Mannextdoor WFO

[mannextdoor]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

Another 8hrs today. All the bricks that I layed today I had to cut. It went a little slower. I did a good clean up today and put a tarp over it. Suppose to rain tonight and tomorrow. I laid down another course and a half today. I went to 1/3 bricks on the last 1/2 row. Got past the arch today. That took some time. Very labor intensive.

[egalecki]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

It's looking good! It is pretty funny, I think everybody that has built one of these has discovered muscles that we never knew we had. Gotta admit - it's a good pain.

Les...

Actually, it can also be a bad pain if you aren't careful. I aggravated an already unhappy back muscle by doing too much work too bent over for about 3 days straight- and ended up spending a couple of months not able to do much of anything. Take time to stretch, be sure to support your back muscles with your stomach muscles when you're bent over, and realize that if you get in too much of a hurry to finish and mess up your back, it just takes longer. If I had that part to do over, I'd have made a platform around the dome big enough to kneel on- I could have done several courses that way instead of bent over.

The really dumb thing was I knew I'd hurt it and kept working anyway. WFO obsession can equal stupid.

[Les]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

I can hardly move. This is more labor intensive then I thought it would be.

It's looking good! It is pretty funny, I think everybody that has built one of these has discovered muscles that we never knew we had. Gotta admit - it's a good pain.

Les...

[mfiore]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

Really looks great! I agree, it's no walk in the park. I thought the foundation work was going to be the hard part. I think the biggest pain is getting up and down the oven stand, bending over, working upside down, your knees ramming against the bricks.

Great start!

[mannextdoor]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

Sunrise to Sunset. I got three rows done today. I can hardly move. This is more labor intensive then I thought it would be. But I am enjoying it.

[mannextdoor]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

I managed to get a row done today after I unloaded the barge. Tomorrow I intend to hit it hard. I had to stop early today. We had a house full in for a fish fry.

[egalecki]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

yes, you can do more than one a day. Just don't move any of the bricks in the previous rows while you're working!

[mannextdoor]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

I mortared in the soldier course today. Will it be dry enough to do a second coarse tomorrow? Can two rows be done in one day?

[Les]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

Ouch! That makes my back hurt just thinking about it.

Les...

[mannextdoor]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

Thanks Les

My intent was to cut all my bricks nice and neat, with little mortar. The HF saw does not allow for a cut through the thick part of the brick without a back cut. I had only ordered 2 bags of HS50 thinking I would use very little mortar. With winter closing in, I am forgoing all the back cuts and try to get it done before the snow flies. I ordered 2 more bags of HS50 the other day. I hope it will be here before I need it. I would like to finish the oven this fall, so that it can cure all winter. I won?t fire it until spring. I have crossed the equator several times and been close to it several times. But have not been to Costa Rica. Any where near the equator would be nice in the coming months. Here is a picture of another project that I have going on. I am having a barge load of concrete delivered once a week, to shore up and extend my shore line. You get one guess as to who is unloading it.

[Les]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

God speed, considering where you live, it could turn to crap REAL fast. Are there any ovens from Costa Rica? As we (USA) fall into winter, I really understand the lure of the equator.

P.S. Your project is looking great!

Les...

[mannextdoor]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

I had a couple of hours this afternoon and was able to mortar in the inside arch. I hope to have some time this weekend to work on the oven. The weather is going to be nice.

[mannextdoor]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

Thanks for the come backs so soon. I hate doing things over, but is better then living with a mistake for years to come.

[mfiore]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

My oven is the same way. The dome is outside the floor with a little gap. I think it'll be fine.

I don't have an authoritative answer on the sand/fireclay base for your floor. My feeling is that it will work just fine. Since it is just a dry mix, I'm not sure what purpose the sand fills other than allowing you to use less fireclay. Personally, I wouldn't worry.

[dbhansen]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

What keeps the bricks from moving out to the walls when you start pushing pizzas around in the oven and leaving big gaps between the bricks?

Those gaps will likely be filled with ash before you make your first pizza. I left a gap of about 1/8" or 3/16" around my floor and nothing has moved yet (after about 25 pizzas). Just make sure the floor is nice and flat so your peels and rakes don't catch the bricks.

Looking great, by the way. Love the arch!