Okay, so I’ve always wanted a wood-burning stove, but I didn’t want to shell out tons of cash for a fancy one. Plus, I like making stuff. So, I decided to build my own brick wood-burning stove. It was a bit of a project, but totally doable, and I’m here to share how I did it.
Gathering My Stuff
First things first, I needed bricks. I managed to find a bunch of used ones from a local construction site. Always ask before you take, of course! Some were a little chipped, but that just added to the rustic look I was going for. Besides the bricks, I also needed:
- Some mortar mix (the stuff that holds bricks together)
- A trowel (for spreading the mortar)
- A level (to make sure things weren’t wonky)
- A shovel
- Some metal pieces for the door and flue (I scrounged these from an old scrap pile)
- A spirit level or plumb bob
- Gloves
- Safety goggles.
Laying the Foundation
I started by digging a shallow pit where I wanted the stove to be. It wasn’t anything fancy, just enough to give the stove a solid base. Then I laid down a layer of gravel for drainage, I making sure it was level.
Building the Firebox
This is where the actual bricklaying began. I mixed up the mortar according to the instructions on the bag – it’s kind of like making thick, gritty pancake batter. Then, I started laying the bricks in a simple rectangular shape, spreading mortar between each brick. The key here is to keep checking with the level to make sure everything is straight and even. I built up the walls of the firebox, leaving an opening at the front for the door. I also left a smaller opening at the top,back side for flue.
Adding the Door and Flue
The metal pieces I salvaged came in handy here. I used one piece to create a simple door frame, mortaring it into the front opening. For the door itself, I just used a flat piece of metal that could slide open and closed. The flue was a bit trickier. I used some smaller metal pieces to create a short chimney, again mortaring it into the opening at the top. The important thing is to make sure the flue is tall enough to create a good draft.
Letting It Cure
Once the whole thing was built, I let it cure for several days. This is important because the mortar needs time to harden properly. I didn’t want my stove falling apart the first time I lit a fire!
The First Burn
Finally, the moment of truth! I built a small fire inside the firebox, just to test things out. It worked! The stove heated up nicely, and the smoke went up the flue just like it was supposed to. I was pretty stoked (pun intended).
Enjoying the Heat
Now I have a fully functional brick wood-burning stove that I built myself. It’s not the prettiest thing in the world, but it throws off a good amount of heat, and it’s perfect for those chilly evenings. Plus, it’s a great conversation starter. Everyone who sees it wants to know how I built it.
So, that’s my brick wood-burning stove story. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot along the way. If you’re thinking about building your own, I say go for it! Just be prepared to get your hands dirty and do a little bit of heavy lifting. And most importantly, have fun!
