82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

[mrchipster]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Hi Chip, When you say I should be able to maintain larger bricks for the next course, do you mean if I use up the 16 narrow bricks and then cut all others to same size on the 5th row, I can then revert to using DJs 4 x 3 size on row 6 which will be cut from full size bricks?

Noticed on your photos Chip that you seem to have bevelled the entrance to your dome on the entry edges, looks quite neat, was this something you did when your arch was set?

Please clarify, I am not sure what either of thes two questions mean. I did not do any beveling of the inner or decorative arch, I did bevel the bricks for the thermal break to reduce contact of flue arch with the inner arch and then filled that area with 11/1 Perlcrete. I also beveled the floor brick at the transition to the flue arch and have insulating fire brick under my stainless floor in the flue area.

[yorkshireknight]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Hi DJ, Thanks for that clarification buddy, your spreadsheet has been a tremendous help, although to be honest with you my precision cutting leaves a lot to be desired.

Just been on your calculator DJ and yep it has given me the green light, I shall have an easy day tomorrow just marking the bricks and look forward to having the bit over the arch done this week end. Will keep you posted buddy.

Paul

[yorkshireknight]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

The arch looks fine, DJ recommends a reduction in brick width as you get higher to reduce the gap at the bottom of each brick. It is in no way required. And you should be able to maintain the larger bricks for the next course.

Hi Chip, When you say I should be able to maintain larger bricks for the next course, do you mean if I use up the 16 narrow bricks and then cut all others to same size on the 5th row, I can then revert to using DJs 4 x 3 size on row 6 which will be cut from full size bricks?

Noticed on your photos Chip that you seem to have bevelled the entrance to your dome on the entry edges, looks quite neat, was this something you did when your arch was set?

[deejayoh]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

If I'm understanding the question correctly, you can make the bricks in the upper courses any width you want. Just change the width in that column and it will calculate all the dimensions for you automatically.

[mrchipster]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Many Thanks Chip and Russell,

I will do as advised and cut the dome bricks as I come to them.
and thanks for the reassurance that no one will know, present company accepted.

Here is my photos of my efforts today. I've closed the arch !!

As you can see I still made the centre arch brick too short,(again) it was the right length before I cut it

I have now used all the second hand bricks I bought, bar 1 or 2 and I have decided to go with new ones from here on as the second hands were of different heights and not in the best of condition and gave me more work to do to get to this stage.

Now another quandary for you expert guys, according to Dejoahs spreadsheet I need to make the remaining row bricks 4" x 3" (ish) but I have 16 new part cuts which are 3 1/4 wide If I taper the sides from 3 1/4 to 2 3/4 for instance does it make a vast difference to obtaining a round shape.?

It would be a shame to waste these I think but unsure if it would work.
any help would be appreciated.

The arch looks fine, DJ recommends a reduction in brick width as you get higher to reduce the gap at the bottom of each brick. It is in no way required. And you should be able to maintain the larger bricks for the next course.

[yorkshireknight]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Many Thanks Chip and Russell,

I will do as advised and cut the dome bricks as I come to them.
and thanks for the reassurance that no one will know, present company accepted.

Here is my photos of my efforts today. I've closed the arch !!

As you can see I still made the centre arch brick too short,(again) it was the right length before I cut it

I have now used all the second hand bricks I bought, bar 1 or 2 and I have decided to go with new ones from here on as the second hands were of different heights and not in the best of condition and gave me more work to do to get to this stage.

Now another quandary for you expert guys, according to Dejoahs spreadsheet I need to make the remaining row bricks 4" x 3" (ish) but I have 16 new part cuts which are 3 1/4 wide If I taper the sides from 3 1/4 to 2 3/4 for instance does it make a vast difference to obtaining a round shape.?

It would be a shame to waste these I think but unsure if it would work.
any help would be appreciated.

[mrchipster]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

I would probably remake brick in the second photo because it seems to be much to short. I believe if you start with a whole brick you will have plenty of material to fill the void. If all of your remaining arch bricks are that shape then adjust with the dome bricks as they are placed, cut them close to the desired shape just before mortaring them in. Grinding in that area after the dome is finished would difficult.

Finish the arch at this point, and bring the dome up course by course, do not prepare any of the dome bricks that meet the arch until the previous course is complete. It is difficult to predict the shape of those dome bricks that intersect the arch until you are at that exact point.

Remember to shape and set the brick next or on the arch first and adjust the next brick or two to maintain your dome shape. Cutting the dome bricks that contact the arch are more difficult to cut if done last as you will have complicated angles to work with.

Russell's advice is sound. No one that sees the oven completed will ever see the flaws you know are there, and to them it will be amazing that it even exists, and you made it.

Keep on keep'in on. Nice build...

As an example here is one of my more visible brick laying flaws that becomes real obvious whe the sun is just right...but no one has ever mentioned to me they have seen this. They only comment on how nice the stairs and wall look.

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

York,

Oh well, anyone one of us who said we had a perfect build is lying . Looks like you you only neednto do four or so bricks. However you could adjust the angle dome brick from the top to the bottom to match closer to mating with the arch brick. In this area no one will ever see or know except you and us guys and gals on the forum . Your choice.

[yorkshireknight]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Thanks for that advice Chip,
would I be best making it smoother when the bricks are set or before?

I attach photos of my 'warts and all'.

Photo 1 shows my elation of cutting the perfect template.
Photo 2 shows my big mistake !!
Photo 3 & 4 shows the gap I have left myself with.

So am I right in thinking that the end of top brick will be cut at an angle to meet with the arch brick?
I think your right Chip that putting cement under this part would eventually fall out so cutting seems to be the solution to get me out of my blues.

[mrchipster]

Re: 82cm (32&quot Corner in Bulgaria

A EUREKA MOMENT, then a COMEDY OF ERRORS,

After Chips assistance (again)and seeing Utah Beavers template, I set off to my pile of bricks this morning with a positive outlook.

I took a thin size brick and using a piece of string marked the points for cutting of the centre arch brick, I duly cut the brick on the markings and on applying my IT to it afterwards it fit like a glove. EUREKA I cried..........

My euphoria was soon dampened when I placed the template on the real arch brick, marked and cut only to find I had cut the damn thing the wrong way round, I also noticed that the arch bricks which I had previously tapered ready for the Vector measuring were not long enough by about 3/4 inch.

So anyone reading this who may adopt this arch transition model in the future, when laying out your arch bricks make them longer than you think before cutting. also when using templates make sure you have it the right way round.

All that being said I will have to redo the centre arch brick, the others which are a tad short I will have to live with, it will mean the overlaying bricks across the arch are slightly longer than the arch bricks but I reckon a little cement under there will make it smooth.

I am still on the fourth row and will close my arch when completing this point on my next day at the brick pile, until then thanks everyone for getting me this far I may not be the brightest of builders but I do try.

Pictures to follow in next post.

The inner arch bricks being a little short is not a serious issue, the addition of mortar will not hold it will just fall off after several fires, you might want to take an angle grinder to the dome bricks at the intersect to make the transition smoother as there will be plenty of mass at that location due to the intersect with the arch.

[yorkshireknight]

Re: 82cm (32&quot Corner in Bulgaria

A EUREKA MOMENT, then a COMEDY OF ERRORS,

After Chips assistance (again)and seeing Utah Beavers template, I set off to my pile of bricks this morning with a positive outlook.

I took a thin size brick and using a piece of string marked the points for cutting of the centre arch brick, I duly cut the brick on the markings and on applying my IT to it afterwards it fit like a glove. EUREKA I cried..........

My euphoria was soon dampened when I placed the template on the real arch brick, marked and cut only to find I had cut the damn thing the wrong way round, I also noticed that the arch bricks which I had previously tapered ready for the Vector measuring were not long enough by about 3/4 inch.

So anyone reading this who may adopt this arch transition model in the future, when laying out your arch bricks make them longer than you think before cutting. also when using templates make sure you have it the right way round.

All that being said I will have to redo the centre arch brick, the others which are a tad short I will have to live with, it will mean the overlaying bricks across the arch are slightly longer than the arch bricks but I reckon a little cement under there will make it smooth.

I am still on the fourth row and will close my arch when completing this point on my next day at the brick pile, until then thanks everyone for getting me this far I may not be the brightest of builders but I do try.

Pictures to follow in next post.

[mrchipster]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

But what Im baffled is, because my row hasn't got to this height yet, how do I know how high to elevate the string up the brick?

I look forward to your next post Chip. Many Thanks.

You can use the previous (lower) adjacent brick as a guide. Just make sure you have enough brick left at the inner edge to maintain the interior of the dome and a landing surface for the dome bricks that will go on top of the cut portion of the arch.

The arch bricks will tend to reach further back into the dome just like the dome bricks have a smaller radius from the center when measured from straight up, even though they still maintainable true 16 inch radius from the floor.

[mrchipster]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Thanks for the 2nd diagram Chip, SO, I can draw a line with my IT/string for the inner measurement 16" and do I then just mark off a further brick length (4 1/2 inches ) up the string and then mark the brick at that point? Like lining up sites on a rifle for instance.

Not sure what you mean? If by 16 inch if that is the inner radius of your oven then correct.

One further question Chip, The vector going to the right, is that marked from the centre point of my IT(which usually points to the middle of the brick rows OR is it marked by the top side where the top of the IT rest on the brick top?
Hope that's clear for you buddy and you get my drift.

That vector is the shape of the interior of the oven, the brick locating and supporting piece of the IT. Both the center of the brick and the top intersecting points of the IT positioned are close to the same as the inner radius of the dome, either one would be close enough for this kind of brick work.

Once again your invaluable help is much appreciated.

PS hows the weather in Minnesota? my sister and brother in law live in Loveland Colorado, not sure how far that is from you but they have had it bad with the flooding there, he works up in Estes Park and the road up to it has been completly washed away up the Gorge alongside the Big Thompson River. Hope your keeping dry buddy.

Just medium rain here in Minnesota today, the storm remnants not the real storms they got in Colorado. We are almost 800 miles away from there.

[yorkshireknight]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Thanks for the 2nd diagram Chip, SO, I can draw a line with my IT/string for the inner measurement 16" and do I then just mark off a further brick length (4 1/2 inches ) up the string and then mark the brick at that point? Like lining up sites on a rifle for instance.

One further question Chip, The vector going to the right, is that marked from the centre point of my IT(which usually points to the middle of the brick rows OR is it marked by the top side where the top of the IT rest on the brick top?
Hope that's clear for you buddy and you get my drift.

Once again your invaluable help is much appreciated.

PS hows the weather in Minnesota? my sister and brother in law live in Loveland Colorado, not sure how far that is from you but they have had it bad with the flooding there, he works up in Estes Park and the road up to it has been completly washed away up the Gorge alongside the Big Thompson River. Hope your keeping dry buddy.

[yorkshireknight]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Hi Chip, I was just reading your build for the millionth time trying to get my head around this vector and string bit.
Many thanks for your diagram buddy.
What I am most apprehensive about (apart from being baffled) is:
as you can see my IT doesn't swivel.
I tied a piece of string to the centre of IT and marked off 16" (int diam) and another mark another 4 1/2 inches further and tried to take a line on the top centre arch brick.
But what Im baffled is, because my row hasn't got to this height yet, how do I know how high to elevate the string up the brick?

I look forward to your next post Chip. Many Thanks.