I am considering building a stove out of stainless steel. I want to us stainless steel because the stove will have a double outer jacket to pass water through and heat it.
Will a wood fire sitting directly on stainless steel corrode it? Would a higher grade of stainless steel, say 316 instead of 304, prevent this?
Should the stainless steel be protected in some way, perhaps by a bed of fire bricks (at least) under the fire, to prolong its life? Or will stainless steel stand up to exposure to fire without corroding for a long time?