Furnace mixtures - a reliable assistant in the construction of stoves and fireplaces

The furnace is a unique structure, serving people from time immemorial. The craft of building furnaces has turned into a real art. Properly selected materials and mortar are the main condition for building a good furnace. The modern market of goods demonstrates various furnace mixtures, differing in purpose, properties, composition.

Benefits of furnace mixtures

Self-preparation of masonry mortar requires the purchase of all ingredients, adherence to precise mixing ratio is a complex and lengthy process. Therefore it is more convenient to use dry compounds, although they are more expensive than mixtures for furnaces made by own hands. They already include all the necessary components, you only need to add water (the instruction contains all the information necessary for this). Currently, the popularity of ready-made dry kiln mixes is increasing. These compounds have two huge advantages, providing an advantage over the usual solutions.

First, ease of use - you only need to mix them with water with a mixer.

Secondly, the elimination of the possibility of error in the composition, which allows a person who does not have professional experience to take up work and lay out the furnace without the risk of subsequent destruction and deformation, and a wide choice of this material guarantees the ability to easily pick up everything that is needed.

Mixes for furnaces

Starting the construction of the furnace, it is necessary to make the right choice not only of the refractory material, but also of the masonry mortar.

There are three types of mortar:

• Heat resistant solutions: resistant to deformation during heating / cooling of the furnace. Such solutions are designed for high static loads.
• Heat-resistant solutions: resistant to high-temperature deformation, able to cope with both static and dynamic loads.
• Refractory solutions: combine the properties of the two previous ones. These mixtures are more versatile and able to withstand the impact of the highest temperatures.

A common mortar is not suitable for laying ovens due to its instability and rapid loss of strength under the influence of high temperatures.

Features of the use of refractory mixture

The application of a masonry refractory mixture to the surface of a stone or brick is necessary for the safe operation of the furnace. It creates a sealed barrier for breaking the thrust due to possible air ingress into the furnace. Also, the refractory mixture minimizes the possibility of carbon monoxide penetration into the living quarters, which in itself is a great danger to human life and health. Dry kiln mixes always contain additives, a number of fillers (plasticizers can be added to increase ductility and elasticity when used). Types of solutions vary depending on the purpose of use:

• For furnaces and fireplaces, for facing firebox chambers - clay or clay mud solutions;
• When building chimneys and finishing works - sand-cement, clay cement, lime-cement mortars;
• For the construction of foundations, parts of chimneys located above the roof, - cement mixtures.

Due to the presence of special elements and additives in the composition of mixtures for fireplaces and stoves, the maximum integrity of the joints remains for a long period of time (practically eliminating the possibility of cracking, but only when a solution of small thickness is applied).

Brick for masonry stoves

In the process of constructing stoves and fireplaces, a building material such as brick can be used. To build the basis of the furnace (firebox and chimney system) use the simplest clay full-bodied brick (first grade).

The second grade of brick has a pinkish color, unbaked. It is used for the construction of minor parts of the furnace.

The third, the so-called iron ore, is dark brown, durable. Suitable only for the construction of a stove.

Self-preparation of the mixture

Considering the conditions for the subsequent operation of the furnace or fireplace to be built, it is possible to prepare a furnace mixture based on the following components:

• clay;
• cement;
• lime.

It should be noted that the obligatory components of self-prepared mixtures are clay and sand. Plasticity of the material is increased after the addition of lime milk. Asbestos is used to increase strength.

Disadvantages of mixtures of this type are considered insufficient strength and unattractive appearance.

The furnace from time immemorial is a necessary attribute of a person's life, helps and keeps warm in cold days, and cooks food. It is important to properly build it, following the rules of construction. The use of dry compounds saves time and virtually eliminates the mistakes that occur during the mixing of components for the masonry of fireplaces and stoves.