pit is letting all the heat escape
I built this brick pit in my yard thinking it would be perfect for slow smoking. After a few uses, I noticed gaps where the heat just pours out. I tried patching it with fire clay, but it cracked again fast. Now I'm stuck with a pit that wastes fuel and ruins my cook temps. What do you guys do to keep your DIY pits sealed up tight?
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phoenix_ward6mo ago
Did you wet the bricks down first before you slapped that fire clay mix on? If they're bone dry, they suck the moisture right out and cause it to split apart... I'm wondering if the type of brick matters too, like if some are more porous than others and just won't hold a seal no matter what you do.
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matthewl676mo ago
Even with that mix, you still gotta wet the bricks first, @phoenix_ward, right?
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noah_roberts426mo ago
Mixing fire clay with fine sand stops most cracking problems. The sand helps it handle heat changes without shrinking too much. Have you tried a 50/50 mix on completely dry bricks?
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rowan_wood6mo ago
50/50 mix on dry bricks sounds like a disaster. Dry bricks pull all the moisture out too fast, causing cracks. I can't believe anyone would try that without wetting them first.
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