The Masonry Heater: Part II

The "core" is the functional part of a masonry heater. It's made out of fire brick, and is only visible when the heater is being built. Core kits are available, but Stephen wanted to build ours from scratch. When completed, the core is faced with decorative material, which could be brick, stone, soapstone, tile, or stucco. Our facing will be brick.
Here's the start of the core construction. The open space in front is the firebox.


Openings are created for the heat to circulate around the bake oven.


Soapstone is very good at retaining and then slowly releasing heat. For that reason it makes a good material for the construction of the bake oven. Mason and Stephen placed large slabs at the bottom, sides and back of the oven.


More firebrick and heat circulation chambers are added above:


The bake oven:


Here, the core is nearly complete:


Air chambers can be seen looking from above:


Stephen and Mason place slabs of firebrick to cap the core:


The completed core:


The bricks are delivered, stacked, and ready:


Playing with decorative design ideas:


Our next post will show the brick facing.