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[jeremywilliams]

Hey guys, I'd like to start off by saying Thanks for all the work and information you guys have made available. I have built 5 simple home built boilers over the past few years.Mostly for family. All of the heaters I have built have a 36"x36" water filled fire door. The problem is that it takes as much time and material to build one of these fire doors that it makes the expense alot higher than a simple door on most production built models. Granted that the water filled door allows you to put larger wood and capture alot of heat that may be lost , but it comes at a higher cost. I have a few neighbors interested in heaters but cant afford the materials and time it takes to build a water filled fire door.

Is there anyone who wouldn't mind showing me how to build a simpler door and draft system.Any help and ideas is very appreciated. Thanks guys!

[Scott7m]

Where r u located!?

[jeremywilliams]

Cullman alabama 35055

[jeremywilliams]

Noone builds there own fire door?          C'mon is it my southern accent?     am I missing something?

 Anyway thanks for those who messaged me their input. I was thinking someone might have took some pictures of a concrete filled fire door that might have some details on it that would make building a boiler a little simpler that what I have done in the past.Again Thanks and I appreciate it.

[fryedaddy]

Hicks Waterstove builds Doors either cast iron or steel with refractory

Scroll down the link, the one that says hicks on it is cast.
The one that doesn't say hicks is the steel one.

http://www.hickswaterstoves.com/Graphics/No.1/IndexNo1.html

Price list below

http://www.hickswaterstoves.com/Price.html

[idahohay]

Jeremy, I would stick with the water filled doors.  Steel doors of that size would likely buckle or warp.

[fryedaddy]

I have the Hicks largest steel door with the refractory in it.

It doesn't get to hot to touch on the outside and I've been heating with it for
two seasons, no problem so far.

[robash9608]

I built my door the same size as my firebox, 28x36. I have about 3" of refractory inside the door. I built the entire door out of 3/8 plate. I had to use my tractor to hang it on the furnace  . It was a pain to install but, it has not warped yet. I've been heating for 5 years now.

[BoilerHouse]

My fire box door is from a large wood stove that was being scrapped.  Made of cast iron, came complete with hinges and handle.  I could likely add a refractory if I chose, but so far I haven't. 

[jeremywilliams]

A buddy tried to use a cast door and frame off an old wood heater but somehow the front of his got hot and warped causing an air gap.

What type of cement are you guys using? Any special blends? I was goin to build my neighbor a heater but he don't have the extra money for the amount of materials it takes to build the water filled door . Thanks you guys! I really appreciate it!