awheelterd
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2007
- Location
- Kenly, NC
Anyone ever built their own doors/surround for a masonry fireplace? Bonus points for some sort of integrated forced air heat exchanger. First off, I know a wood burning masonry fireplace is not anywhere near efficient heat, I don't care. I love having a nice crackling fire in the fireplace. It would just be neat to get a little more heat off of it. And I just seen to like projects that are a huge waste of time with little to no gain. The main goal is to be able to seal the fireplace off at night when the fire is burned out and the coals are smoldering. I have a vent to the outside for makeup air.
I'm thinking 2x2 or 2x3 angle framing the top and sides of the fireplace opening and a 3x3 square tubing on the bottom. Frame the doors out of 1x1 angle so I can set the glass in them (tempered glass?) Maybe lift off hinges and then frame around the inside of the angle with square stock that I can attach smoker gasket to. My thought is that the heat exchanger would coming and come back out of the square tubing on the bottom. I can't decide if I just want to do a simple, straight in 20", up the back wall 20", over 16", then back down and come back to the front with 3" square tubing or something more elaborate that creates more surface area.
I'm thinking 2x2 or 2x3 angle framing the top and sides of the fireplace opening and a 3x3 square tubing on the bottom. Frame the doors out of 1x1 angle so I can set the glass in them (tempered glass?) Maybe lift off hinges and then frame around the inside of the angle with square stock that I can attach smoker gasket to. My thought is that the heat exchanger would coming and come back out of the square tubing on the bottom. I can't decide if I just want to do a simple, straight in 20", up the back wall 20", over 16", then back down and come back to the front with 3" square tubing or something more elaborate that creates more surface area.