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Off Topic => Ten Forward => Topic started by: JMM on February 16, 2004, 09:18:44 pm

Title: DM or anyone else knowing about insulation and fireplaces?
Post by: JMM on February 16, 2004, 09:18:44 pm

I know it's called a fireback, unfortunately I cannot find any in Chihuahua city. I also know it is nothing more than an expensive piece of iron. Is there any alternative to a fireback that will greatly reflect heat into the room instead of being absorbed by bricks? I hate to see loss of heat and it does get cold here. If I have to I will get some iron cut and place it in the rear of the fireplace and on the sides, but if there are alternatives please let me know.

Thanks,

Jack  

Title: Re: DM or anyone else knowing about insulation and fireplaces?
Post by: 762 on February 16, 2004, 09:45:00 pm

It gets cold in Mexico???

-762 the geographically ignorant

Title: Re: DM or anyone else knowing about insulation and fireplaces?
Post by: Death_Merchant on February 16, 2004, 10:11:43 pm

LOL,

I only took one thermal kinetics class (easy stuff btw...), but I'll take a stab at it

Firebrick is obviously an insulator. Essentially, any radiant energy from the fire contacting it goes nowhere. You want to reflect as much radiant heat back into the room as possible.

A fireback simply acts as a reflector, reflecting the radiant energy back out. Any reflective, conducting surface will do. Obviously, it must take the heat.

A simple, thick plate of iron or stainless should do (say ~ 1/4" thick). Just make sure you rig it with some kind of stand. I suppose you could take thinner sheet and bend it to be self-standing. Any cheap stainless alloy will do. Bend it like this \_/

Don't bend it square. You want the heat to radiate back into the room.  

Title: Re: DM or anyone else knowing about insulation and fireplaces?
Post by: JMM on February 16, 2004, 10:42:37 pm

Thanks for the rapid reply DM, is why I asked, you are very intelligent in scientific matters. My apt in austin has iron in the design you speak of, but unfortunately the Mexicans are not to bright on that kind of stuff. Yes 762, the northern states of Mexico like Chihuahua and Nuevo Leon and other mountainous and desert areas get VERY cold indeed my friend. Even Central Mexico has it's cold spells now and then, southern Mexico and the Yucatan are tropical.

Darn, I left Friday morning and what happens? Austin, Texas had over two inches of snow. I bet Officer Mats, Seth, and Rogue and all those northern Texans and Okies had more than that! Gotta understand people, we get freezes during the winter in Texas, but snow is a rare sight indeed!    

Title: Re: DM or anyone else knowing about insulation and fireplaces?
Post by: JMM on February 16, 2004, 10:44:15 pm

There are some custom ironworks places here, I'm sure I could get some plates cut and some stands made for cheaper than what it would cost to buy and mail from the U.S.

Again, thank you for your assistance oh wise Jedi.  

Title: DM or anyone else knowing about insulation and fireplaces?
Post by: JMM on February 16, 2004, 09:18:44 pm

I know it's called a fireback, unfortunately I cannot find any in Chihuahua city. I also know it is nothing more than an expensive piece of iron. Is there any alternative to a fireback that will greatly reflect heat into the room instead of being absorbed by bricks? I hate to see loss of heat and it does get cold here. If I have to I will get some iron cut and place it in the rear of the fireplace and on the sides, but if there are alternatives please let me know.

Thanks,

Jack  

Title: Re: DM or anyone else knowing about insulation and fireplaces?
Post by: 762 on February 16, 2004, 09:45:00 pm

It gets cold in Mexico???

-762 the geographically ignorant

Title: Re: DM or anyone else knowing about insulation and fireplaces?
Post by: Death_Merchant on February 16, 2004, 10:11:43 pm

LOL,

I only took one thermal kinetics class (easy stuff btw...), but I'll take a stab at it

Firebrick is obviously an insulator. Essentially, any radiant energy from the fire contacting it goes nowhere. You want to reflect as much radiant heat back into the room as possible.

A fireback simply acts as a reflector, reflecting the radiant energy back out. Any reflective, conducting surface will do. Obviously, it must take the heat.

A simple, thick plate of iron or stainless should do (say ~ 1/4" thick). Just make sure you rig it with some kind of stand. I suppose you could take thinner sheet and bend it to be self-standing. Any cheap stainless alloy will do. Bend it like this \_/

Don't bend it square. You want the heat to radiate back into the room.  

Title: Re: DM or anyone else knowing about insulation and fireplaces?
Post by: JMM on February 16, 2004, 10:42:37 pm

Thanks for the rapid reply DM, is why I asked, you are very intelligent in scientific matters. My apt in austin has iron in the design you speak of, but unfortunately the Mexicans are not to bright on that kind of stuff. Yes 762, the northern states of Mexico like Chihuahua and Nuevo Leon and other mountainous and desert areas get VERY cold indeed my friend. Even Central Mexico has it's cold spells now and then, southern Mexico and the Yucatan are tropical.

Darn, I left Friday morning and what happens? Austin, Texas had over two inches of snow. I bet Officer Mats, Seth, and Rogue and all those northern Texans and Okies had more than that! Gotta understand people, we get freezes during the winter in Texas, but snow is a rare sight indeed!    

Title: Re: DM or anyone else knowing about insulation and fireplaces?
Post by: JMM on February 16, 2004, 10:44:15 pm

There are some custom ironworks places here, I'm sure I could get some plates cut and some stands made for cheaper than what it would cost to buy and mail from the U.S.

Again, thank you for your assistance oh wise Jedi.  

Title: DM or anyone else knowing about insulation and fireplaces?
Post by: JMM on February 16, 2004, 09:18:44 pm

I know it's called a fireback, unfortunately I cannot find any in Chihuahua city. I also know it is nothing more than an expensive piece of iron. Is there any alternative to a fireback that will greatly reflect heat into the room instead of being absorbed by bricks? I hate to see loss of heat and it does get cold here. If I have to I will get some iron cut and place it in the rear of the fireplace and on the sides, but if there are alternatives please let me know.

Thanks,

Jack  

Title: Re: DM or anyone else knowing about insulation and fireplaces?
Post by: 762 on February 16, 2004, 09:45:00 pm

It gets cold in Mexico???

-762 the geographically ignorant

Title: Re: DM or anyone else knowing about insulation and fireplaces?
Post by: Death_Merchant on February 16, 2004, 10:11:43 pm

LOL,

I only took one thermal kinetics class (easy stuff btw...), but I'll take a stab at it

Firebrick is obviously an insulator. Essentially, any radiant energy from the fire contacting it goes nowhere. You want to reflect as much radiant heat back into the room as possible.

A fireback simply acts as a reflector, reflecting the radiant energy back out. Any reflective, conducting surface will do. Obviously, it must take the heat.

A simple, thick plate of iron or stainless should do (say ~ 1/4" thick). Just make sure you rig it with some kind of stand. I suppose you could take thinner sheet and bend it to be self-standing. Any cheap stainless alloy will do. Bend it like this \_/

Don't bend it square. You want the heat to radiate back into the room.  

Title: Re: DM or anyone else knowing about insulation and fireplaces?
Post by: JMM on February 16, 2004, 10:42:37 pm

Thanks for the rapid reply DM, is why I asked, you are very intelligent in scientific matters. My apt in austin has iron in the design you speak of, but unfortunately the Mexicans are not to bright on that kind of stuff. Yes 762, the northern states of Mexico like Chihuahua and Nuevo Leon and other mountainous and desert areas get VERY cold indeed my friend. Even Central Mexico has it's cold spells now and then, southern Mexico and the Yucatan are tropical.

Darn, I left Friday morning and what happens? Austin, Texas had over two inches of snow. I bet Officer Mats, Seth, and Rogue and all those northern Texans and Okies had more than that! Gotta understand people, we get freezes during the winter in Texas, but snow is a rare sight indeed!    

Title: Re: DM or anyone else knowing about insulation and fireplaces?
Post by: JMM on February 16, 2004, 10:44:15 pm

There are some custom ironworks places here, I'm sure I could get some plates cut and some stands made for cheaper than what it would cost to buy and mail from the U.S.

Again, thank you for your assistance oh wise Jedi.