Okay, so I wanted to build a simple stove outside for some open-fire cooking. I didn’t want anything fancy, just something functional. Bricks seemed like the easiest way to go, so I started by gathering some old bricks I had lying around. I think there were about 30 of them, a mix of different types, but mostly standard red bricks.
Getting Started
First, I cleared a small area in my backyard, making sure it was away from anything flammable, like trees or dry leaves. I leveled the ground a bit with a shovel, just so the stove would have a somewhat stable base.
Building the Stove
Next, I laid out the first layer of bricks in a U-shape. This would be the base of the stove. I wasn’t too worried about making it perfect, just making sure the bricks were close enough together so there weren’t huge gaps.
- Layer 1: U-shape, forming the basic outline.
- Layer 2: Staggered the bricks, like you would when building a wall, to make it a bit stronger.
- Layer 3 & 4: Kept going, building up the walls of the U.
I didn’t use any mortar or anything to hold the bricks together. I figured the weight of the bricks themselves would be enough, and it would make it easier to take apart later if I needed to.
Adding the Finishing Touches
After I had built up the walls to a height I was happy with (about four layers of bricks), I placed a couple of longer, flatter bricks across the top of the open end of the U. This created a sort of “roof” over part of the stove, which would help to direct the heat and flames.
Test Run
Finally, I gathered some small twigs and dry leaves and started a small fire inside the stove. It worked pretty well! The bricks held the heat nicely, and the U-shape created a good draft. I even managed to cook a couple of sausages on it!
It’s not the prettiest stove, but it gets the job done. And the best part is, it was super easy and cheap to build. All I needed were some old bricks and a bit of time.