Expert: James Ball - 10/25/2008

Question
I own an old mill wood stove 15 yrs old or so,and am replacing the bricks on one side,they were starting to crumble, problem is I can't get the remaining pieces out. they won't budge. They were installed sides first then bottom,so I'm trying to loosen up the bottom ones to get to the side ones,its like they're cemented in, the more I try to pry them they start to break. I've cleaned around the edges,tried w/a small pry bar to try to loosen them but they won't even budge an inch, I've hit them w/ a rubber mallet, no luck. Do I need to break the bottom ones up to get started..? I've got to get them replaced before I fire it up this year

Answer
Hello Derek, not sure how those bricks come out. what does the stove manual say for taking them out? if you don't have the manual then try to find it on the net or speak to your local wood stove store they might have a better idea.
if all else fails then breaking them might be the only way at least to find out what is holding them....but I am not sure I would do that.
James