mortar technique on fire brick dome

[careme]

Refractory mortar is supposed to be thin between
fire bricks (1/8th inch); yet in all photos I've seen of
brick domes in progress, the outer part of the joints
seem larger with greater amounts of mortar used.
Any advice on this?

[Les]

Re: mortar technique on fire brick dome

In a true refractory commercial setting you are probably correct. But many, many of these ovens have been built using wide joints (as you have noticed) and they seem to function just fine.

[careme]

Re: mortar technique on fire brick dome

Les, thanks, especially for the Edison quotation.
I will try to do as well as your photos. Just finishing
the foundation for a Tuscan all brick exterior. A neighbor
tells me, worry not, these things were made well by
prehistoric people. Careme (a baker)

[careme]

Re: mortar technique on fire brick dome

With a good brick saw, does anyone cut the fire bricks for the dome such that
the joints are pretty uniform? Any pictures of this?

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: mortar technique on fire brick dome

It does not get much better than Les's mortarless build. Also look at Gianni Foccacia's thread

[WesinThailand]

Re: mortar technique on fire brick dome

I cut all the firebricks for my 42" ID oven with a 4" grinder with a diamond wheel. It took 15 blades to make the cuts - It was tough but after 9 months of use(3 times min. per week) my mortar joints seem to be fine. The bigger and better saws would allow you the possibility to make more accurate cuts and use less mortar but in my opinion temperature change extremes are the worst enemy of WFO's. Lucky for me, here in Thailand, we don't experience that.