42" Pompeii in Kentucky

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: 42" Pompeii in Kentucky

Oh, that's too bad CK. But don't worry. If you don't mind posting a pic of the crack it might help. But if its just credit card thick and smoke barley comes out, you could do what Eric just said quite successfully. You could also put additional mortar in it and a 1/4" thick patch on top from the outside. Yes, that area will crack again, BUT it will be just a hairline crack now and after you put on the ceramic blanket 2-3 layers thick and wire it down on the dome, no heat or smoke will escape and the oven will work exactly how it is suppose to.

Also, keep curing the oven to 700 or 800 deg a few days. I've experienced that the oven will form a few more hairline expansion cracks in other places, relieving the big crack and turning it into a common hairline. The weight of the dome and the mortared bricks will keep the structure sound, no worries there.

Is your oven a 42" dome? It does seem the bigger domes need a slower curing of the lower temps but IMHO the flames need to be spread out on the 42" floor and kept at temp for hours at a time otherwise on 4-6th firing (especially if it 'gets away from you') the dome gets a thermal shock it wasn't ready for b/c it's so big, it didn't really heat up properly on the 1st fires.

Your oven looks really good, you'll be in great shape and cooking in a few days!
-Dino

[Eric Pfeifer]

Re: 42" Pompeii in Kentucky

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I have fired my oven a couple of times and am dissapointed to say that I had some major craking of the dome. My first fire ws 100 degrees. Second 200, Third 300, Fourth 400. And then the fifth got away from me and exceeded 800. Thats when the cracking began some of them opened up nearly an eighth of an inch. I couldn't see fire throught the cracks but some smoke was making its way through. After the oven cooled the cracks decreased in size. Is this something to worry about? Is thereanything that I can do at this point? I haven't insulated or put the hardibacker aroung the outside yet so I still have easy access to the outside of the oven.

This is exactly what happened to me. One of the cracks was 1/8 inch thick and extended from the soldier brick row to the top of the dome, and was full thickness, and leaked smoke like crazy. After the oven cooled, I cut out the old mortar with an angle grinder and diamond wheel, and repointed the crack (both from inside, and outside--me crawling arms first through the arch with my fat gut) using this great buff-colored fireplace mortar in a caulk-gun tube, which you can get at home improvement stores. The stuff is easy to squeeze into the joints, and cures rock hard at 500 degrees. I have had two +700 heats since then, and no new cracks, and this original crack is sealed tight. I think these heavy brick ovens, especially if they laid upon an FB board (which are superb insulators, but do contract a little with the first heats) are under tremendous mechanical stress, and the heat is an invitation to relieve that stress via cracks. Once they settle in, and the few cracks repaired, I suspect they will be much more stable. Bottom line, the mortar in the tube is great for repairs.

[Dolf]

Re: 42" Pompeii in Kentucky

I must start with the disclaimer that I am a mason by need and not by trade, but I have thrown a table slab which is supported on 2 sides (corner) only and which extends some 20" and includes a basin. It has been working fine for years now, so I am convinced that with some nice structure steel rod (rebar I see you call it) there is no reason why your overhang can not be the size you like. I boxed mine with wood. Drilled & inserted the rods 4" into the wall and cast it. Week later I took die box away and just touched the sides up with a grinder where my boxing left untidy marks and tiled it for finish. I know this is perhaps a long way from your original plan, but if you want the working space. (Perhaps I miss the whole plot :-))

[ckdickerson]

Re: 42" Pompeii in Kentucky

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I have fired my oven a couple of times and am dissapointed to say that I had some major craking of the dome. My first fire ws 100 degrees. Second 200, Third 300, Fourth 400. And then the fifth got away from me and exceeded 800. Thats when the cracking began some of them opened up nearly an eighth of an inch. I couldn't see fire throught the cracks but some smoke was making its way through. After the oven cooled the cracks decreased in size. Is this something to worry about? Is thereanything that I can do at this point? I haven't insulated or put the hardibacker aroung the outside yet so I still have easy access to the outside of the oven.

[WoodchuckDad]

Re: 42" Pompeii in Kentucky

I have Vent envy

[ckdickerson]

Re: 42" Pompeii in Kentucky

Moving right along. This is after the garage addition is under roof and the metal framing around the oven and grill is almost complete. I started installing the concrete board this afternoon but didn't take any pictures yet.

[calipizzanapoletana]

Re: 42" Pompeii in Kentucky

Your oven is looking great CK!
I'm new to the site and the endeavor but am already driving my fiancee crazy over researching the skills and practices needed. Its her fault for coming up with the idea in the first place! Your latest oven interior shot shows some very impressive brick laying. Are you going to band the dome with CF sheets and encase it or leave it thinner? Also, how hard was it to get approval for the build from the local building inspector?
Looking forward to further posts!
-Si

[ckdickerson]

Re: 42" Pompeii in Kentucky

I put the roof on the addition this afternoon. I'll try to post some more pictures tomorrow.

[ckdickerson]

Re: 42" Pompeii in Kentucky

Eric,
I haven't even done any research on the curing process yet. I will order the lumber tomorrow to start the addition to my garage that will cover the oven. It is 12' x 36' and will be extra storage to get my lawn mower, four wheeler, tractor, ect. out of the garage. I'm sure it will take a couple of weeks and give my oven time to cure on it's own for a while before I begin the fire curing process. After I get the addition under roof I will look into what is involved in curing. The burner in the link you attached looks like a relatively inexpensive option to start with and I would think with gas it will be much easier to maintain a constant temperature.

[eprante]

Re: 42" Pompeii in Kentucky

CK,
Very nice work on the transitions to your inner arch and the arch to chimney.You are being way too hard on yourself. Everybody struggles with that part, I think you handled it very cleanly( but then I am an amatuer) It looks like it will draw very well. I think you may have surpassed Raffy for the quickest build. These ovens do become an obsession when you are in the process( my wife refers to ours as the mistress, it is the only mistress I am allowed). On to the curing. I used a halogen lamp for about a week, then progressed to using a natural gas burner so I could control the temps and run for hours to slowly drive the water out of the mortar.
Here is a link:Amazon.com: Multi-Jet Natural Gas Burner Small: Kitchen & Dining Good luck.

Eric

[meco211]

Re: 42" Pompeii in Kentucky

looks pretty good, think you are almost done

[ckdickerson]

Re: 42" Pompeii in Kentucky

I finally took time today to stop and clean up my mess. I pressure washed the brick on the stand and the stain where water splashed on the wet mortar did come off. I was relieved. I'll try to post some more pictures soon.

[ckdickerson]

Re: 42" Pompeii in Kentucky

Thought I would post a couple of pics of the thermocouple in action. I plugged in the thermocouple and laid a heat light over the brick that it is in and the temperature rose from 68 to 74 degrees in a minute or so. I built the thermocouples from wire that I purchased online and bought an inexpensive multimeter to read them. Total cost was $70 or so and I have four thermocouples with 6ft leads. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to place the other three? I have one embedded in a floor brick about a 1/4 of an inch from the cooking surface.

[ckdickerson]

Re: 42" Pompeii in Kentucky

After spending some time inside the dome today with a 2" surface grinder, not a place for someone who is clostrophobic I might add, I am much happier with the inside of the dome. Most of the brick cleaned up very easily. I also attached a picture of the not so pretty transition to the vent from the inside of the dome. I could take some mortar and dress that section up a little. I could have hid that from you but I'm trying to be honest here. And a point of advice....If your going to get inside a brick oven with a grinder wear safety glasses and a respirator.

[ckdickerson]

Re: 42" Pompeii in Kentucky

Eric, I,ve been following your thread and am anxious to see how your oven reacts. I know that first fire will be exciting for you and congratulations on laying the key stone. That final tap on that stone is a major feeling of accomplishment.

As for how fast I built the dome. I tend to let things consume my life for a period of time which is not a good thing. I've been averaging 12-14 hours a day on the oven. I think it's time to slow down a bit.