A shape whose thickness narrows from one end to the other along its full length, so it can be laid with the length running through the lining. Wedge brick turns sprung roofs and circular linings 9, 12 or 13.5 inches thick, and like arch brick comes in numbered tapers that crews combine to hit a given radius. The mixed courses of a ladle or round furnace wall are worked out from wedge and straight counts.
Ladle wall turns on No. 2 wedge brick with a few straights to open the ring up.
Also heard as
- wedge
- end arch
- No. 2 wedge
Related terms
Arch brick
Tapered brick whose thickness narrows across its width, used to turn thin arches and rings.
Key
The last brick driven into an arch or ring to lock it tight, or a shape that tapers in width for turning circles.
Straight
The standard rectangular firebrick, 9 by 4.5 by 2.5 inches in US sizing, used as the counting unit for brickwork.
Closer
Brick cut to size to fill the last gap in a course, ring or wall.