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?

Totally get this, lol. It seems like everyone has a story about tripping over something dumb at home. Our homes are full of these tiny hazards we just stop seeing after a while. We move around on autopilot and then bam, coffee table leg wins again. It's almost like we're programmed to overlook the obvious dangers right under our feet. Makes you wonder how we make it through the day sometimes, lmao.

lol i feel this, my first woodworking project looked like it was put together by a drunk badger. i kept messing up simple cuts for weeks. then i found the 'hand tool school' podcast and it basically taught me how to hold a saw properly, which was clearly a skill i was missing. still make messy stuff but now i know why at least.