Re: My Old Kentucky Dome
Fri, Sat, Sun progress:
Started by first mortaring the sides of the entry arch and a soldier brick on each side. Then started slapping soldiers into place.
The only thing I'm doing differently (at least I haven't read it anywhere) is that I'm placing a thin strip of flattened corrugated cardboard cut from a box between the soldier course and the edge of the floor bricks. This is so I get a nice clean gap for thermal expansion.
My first attempt with the cardboard strip was wide enough to stick out so it could be removed (it can be seen in the interior pictures). I soon discovered it got in the way of my trowel and sponge. My strips are now narrow enough that they can't be seen or removed. Once the oven floor goes above 500F the first time, the strips will burn away (So that's why the pizza tastes like cardboard!).
Although my soldiers were all trimmed for a fairly snug fit, I got in a hurry yesterday and set two of them twisted slightly out of alignment.
I discovered it too late and had to compensate with a couple of fat, ugly joints (overhead picture, 3 o'clock position). Oh well. When it's all done, I'll be the only one that knows. 
Message to self: "Slow down, have fun... slow down, have fun."
Fri, Sat, Sun progress:
Started by first mortaring the sides of the entry arch and a soldier brick on each side. Then started slapping soldiers into place.
The only thing I'm doing differently (at least I haven't read it anywhere) is that I'm placing a thin strip of flattened corrugated cardboard cut from a box between the soldier course and the edge of the floor bricks. This is so I get a nice clean gap for thermal expansion.
My first attempt with the cardboard strip was wide enough to stick out so it could be removed (it can be seen in the interior pictures). I soon discovered it got in the way of my trowel and sponge. My strips are now narrow enough that they can't be seen or removed. Once the oven floor goes above 500F the first time, the strips will burn away (So that's why the pizza tastes like cardboard!).
Although my soldiers were all trimmed for a fairly snug fit, I got in a hurry yesterday and set two of them twisted slightly out of alignment.
I discovered it too late and had to compensate with a couple of fat, ugly joints (overhead picture, 3 o'clock position). Oh well. When it's all done, I'll be the only one that knows. Message to self: "Slow down, have fun... slow down, have fun."thanks
Ivan
I figured, others might be interested in what the project costs for research purposes. Here's the link to a public spreadsheet that I'll keep up to date:
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