Mannextdoor WFO

[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.

[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

looking really good. Nice flower too!

[mfiore]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

Man are you flying! Keep up the great work!

[Frances]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

Its looking good! I notice you managed to keep the oven very round over the arch... nice.

And fast! You'll be finished in no time.

[mannextdoor]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

I laded another course today. I ran out of HS50. It might be a couple of days before I receive another bag. It looks like I may have 4 more rows to go, plus the key stone. I posed this question earlier. I don’t know which would be better, to let it cure out over the winter and fire it in the spring or fire it sooner and drive the moisture out of it before the moisture has a chance to freeze. Anyone have some ideas on this matter? Sorry no picture today.

[Les]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

The little bit of moisture you have in the mortar - considering you have a couple of days to dry, should not be a problem. If on the other hand, you want to see fire - go for it!

Les...

[dmun]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

I finished my dome, but not my chimney, when I closed my oven in for the first year. I let it sit over the winter, under a cover, and didn't start my curing fires until I had finished my insulation and my chimney, which was two stories tall and almost as much work as the oven.

I think if it's kept out of the rain, the little moisture in the masonry won't be a problem with freeze/thaw cycles.

[Frances]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

Hmm, I just didn't feel safe for the Winter until I'd cured my oven and driven out as much water as I could - admitedly this was because of the mortar I used, but still... why wait?

Pizzas taste good in Winter, too.

[mfiore]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

I really would like to fire up my oven before winter. The bricks seem to be damp (I may have over-soaked them). The insulation pad seems a bit damp, but holding up. I'd just feel better to get as much moisture out before the big winter freeze.

[mannextdoor]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

I got another good lick in today. I think I have two more courses too go and a keystone. The hole in the top is 10? inside. I think I will lay back tomorrow and spend some time with the Grand kids and let this old body rejuvenate. I will try and finish the dome Monday.

[Dutchoven]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

Mann
You are looking good! Excellent job!
Best
Dutch

[mfiore]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

Wow. I'm still amazed how fast you are going. Certainly no compromise in quality, either. That looks great. Enjoy the time with the kids!

[mannextdoor]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

Hi All
I had a pretty good day today. I completed the dome and cut some bricks for the front arch. My vent opening looks like it will be 14? by 4.5?. Will this be large enough or to large? Could the opening be made smaller? Because of all the controversy about the cure times. I spoke with Bob one of the manufactures of heat stop 50 today. Bob said that since HS50 air dries, unlike regular mortar witch is hydraulic, there is no cure time. There is no reason to keep it wet. Give it a day to dry and fire it up. What usually causes small hair line cracks is mixing the HS50 with too much water. If you get any cracks, just mix some more HS50 and work it in. The bad news is that it is not getting any cheaper. For a guy that has never laid a brick, I don't think it looks to bad. We will see what happens when I fire it up.

Mannextdoor

[Les]

Re: Mannextdoor WFO

Very cool! It feels great to drop that puppy in there doesn't it? Great job!

Les...