Cast iron Framework

I made a quite a few steel box stoves with a similar arrangement for the firebrick. The angle stands up quite well as long as you allow for differential expansion somehow. After the angle in the first stove I built went all wonky, I started notching the leg of the angle exposed to the firebox (the leg that gets hottest) every few inches, and it stayed reasonably straight. One difference from yours was that the other leg of the angle was tacked to the body of the stove - though only small, widely spaced welds.

The stoves were as small as one, which I still have, that took 1 foot sticks, and as large as the three I built for a boatyard that burned 4 foot logs. The design was similar to the Jotul 602 box stoves.

Ned Simmons

Great idea, Ned, about notching the hot leg of the angle. It's that leg that expands and bows up the ends of the rectangle. Although it's not very heavy, I have some old bedrail here... think that would hold up for a while? I really only need about 8 or 10 feet, or less - haven't measured it yet. It's not a real complicated framework, and it does sit loose on top of the brick. Thanks for the post. Ken.

The only thing about the bedrail that would concern me is that I expect the exposed leg will get hotter than a thicker piece of angle would - lower thermal conductivity to the cooler leg that's shielded by the brick. But if you've got the angle and don't mind doing the job again in a few years, if it becomes neccessary, I'd give it a shot.

Ned Simmons

Thanks, Ned.... I just may give it a go... Ken.