[Cob] has anyone made their own quicklime?

[karl and tabitha o'melay]

has anyone made their own quicklime? I have been working for a historic 
stone mason for the last few months & he told me the other day that he 
is going to make his own quicklime. i said i'd like to part of that 
experiment. he said that i can do it myself by sticking a piece of 
limestone in my wood burning stove (where temperatures exceed 1400 
degrees). he said you'll be amazed the piece of limestone will retain 
it's shape just lighter. allegedly, when you stick the piece into water 
it "reacts" dissolves into lime putty ready to be slacked.

is it really that easy?

has anyone tried to do this?

are there any additional hazards beyond the standard "quicklime is 
dangerous stuff"?

k-)