My Old Kentucky Dome

[rlf5]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Looks great. I actually had to cut more off the sides of my half bricks b/c I couldn't cut the top/bottom faces with my saw. The brick would be too big to clear the saw at 112mm. Now they're more like 88mm.

[Ken524]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

I couldn't cut the top/bottom faces with my saw. The brick would be too big to clear the saw at 112mm.

I have the same problem. I set up two jigs on my saw table, one to the left of the blade and one to the right.

The blade is raised up so the brick will just fit under the blade arbor. I can cut about 3/4 of the way through on the first pass, then flip the brick, put it on the opposite side jig and cut the remainder. It takes some tweaking to get the c-clamps adjusted just right, but once it's set up I can rip through 30 half bricks in about 20 minutes.

[Acoma]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Ken, are you posting all work in photo gallery? It would be nice to see all progress in one set.
James, I hope that the idea of the yearly grand prize is oving foreword. This would be so inspirational to all.
Ken, your work is looking strong. Your solder is on the oven floor, what had you go with this idea rather than around the oven floor, on the hearth?

[asudavew]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Your solder is on the oven floor, what had you go with this idea rather than around the oven floor, on the hearth?

Hey Acoma,

I've been following Ken from the beginning.
If you will look at his Picasa photos and look at the pics from the beginning, you can see that his oven is set on sections of Kaowool. And that is what his soldier course is set on.

Nice work indeed.

And I do expect some Monday photos Ken.

[Ken524]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Ken, are you posting all work in photo gallery? It would be nice to see all progress in one set.

Yep! Click the Photo Gallery link, then click "K". My pics are all there (or you can click on my Picasa album as Dave mentioned.)

Your solder is on the oven floor, what had you go with this idea rather than around the oven floor, on the hearth?

My Kaowool boards look a bit different than the CalSil sheets others are using. I think that's what's giving you that impression. My dome and floor are both sitting directly on insulation board.

Thanks for the comments!

[Ken524]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

And I do expect some Monday photos Ken.

We took a road trip to Columbus, OH to see Genesis in concert last night. No oven progress to show, but the concert was well worth it!

[asudavew]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

We took a road trip to Columbus, OH to see Genesis in concert last night. No oven progress to show, but the concert was well worth it!

I guess I'll give ya a break.

If you like Genesis, then you must be about my age.......

I used to love them, but haven't listened to Phil and the band lately.

I guess I need to bust out some MP3s.

[rlf5]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Ken

Did you find that you used a LOT of mortar for your soldier course? I guess I was spoiled by the 2mm thick mortar joints of my floor bricks, but I'm averaging about 1/2 inch for the soldiers...more if I get slightly off track and have to correct for it.

[Acoma]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Picasa showed all. Like what I see.

[Ken524]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Did you find that you used a LOT of mortar for your soldier course? ...I'm averaging about 1/2 inch for the soldiers

Ron,

I cut my soldier bricks to fit, so I didn't see any 1/2" joints. I did have a few 1/4" joints where I screwed up here and there. Overall, I did use quite a bit of mortar for the soldier course. The face of the bricks have a lot of surface area, I think that's what consumed the mortar.

The higher courses are definitely using less and less. I didn't see any pics of your soldier course on your Picasa page.

[rlf5]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Ron,

I didn't see any pics of your soldier course on your Picasa page.

Yea I haven't taken any yet. I'm only a quarter of the way through. I'm beginning to realize that cutting the bricks to fit may be more tedious up front, but it makes for smooth sailing when its time to lay the bricks. I was able to fly through my floor bricks, which were cut to fit, in about an hour. It took over that amount of time to just get a 1/4 circle of soldier bricks done....oh and nearly a 1/3 bag of mortar.

[Ken524]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Third course is complete. This course went very smoothly. Slope of the bricks is more pronounced, but can still be laid by hand with no forms.



I'm using a string tied to an eye screw in a 2x4 post in the center of the floor to assure the bricks in each course maintain the correct radius. I tie a knot in the string at the position the inner face should be in each course. It's simple and works well.

Next step will be to cut the fourth course bricks and mortar in a few of the lower arch bricks to begin the transition.

[rlf5]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

I'm jealous. Weather and free time don't seem to be on my side lately. Not to mention I ran out of bricks.

[asudavew]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

I'm using a string tied to an eye screw in a 2x4 post in the center of the floor to assure the bricks in each course maintain the correct radius. I tie a knot in the string at the position the inner face should be in each course. It's simple and works well.

Great idea Ken.

I shall do the same.

Man, it's really looking good.

I can see you are really taking your time, and doing excellent work.

[Ken524]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Dave,
I'll take a picture of my little string set up the next time I take the cover off.