My Old Kentucky Dome

[asudavew]

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.

Thanks Ken.

Could you also take a picture of the backside of your arch?

I would like to see that too.

[Acoma]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Dave, one can see the thought process going on here. It appears that you have taken mental notes to assure your dome bricks don't align. So clean. I agree, show the string set up, excellant idea.

[asudavew]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

I saw your new pics in the gallery.

Looking good and thanks for the picture of the string and backside of the arch.

I haven't quite got the full concept in my head, so I have to ask.

Will you follow the same knot all the way to the end, or does it change each layer.
My thinking says it stays the same.

[Ken524]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

The inner entry arch was mortared in place today. I pulled the form out after it set for 45 minutes so I could clean the underside of the arch. Since the bricks were cut to shape, I figured it should be pretty safe to stand freely while setting (physics and all that) I took a few extra photos for those interested in how it's placed. The full size 800x600 pics are in the Photo Gallery and show more detail.

__



Also, I took a picture of my incredibly high tech, patent pending, cutting edge String Alignment System (SAS).

The string is attached to the center point of the oven. At the beginning of each course I tie a knot in the string to show where the outer edge of the brick should be. When each brick is aligned with the string, I'm assured the oven stays (fairly) round. I'm using mason's string because it doesn't stretch. Stretching string would be a really bad thing for a SAS.

[Ken524]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Will you follow the same knot all the way to the end, or does it change each layer. My thinking says it stays the same.

My knot will shift a bit with each course because my dome isn't a perfect arc. It's more of a squished ellipse thingie (sorry for the advanced geometry jargon).

If the dome is a perfect arc of a circle and the string is attached at the exact elevation that the arc begins, then the knot would not move.

[asudavew]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

thank you, thank you

can't wait to see you tie in the arch with the next courses

Got that worked out in your brain yet?

Good luck!

[james]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

I think we need to put the Patent-Pending SAS™ in the next version of the Pompeii plans. Can somebody make a note of that.
James

[Versachi]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Nice work Ken. Stick with that high standard that you have going. I love looking at domes that are "tight"!

Cheers, John

[Ken524]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Finished 4th course and cut the bricks for the 5th today.

Les: take a look; I have some UGLY joints in this course <grin>.





The close-up shows the first stage of the dome/arch transition.

[Acoma]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Ken, regarding the inch around the dome on the oven floor, is that to help you for the inch of mortar? You are cutting sets of bricks per layer, not cutting per brick, per fit. Still, this looks solid. Free form to the end?

[wlively]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Great looking work so far Ken.

[rlf5]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Looks great! You'll be curing your oven in no time!

[Ken524]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Ken, regarding the inch around the dome on the oven floor, is that to help you for the inch of mortar? You are cutting sets of bricks per layer, not cutting per brick, per fit. Still, this looks solid. Free form to the end?

The stuff you see sticking out an inch under the floor is insulation board. I don't have a definite plan for how I'm going to finish the dome yet, so I left a bit of excess insulation sticking out for flexibility.

I haven't decided if I'm going to clad the dome with 1" of mortar or just leave it clean and cover with insulation blankets. I like the idea of a clean dome so I can remove the blankets if there is cracking or other problems. Any opinions? Do I need to cover the dome with an inch of mortar before insulating?? Other than adding thermal mass, is there any benefit to cladding?

I'm cutting most of the bricks for each course in one shot. I figure the correct slope, then the angles for the edges and start cutting. The bricks touching the arch will be custom cut one at a time.

Free form to the end?

I'll let you know . So far, there hasn't been a need for any support forms. Things are getting noticeably steeper now. I'll try free forming it as long as I can. It's a fun challenge.

[Acoma]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Ken, I will likely go with 1" Refmix on the dome, 2*1" Insulfrax, followed by Matrilite 18 (3" sides, 5" at top). The dome will then be enclosed, with the enclosure filled with loose vermiculite. I have corresponded with Jim on this, and from his expertize, it takes a little longer to heat up, but the heat is maintained longer. I hope this detail may help you.

[rlf5]

Re: My Old Kentucky Dome

Ken, I will likely go with 1" Refmix on the dome, 2*1" Insulfrax, followed by Matrilite 18 (3" sides, 5" at top). The dome will then be enclosed, with the enclosure filled with loose vermiculite. I have corresponded with Jim on this, and from his expertize, it takes a little longer to heat up, but the heat is maintained longer. I hope this detail may help you.

That sounds like a pretty good setup if you can spare the room. My problem is that I only have about 6 inches or so to the edge of my hearth slab.