Jay Hughart

Ok I scored 25lb of Hawthorn bond fireclay. Should I just mix it to a mortar like consistency with water or do I need to add anything to it? Sand pea gravel portland cement ect? I think the clay alone will be fine but I have never actually worked with it and chipping the motar from the top of the barrel was dusty and messy wanna get it right this time! Thanks for everyones help and input!

Yes I was getting 600f in the center and that was before I got my vent pipe extended to up above the roof. I had about 10Ft of ex pipe rise now I have about 16ft. So I should be even hotter now as the draw has improved somewhat. Oh and I was not pushing it hard. I would expect 600f would be easily achieved now.

My Stove has a belly shaped stainless steel  55 gallon drum. The bottom is bent and dented. I put plaster of paris on top of it about 3/4" thick for a smooth cooking surface but it insulates so darn well I cannot get water to boil even when pushing the stove hard! Anyone know of a pourable suitable mix or whatever I could use?? Also I am getting a good ring of heat about 1.5 inches in from the ring on the barrel top. Does this mean I should adjust my gap? I get about 300F there and about 200F max in the center. The plaster of paris has some amazing insulating properties and it will hold up to really high temps! Anyhow just trying to get a smooth cooking surface that conduct enough heat. The plaster was a fail and im not looking forward to chipping it out!