I checked a book out of the library recently entitled "Woodstove Cookery." It seemed to be saying that the difference between wood cookstoves and coal cookstoves was that the grates are different, to allow for a different type of airflow needed for each kind of fuel. Said that the large holes in the grates intended for a coal fire makes a wood fire burn way too fast, and heats the grate so hot that it will warp and break. Also, it said that coal cookstoves have firebrick, whereas wood cookstoves have none. Is this correct?

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), September 03, 2001

Answers

Response to woodstoves have firebrick?

This must be dependant upon your kind of stove. Our woodstove, husband made it, a knock off of a stove we had seen, is lined on the bottom with fire brick, these retain the heat. We don't like a grate in our stove, because this burns the wood to fast and makes our stove have no coals in which to keep the house warm all night, and enough coals to start a new fire in the morning. It took alot of tweaking to get everything just right to heat the whole house with just this stove, but it works great now, have very few nights in which we get to hot (something that used to happen alot in the beginning!) I know nothing about coal! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), September 03, 2001.

Response to woodstoves have firebrick?

We have a Heartland cookstove - the Sweetheart model. It can be used to burn coal or wood, depends on the grate you choose to use. And YES - bottom and sides are lined with fire brick.

We had also had a large wood stove at one time. It was meant for heating, but it had two flat like shelves, and I would cook on it. It too was lined with fire brick.

Two years ago, we bought 3 box woodstoves that are for burning wood only. They did not come with fire brick. They were cheapos. However, the assembly directions said to either line the bottom with firebricks or sand. We used bricks.

-- dotte in MD (mother-ducker@webtv.net), September 03, 2001.

Hmmm.....our kitchen cook stove has both in it too. Grates and fire brick. You have to shake the grates to let the ashes drop down so you don't get a build up of ashes and smother out your fire. We also have the same set up with the other wood stove that will burn coal or wood. Now the best wood stove we have in the basement for heat is the one my husband put together with a 55 gallon drum. Put sand in the bottom, check for holes every year though, cut out the door...and light that fire. It is the most wonderful thing for heat !!! But you do have to let the fire go out to empty the ashes a few times during the winter. With these 3 and the old Kalamazoo coal stove (with grates too) that will burn wood and or coal too, in the parlor ( do people still remember what a parlor is ??, am I spelling it right?) we're all set for winter. We had a wood stove many years ago that didn't have a drawer or grates and you had to shut the fire down and freeze in order to empty the ashes out of it. Not a really great idea I thought. Once our stoves are on in October they stay on until April. Good Luck !!

-- Helena Di Maio (windyacs@ptdprolog.net), September 04, 2001.

My cookstove did not have fire brick inside, but when it began to deteriate, we lined the bad side with 1/2 firebrick. Never had a problem.

The "Woodstove Cookery" is a great book! Almost like a woodstove bible.

-- Cordy (ckaylegian@aol.com), September 04, 2001.

Just want to know if fire brick on top of the ash grate will slow down the burn time THANKS CHRIS

-- Nimrod (salsa@interlog.com), October 17, 2001.