My Old Kentucky Dome

[Ken524]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

I've been thinking of going to thirds, but am concerned about straight joints. You don't seem to have had a problem - just the odd cut brick? Or was it not quite that simple?

Paul, the row of thirds worked out very well. I only had to make 2 or 3 custom cut bricks to keep the joints from lining up. The lighter weight bricks made laying them easier.

Your dome is looking grand!

Thanks!

[Ageo308]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Very nice looking dome their Ken. Im sure you will cook some great meals in it

[Kemo]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Has anyone else noticed that most of the current domes are being built without forms? Les, Dave, Wayne, KC, Sarah, Frances, Paul and a few others are all building form free.

Ken,

Ill be going no forms as far as I can based on what Dave mentioned. I want to be able to get to the inside of the oven to clean and mash in the mortar if I have to.

BTW, your oven is immaculate. Mine looks like a pigpen compared to yours!

Thanks for posting.

[Ken524]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

I want to be able to get to the inside of the oven to clean and mash in the mortar if I have to.

That's the biggest benefit I see with going no forms. You can see right away if your mortar work is ok on the inside. When I pulled the form off my arch, I had a lot of touch up work to do!

[dusty]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Wow! It looks more impressive with each course. And stiil no forms? The inside is so clean and neat. Are you sponging them?
Dusty

[Acoma]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Totally agree with you guys on forms free. That is the exact reason for me going that path. You feel free.....

[Les]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Ken, it's looking fantastic (as from the start) How are you supporting the 10th course without forms? Is the mortar allowing you to set them that easily? I know you went to thirds and my plans have me cutting brick less than one inch on the interior dimension. I may re-think my approach when I get to the 8th because gravity is already jerking my chains

Les...

[Acoma]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Ken, I believe you mentioned sticks for supporting at times? Les, this might be the way to go. You and Ken likely have the cleanest looking ovens, not to say others aren't great, these are CLEAN and AMAZING.

[Ken524]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

The inside is so clean and neat. Are you sponging them?

Yes. I let the mortar set for about an hour then go back with a sponge and bucket of water to clean things up.

[Ken524]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

How are you supporting the 10th course without forms? Is the mortar allowing you to set them that easily?

The 10th was pretty easy. The mortar was just sticky enough to keep them in place. I would place the brick, tap out the excess mortar and hold it in place for a couple of minutes.

The 11th course is being a bit trickier. I laid about 5 bricks Sunday. Had to continuously tap and hold them in place for 10 to 15 minutes before I could let go of them. After they "grabbed", I took a lunch break to let them set a bit before continuing.

My employer then rudely interrupted my lunch and I've been out of town since. It's probably for the best that the first 5 will be thoroughly set before I continue on Thurs.

I may re-think my approach when I get to the 8th because gravity is already jerking my chains

Yeah, gravity sucks. My 10 year old daughter was helping me hold the bricks in place the other day. We were joking that the perfect place to build a dome would be in orbit on the shuttle. Maybe Forno Bravo should look into that!

[Frances]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

I just have to post a really unconstructive comment here: the mortar I ended up with was soooo sticky, I just slapped the brick in place and it stayed there... it was really really cool to work with.

I'm thinking I would have had to support the upper rows if I'd been using the same mortar you all are using.

[Ken524]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

12th Course.





This was challenging. I had to hold the bricks for several minutes to keep them from sliding.

[Ken524]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

13th Course. Gravity finally insists that I support from below!



I used a big bouncy ball I found in the garage. Works great. It's a tad under inflated which works out very nicely since it's a much smaller diameter than the dome.



Barring unforeseen interruptions, I'll have a completed dome tomorrow!

[asudavew]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Just awesome Ken.

Very beautiful work !

Must be the pilot in ya!

Great Job, it is really neat to look at!

[sarah h]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Ken, it looks great!

I've been wondering about continuing without a form and will probably switch to some sort of support too, after my next row.

Must feel good to be that close to being done!

Sarah