82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

[yorkshireknight]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

another day in the life.......

Today I looked at Deejays spread sheet, I had actually downloaded that some time back and forgot all about it and proceeded to narrow the sides of the half bricks I had previously cut with my imported UK whizzer.
I am pleased to say it went easier than I thought although for some reason some of the cuts were of a different dimension.
Now I have something that looks like a circle with smaller gaps. ( pictures attached)
Not doing a very good job of cutting the floor there is a substantial gap between (header) course and floor in places but I do hope they will fill with ash, as previously mentioned.

I will adopt Chips 3 cuts 2 bricks when I come to use the full bricks again.

Faith in Virginia, little question for you, did you lay your bricks on there sides when you got higher up or from the start?

I didn't think of it before but I have now put up a large sheet to help prevent the dust going into the oven area, its been a hot 35 degrees today and I look like a blooming snowman.

I also made a small amount of home brew with the materials here and put some on waste bricks. hmmm maybe I moved them too early but it doesn't seem to be working is there a secret for making them stick?
I also used some fire cement just on its own and it seemed easy to play with will look at the results in the morning.

It says on the Fire cement packet that 8mm is the maximum width of the fill ( I think, Its in Bulgarian ) is this why we tend to use home brew to overcome any larger gaps?

I am a little worried about mortaring the gaps until I am satisfied with the mix working, so until further experiments,....

I need to also look at the IT and the arch formation.

I did ask a question earlier but has not been answered regarding how to make the template for the arch, so if anyone can read that post and help I would be much obliged.

So if theres anything you see on the photies that looks untoward please let me know.

Faith, you must be a glutton for punishment if your embarking on another oven project!!!

Thanks to all who have been of great assistance over the last few days.....................don't go away !!!

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Yorkie,

FYI,

Faith is one of the premier bread bakers on the WFO forum, you need to see some of her (I think Faith is a "her") creations.

[Faith In Virginia]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Thanks yorkshireknight, That is the oven I built a few years ago. the oven is used regularly and the solder bricks bricks at the bottom have done just fine. I am getting close to starting my new ovens it's getting higher on my to do list. :-)

[yorkshireknight]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Looks amazing Faith in Virginia another great build !!

[Faith In Virginia]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

I stood my brick on end and it has worked great for my oven. Here is a picture.

[mrchipster]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Hi Russell,
Yes its my intention to focus on the inner joints, but as you can maybe see from the photos the back joints are way big, maybe because its hard to make a circle with wide flat fronts, so I'm hoping a little angle will make the fronts smaller to get a better round shape and at the same time closing the back slightly.

So now we have Bag Balm for milking cows, I never realised udders could be so rough perhaps I shall try some on the missus. !!!!!

Paul

A little shaving of the inside sides of the brick will significantly reduce the gap at the back.

[texman]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Hi Russell,

So now we have Bag Balm for milking cows, I never realised udders could be so rough perhaps I shall try some on the missus. !!!!!

Paul

Good Luck with that.

[yorkshireknight]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Hi Russell,
Yes its my intention to focus on the inner joints, but as you can maybe see from the photos the back joints are way big, maybe because its hard to make a circle with wide flat fronts, so I'm hoping a little angle will make the fronts smaller to get a better round shape and at the same time closing the back slightly.

So now we have Bag Balm for milking cows, I never realised udders could be so rough perhaps I shall try some on the missus. !!!!!

Paul

[mrchipster]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Row lock for first course diagram. Also an option

Thanks for the complement but there are much nicer builds out there than mine.

[yorkshireknight]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Hi Chip, but I shall have to decline your kind offer of hand lotion.
You seem to have started a bit of a cult with that one my friend.

Now then serious business this oven making malarkey, on my last post I have shown the bricks around the dome albeit not cut to shape yet and thought about your little tip on the splits although I wont be going to that extreme I chose bricks from my pile that were a smidgeon taller than the floor bricks and hope this will catch the peel rather than the mortar, otherwise we shall just have to be more careful.
Thank you for the diagram, I have seen your impressive build and I always peruse those who have taken the time to help me with my build and Im very happy to receive any criticism from anyone if it helps me to make my project anywhere near as good as those I've seen and admired.

Paul



paul

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Paul,

I was one of those builders who wanted a tight joint front to back, top to bottom. It took me alot of time at the wet saw to accomplish 1/16"-1/18" mortar joints. If I were to do all over again I would focus on tight inner joints (inside the dome) only and use my time resources elsewhere. Homebrew mortar is you friend. But that said, if you need or want to taper or bevel your bricks (which will take much time and very dusty with an angle grinder) look up DJs' spreadsheet on calculating brick cuts or JCG31's brick table. Either one of these get you in the ball park. Again, IHMO, focus on the tight internal joints and not so much on the outer joints. I use "bag balm" for my hands, this is what farmers use for milk cows udders.

[yorkshireknight]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Thanks Cobbler for the tip, nearly all the locals here have a homemade still and make a hooch called Rakia, if they didn't drink so much I think they could sell it commercially to the aviation industry, Im sure it would make aeroplanes fly.
If you have any ailing problems stings, bites, bad back, yes bad backs !!?? they recommend rubbing it on the affected part, they make it from either plums, apples grapes or a combination which they have in abundance here in everyones garden.
I think we are the only home in Bulgaria without an orchard, but we have planted a pear tree!

[mrchipster]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Chip, thanks for your info again and I shall look at the little niggle you mentioned about the peel catching on the mortar joint and yes I shall reread about this innovative design.
I like it. Can I do it ???? we will see.
Dave , Russell & Texman
thank you for the clarification on tinker tailor soldier sailor, I must admit I was unsure and have read many posts on the matter as to which one may be best BUT NOW I have a third choice and on reflection I think your right Dave a soldier is a design flaw and so I am going outside soon to look at laying them flat ( header of half brick ) It does make sense that they would be more stable and like Chip says you can raise it to your desired height perhaps 2 or 3 high.
Im all for an easy life and the less cutting I do the better, my bricks are a mess little knocks here and there but beggars cant be choosers I suppose but I do admire, nay, envy, the clean cut sides of your builds.
PS any recommended product for the Hand Lotion Chip?

Attached is diagram of how I did my dome and how I wish I had done it with splits for the first layer.

My wife gave me some of her lotion from a company called Arbonne it was the remineralizing body lotion, their Seasource detox spa line. Not sure if you can find it but she said she can get more if needed. Let me know she should be able to hook you up.

Splits are available to purchase but in your location may be difficult to find since it seems as if you are using old or possibly hand made brick. If you cannot find splits you might consider laying your first layer as Rowlock Half bricks. That would eliminate the seam issue, make the bricks easy to cut and it would be stable and strong, you might get a few more vertical joints lining up between the first and second course but it would be much easier than cutting bricks to the proper thickness.

[yorkshireknight]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Thanks for the support & inspiration Russell,

I have just been looking (yep only looking ) and scratching my head a lot down at my pile of bricks.
I have sorted them to some sort of even height around the perimeter of floor because I have various lengths and thicknesses AND widths, nothing seems to be uniform in Bulgaria............... anyhow,
I know it will be more work with the grinder but I am going to angle the sides to get a better fit,time I have plenty of so I must curb my enthusiasm and take it slowly.

So a couple of more questions before I go steaming ahead if you guys would be so kind,

What would be the size of the cut angled brick, ie width of the top and bottom, I have just drawn a couple of lines on a half brick measuring about 10mm in on both sides at one end and about 5mm in on the other or is there a mathematical way of doing it.

Question 2 Forgive my ignorance but I was thinking of my next step regarding the arch.
My oven opening is 16inches and the height would be 10 inches (being about 60%) of the dome. But How do I make a template for the arch?
I have just cut a piece of thick hardboard 16 wide x 10 inches high and placed a pliable piece of hardboard on the 0 and 16" mark and bent it until it reached the 10" height mark ( hope I'm being clear ) and drew a pencil line on its natural curve.

Is this the method used or must I take into account the 2nd or 3rd brick where the side arch would start to curve and start the pencil line from there?

Confused as ever and await your continued much needed assistance.
I attach a few pictures to try show what I mean.
Many Thanks
Paul

[cobblerdave]

Re: 82cm Corner Underway in Bulgaria

Gudday
Old old Italian said to me once " fingers were made for picking da noses not playing with da mortar" now I don't pick my nose but for some reason I can't stop myself from getting mortar on my hands. Use ordinary vinegar just pour it on you damaged hands and it will take the sting away instantly.
Regards dave