Starting a 30" Pompeii oven in Minneapolis

[gastagg]

Re: Starting a 30" Pompeii oven in Minneapolis

Got the forms for the stand done. Ran out of time to pour the stand tonight. Will get it tomorrow.

[mrchipster]

Re: Starting a 30" Pompeii oven in Minneapolis

Got the forms for the stand done. Ran out of time to pour the stand tonight. Will get it tomorrow.

Looking great. Very interesting shape. I cannot wait to see it standing on it's own.

[gastagg]

Re: Starting a 30" Pompeii oven in Minneapolis

Well, I got the stand poured today, barely. Following the advice of my architect brother and a civil engineer friend, I rented a concrete vibrator. After pouring about 1/2 the concrete, I started to vibrate the concrete and the forms started to blow out where I was vibrating. You can see the pics. Once I removed the vibrator, everything was fine. I added some additional braces and finished the pour. A little bulging here and there with the hardboard as you can see. I used a mallet to vibrate the forms once I was done to remove air pockets.

If I did this again, I'd obviously use thicker boards, add more braces, and have my civil engineer friend perform what he calls a "form inspection" before the pour. But at this point, I am just thankful that the forms held and that that the concrete is level and setting.

[mrchipster]

Re: Starting a 30" Pompeii oven in Minneapolis

Interesting thing about engineers, they think everything needs to be built to the code/specifications of something much larger/stronger/faster than the actual thing being built. Which is something that has stood over a thousand years with little or no mortar in a volcanic earthquake zone and built by people who knew nothing about mathematics and had no concrete or vibrators.

A Pompeii oven.

Btw I am glad it held.

[gastagg]

Re: Starting a 30" Pompeii oven in Minneapolis

Well I can't blame them...I should have built more bracing. But as you said, glad it held!

[mrchipster]

Re: Starting a 30" Pompeii oven in Minneapolis

Well I can't blame them...I should have built more bracing. But as you said, glad it held!

It's just that the vibrator was overkill for the project, you already had reinforced 5 inch walls....

[gastagg]

Re: Starting a 30" Pompeii oven in Minneapolis

Can't argue with you there. And it cost me $40 to rent too!

[gastagg]

Re: Starting a 30" Pompeii oven in Minneapolis

Took the forms off today...am pleased with how it turned out. One one more concrete pour to go!

[mrchipster]

Re: Starting a 30" Pompeii oven in Minneapolis

Place a waterproof layer between the lower section and the next slab. It will prevent any moisture for wicking from below.

This is one of the things I should have done but read about it after my slab was poured.

[gastagg]

Re: Starting a 30" Pompeii oven in Minneapolis

Thanks for the recommendation! Will definitely do that.

[gastagg]

Re: Starting a 30" Pompeii oven in Minneapolis

Thanks for all the help so far. I am planning slab dimensions that the oven will sit on. Am trying to increase the size of my oven by 2" (30" to 32"). I have been planning 3" of blanket insulation. Am doing igloo so won't have any other insulation. Is 2" of 8# density thermal blanket enough and just keep the size of my slab the same, or do I need to go ahead with 3" of blanket and increase the size of my slab?