Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

[hodgey1]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

It is my 12th week since starting this major backyard project. I have just completed the 13th ring and only have the Keystone at the very top of the dome left to have it fully enclosed. I have posted pictures below.

The last two rings I have begun cutting each brick using the bevel/angle method "wish I had from start". Thanks to MrChipster's posts and all the information from Boylanta. Once again I am going to repeat what a invaluable source the forum is and its members who's are so willing to help. There's no question in my mind that I would have never thought about starting this project without Forno Bravo and its members on the forum.

I hope to complete the outer chimney this weekend so I can start the curing process. My initial plan/dreams where to be able to cook pizzas for my birthday next week but that's not looking possible unless I could become unemployed and that wouldn't make my wife very happy!

[hodgey1]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

A look at ring 12

[deejayoh]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

One trick that really helps when you get this far is if you lay one brick for the next ring when you finish so that you have something for the others to grab onto.

[hodgey1]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

Here is a look at ring 11.

[hodgey1]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

Todd, Russell and Deejay, all great ideas that I'll try to use and thank you all for your input. The last ring I completed "11" I used quarter bricks.

[deejayoh]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

Looks like you are still using 1/2 bricks. It will be easier if you move to using thirds. Not as much weight to slide off.

Personally, with the smaller bricks I found that if the mortar was mixed right and I held the brick for a few seconds, I could get the bricks to stay in place with no additional support. But all the suggestions above are good ones if that is not working for you.

[boylanta]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

Hodgey,
I used a combination of the IT w/ some strips of 1/2" plywood.
I rounded the ends of the plywood w/ a belt sander, which made it easier to adjust the length by wedging the sticks where needed.
See the pics below.

Once the IT got the brick in place, I wedged a plywood stick in place & moved the IT for the next brick.

Todd B.

Hod,

You can use notched sticks, plywood disc, fish hook or modify you IT too

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

Hod,

You can use notched sticks, plywood disc, fish hook or modify you IT too

[hodgey1]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

After the encouragement from the forum members I have stepped back away from the ledge and realized that the FB board is not going to collapse from being moist "as I was fearing" after one of the wettest June/Julys ever here. Where I live receives more annual rain fall then Seattle 36.2", us 42.7" and we had nearly 19" in the short period of May/June/July .

The last weekend thou hot and muggy, made for good working conditions "no rain" and good progress on my WFO. As you can see from the pictures, I was able to complete rings 8, 9, 10 and 11. Also, "which I enjoyed thoroughly" I removed the inner arch form. The prospective from there is awesome to see for the first time. What a enjoyable sight.

I am now down to the last two or three rings to be completely enclosed. After finishing ring 11, I am finding it extremely difficult to build with the indefensible tool only. I'm contemplating removing IND tool trying the exercise ball technique? If anyone could way in with any advice it would be greatly appreciated.

[deejayoh]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

your FB board shouldn't be a problem if you have kept your oven tarped. I am more curious about your hearth, which appears to be slab on grade. Did you add anything to waterproof the concrete? If not, wicking is likely to be an issue. Could be that you are getting moisture coming up through the slab if you have had that much rain.

I built my oven the same way (slab on grade), but added xypex to the hearth concrete mix to prevent wicking. If you didn't do something like this, you'll have problems. You'll need to dig some pretty substantial french drains around the oven to carry away moisture.

edit: read back to the start of your thread. My $.02 is that plastic vapor barrier is probably not sufficient by itself to prevent wicking. Water is going to find its way in through the edges, through condensate. If your board is covered and still feeling wet, I suspect that's the issue. I had my oven under tarp through a very wet Seattle spring, and never had an significant moisture problems with the FB Board.

[hodgey1]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

It has not stopped raining here for weeks, 18.75" have fallen since May 1 . As you can see from my photograph I have not made much progress due to the rain, only two more chains completed.

I was warned by Boylanta a builder/forum member not to use FB board due to his constant worries of getting it wet during his build. I can not stress enough what a bad decision it was for me to use FB board.

Am I worrying to much? I need someone to weigh in how concerned I need to be about it getting damp/wet, am I going to have structural problems? I keep it tarped but even so it seems to be very moist when I uncover it due to curing concrete/small leaks of rain.

Help

[hodgey1]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

Oh, that is a large old wash tub upside down to act as a peak to shed water off while it's tarped.

[Gulf]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

Hodgey1,
What is in the middle of your oven Post 24, Pic #2?. I may have missed something, since I just tuned in

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

Cutting a brick to help you maintain bond works just dont make too small aka a "chip" you can make adj in the front 1/3 of dome and it will never be seen.

[hodgey1]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

Russell, should I cut the brick to avoid the ocasional verticle joint?

Todd, I opted to use the square bricks due to what seemed at the time along with all the other hurdles I faced to be too much of a challenge. I am now seeing that it would have been very doable had I just put my mind to it. Things are going pretty good and not as daunting as I assumed. I think I'll do the tapered bricks on my next build :-)

Chris