My Old Kentucky Dome

[jcg31]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Ken,
I am still debating between curing fires before insulation or after. I am a weekend away from having the flue done and a bit beyond making decisions based upon good weather (today 19 degrees and 1-3" of snow predicted) I have been able to keep the dome at around 55 round the clock. So without the weather decision, would you have opted for fires before insulation?

By the way, congrats on the draw issue, your latest confirmation of an outstanding execution.

Jim

[asudavew]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

I see fire!

Looks great Ken!

And I don't think you will have to worry too much about cracks!
Do take your time though.

With that much Kaowool, your oven should hold heat very well.

Start studying those bread threads!

Congrats

Dave

[asudavew]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

So without the weather decision, would you have opted for fires before insulation?

Jim

this has been debated in several threads.

General consensus ... either way ... I did throw a half inch kaowool blanket on mine first. It got a couple big cracks.. So.. maybe I shouldn't have..

Who knows!

I say go for it!

[Ken524]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Ken, before going with the loose vermic. get some Matrilite 18 and coat a couple inches over the blanket. Then go w/ loose vermic.

Robert,

I'm going to pass on the Matrilite. I'm pretty convinced that the Matrilite (for my oven) won't provide that much extra benefit for the time/cost/labor.

After reading about others having excellent performance with the blankets and loose fill, I think I'm in good shape. I have about 3-4 times the blanket depth that Dave has. His oven is performing amazingly well.

These blankets are pretty amazing. When you get them you'll understand .

Any other opinions out there on using Matrilite on top of what's already suggested?

[asudavew]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Robert,

After reading about others having excellent performance with the blankets and loose fill, I think I'm in good shape. I have about 3-4 times the blanket depth that Dave has. His oven is performing amazingly well.

Seriously!
My oven was still warm inside last night (Tuesday) I'd say about 150 f..
And I fired it up on Saturday! Sunday it was holding @ 475 to 450 f the better part of the day. Never dropping below 375 f. Even after cooking the best brisket I have ever made.

Dave's happy.

Although, I would of used only vermiculite if it would of been available. NOT perlite. Perlite is very abrasive and the course-grade still has small particles that to like fly around and get in your eyes, nose, ears.... etc..And it hurts in the eye.
The medium-sized vermiculite has less dust and small particles than the course-perlite, and it was superior in handling qualities as compared to course perlite.

Trust me here. I played with both.
Vermiculite is definitely the way to go.

It would be fun the play with Matrilite though.

Anyone find an online supplier yet?

[gjbingham]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Finally, the first fire! Awesome! Somehow, congratulations seems early as your pushing onward, relentlessly. I have a feeling you won't be completely satisfied until the oven is done and the bread and pizza is cooking.

Hard to watch that beautiful brickwork get sooty out front. At least your chimney transition seems to be high enough to create draw and get the smoke going the right direction.

Mine, being made from split thickness bricks doesn't work as well. I stacked a bunch of smaller pieces into a makeshift chimney to do my first few curing fires for the arch. I'm waiting for the chimney components to arrive before I do any more fires. (Sorry James, I really plan on making some purchases to support your great efforts with this forum, but with an 8 foot chimney, I had to find the least expensive one I could locate - still $500 after shipping!.)

Ken, what do you think about Dave's suggestion for loose vermiculite vs. perlite? I was going to go with perlite as well, but Dave's got me thinking otherwise.

George

[gjbingham]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Ken,
BTW, did you use any strapping or other support to keep the blankets in place? I don't see anything in the photo. That's one of the things holding back from playing with the ceramic blankets right now. (that and weather)
G.

[Frances]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Ken, that double archway on the entry to your oven looks beautiful! I saw the picture and thought WOW!

[Ken524]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Perlite is very abrasive and the course-grade still has small particles that to like fly around and get in your eyes, nose, ears...

The medium-sized vermiculite has less dust and small particles than the course-perlite, and it was superior in handling qualities as compared to course perlite.

Trust me here. I played with both.
Vermiculite is definitely the way to go.

Wow... OK. Vermiculite then . The hydroponics store down the street from us has both. Maybe I'll ask to see a sample of each. The Perl is $16, Vermic is $19/bag, so it's really not a big deal on price.

Thanks for the advice!!

[Ken524]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

I was going to go with perlite as well, but Dave's got me thinking otherwise.

Yeah, me to. Everything I'd read up to now says that they are equal in insulating performance so I figured I'd save $4/bag and go with Perlite.

When I get to that point, I'll ask the hydroponics shop to show me samples of each. If I go with the Perlite, I'll save maybe $20. If vermic is that much easier to handle, I'll be happy to blow the $20 on it.

[Ken524]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

BTW, did you use any strapping or other support to keep the blankets in place? I don't see anything in the photo.

That's another good question!
So far I haven't used anything to secure the blankets. I just started laying them on the dome, trimming and overlapping where necessary.

The Kaowool is dense, heavy and stays put really well. The layers sort of "stick" together due to the course fibers. They don't slip around once you put them down. To adjust, you have to lift it up, then lay it back down.

I made sure all my overlapped seams pointed downward so gravity would help keep them sealed (I'm not sure that's going to make any sense)

After several layers I didn't see any point in securing them. It will all get covered with loose-fill Vermiculite/Perlite and enclosed.

Does anyone out there disagree with not securing the blankets?? If there is a good reason to secure them, I need to know pretty soon!

[asudavew]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Does anyone out there disagree with not securing the blankets?? If there is a good reason to secure them, I need to know pretty soon!

I don't see a problem with it. As long as they are full length pieces. i.e. - they run from the bottom of the dome on one side to the bottom of the dome on the other. That way the middle of the run is at the top of the dome.


I cut my blanket in a few small pieces to fill in, so I had to run a length of copper wire around the dome to secure things.

I think you will be fine.
And those extra layers at the top should work wonders.

Just my two cents.

Dave

[gjbingham]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Thanks Ken,
I got your meaning about the seams going downward.

I was considering using rebar wire to kind of tie the thing up a bit, at least around the sides. Sounds like it may not be necessary.

George

[RCLake]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Over the last couple of days I built the hearth frame with the cantilever. The close-up picture shows the cantilever detail and a turnbuckle/cable that I installed to hold the slightly warped 2x6's in place.

The cantilever is 12" at the longest point. Because of the curve, there really isn't a whole lot of concrete that will be extending the full distance.

Hopefully, I put in enough rebar (can you put in too much?)

Ken

When you did your form for the hearth, did you put a turnbuckle and wire in to hold the long sides together? If so, did you see that much sideways movement during the pour?

[Acoma]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Ken, just curious, what else did you plan to buy at the hydroponic store?
It must be very GREEN there......kidding.