Too dirty?

[Telmah]

The previous owners of the house I am about to buy have used hundreds of fire bricks as pavers for paths. They have been in the ground for 7-10 years. Can they be cleaned up and used in an oven? Any recommendations on how to clean them?

[SCChris]

Re: Too dirty?

Wash and scrub and then dry them. Are they really firebricks?

Chirs

[jeeppiper]

Re: Too dirty?

they are probably red clay bricks, not fire bricks.

[SCChris]

Re: Too dirty?

Jeep, That's my bet too.. But just in case..

Chris

[brickie in oz]

Re: Too dirty?

Pictures, we need pictures.

[nissanneill]

Re: Too dirty?

Easiest way to clean any "dirty" bricks is with a pressure washer with a wide adjustable p]spray rather than a pencil jett them drain and then mortar them into place.

Neill

[Telmah]

Re: Too dirty?

Definitely firebricks, yellow with clean, sharp edges. Tough too, a 1000lb limb from a locust fell and drove several 2-3 feet into the ground, I haven't found any broken pieces yet..
I am trying to attach a picture now... Here goes.

[michelevit]

Re: Too dirty?

if you already have a pizza oven, cook them!
The high heat will clean them nicely. Make sure they are dry.

[Tscarborough]

Re: Too dirty?

You don't need an oven, just build them into a very loose pile and build a fire on top of them.

[Telmah]

Re: Too dirty?

You don't need an oven, just build them into a very loose pile and build a fire on top of them.

Thanks! Great idea. Don't have an oven yet, but I do have a couple of campfire rings, and can make a makeshift fire pit or kiln-like structure...

[Telmah]

Re: Too dirty?

Here (finally) is a picture- dug 400 or so of them out of the garden paths. Can anyone tell by looking what type of firebrick these are?

[boerwarrior]

Re: Too dirty?

you could weigh them and then measure the dimensions to calculate the density.

After you know that, here is a good reference that could help:

Firebricks are actually fire clay bricks. Thermal conductivity. Cutting with diamond wheel.