Nameless Range
Well-known member
With the building of our new home, one thing I really wanted to do was build a rock fireplace out of local rock. I had in been enough abandoned old cabins to assume that if some backwoods miner could do it 150 years ago without Youtube or Home Depot, that even I could do it. It was challenging and I learned a lot.
To begin with, I needed rock. To pick rock on National Forest, as long as it isn't valuable metals, requires a Free Use Permit, which is given at the District Ranger's discretion, and requires details about amount, purpose, location, etc.. That, or get permission from a landowner or the owner of a patented mining claim. I picked my rock from the hills west of Jefferson City, only a few miles from my home.
Scree is hotter than you can imagine once the sun comes up. Most of my picking was done in the early morning hours, which were beautiful.
It took about a dozen trips, the axles on my truck could only take so much at a time. Ford Ranger's aren't built for hauling rock. I was told to pick twice as much as I thought I would need, because putting the fireplace together was like piecing a puzzle, and some pieces you just don't need. This turned out to be true.
It started with a gas fireplace from Smitty's in Helena, and a hearth framed out.
At Mark's Lumber in Clancy, we picked out mantle. They had a great selection. We had it planed and cut to be 4 inches tall, 16 inches deep, and 6 feet wide. I sanded it and then coated it in polyurethane. I then plunged it to the fireplace frame with 4 8-inch lag bolts, as well as 3 L brackets on the top, which would eventually be covered in rock
Next, I nailed up some roofing paper and lathe to the fireplace frame, which was 3/4 inch OSB tongue and groove. I used more nails than was recommended to be safe, so every 4 or 5 inches.
To begin with, I needed rock. To pick rock on National Forest, as long as it isn't valuable metals, requires a Free Use Permit, which is given at the District Ranger's discretion, and requires details about amount, purpose, location, etc.. That, or get permission from a landowner or the owner of a patented mining claim. I picked my rock from the hills west of Jefferson City, only a few miles from my home.
Scree is hotter than you can imagine once the sun comes up. Most of my picking was done in the early morning hours, which were beautiful.
It took about a dozen trips, the axles on my truck could only take so much at a time. Ford Ranger's aren't built for hauling rock. I was told to pick twice as much as I thought I would need, because putting the fireplace together was like piecing a puzzle, and some pieces you just don't need. This turned out to be true.
It started with a gas fireplace from Smitty's in Helena, and a hearth framed out.
At Mark's Lumber in Clancy, we picked out mantle. They had a great selection. We had it planed and cut to be 4 inches tall, 16 inches deep, and 6 feet wide. I sanded it and then coated it in polyurethane. I then plunged it to the fireplace frame with 4 8-inch lag bolts, as well as 3 L brackets on the top, which would eventually be covered in rock
Next, I nailed up some roofing paper and lathe to the fireplace frame, which was 3/4 inch OSB tongue and groove. I used more nails than was recommended to be safe, so every 4 or 5 inches.
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