It seems that I've started

[dvonk]

Re: It seems that I've started

Frances,
Yes, it seems that we are using the same mortar. As I know it's industrial stuff. and at high temperatures it should bake into firebricks-like substance (not sure it's possible at our conditions).
At least, the salesman I've bought mortar from, told me that he has several loyal customers, who are building ovens (by orders) using that mortar only.
How do your oven works?

[Frances]

Re: It seems that I've started

My oven works really well, better than I ever imagined.

And (very big and) my dome didn't crack!

How the mortar will stand up over time... and how hard it actually is by now... no idea. We'll just have to wait and see.

[dvonk]

Re: It seems that I've started

By the way, Frances, did you mortaring the soldiers to the cooking floor or not?
I've just read that
http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f2/1...html#post34066
and suddenly realized that the issue #1 was never described in the plans.
Is it really important?

[Frances]

Re: It seems that I've started

I put the soldiers round the outside of the floor and mortared them onto the vermiculcrete, but not to the floor bricks....

Why how did you lay down your soldiers?

I think the non-cement mortar has more "give" in it in nay case.

[dvonk]

Re: It seems that I've started

Yes, I've mortared the first course.
And after some considerations yesterday I think that if it is not right it may just get of the floor, so then it may move more freely, it's not a cement, yes.

[dvonk]

I did it.

Now I can see the final straight - insulation and chimney and curing.

PS. By the way, my mortar gave me possibility not to use any forms - even a ball.
It so adhesive on the dry bricks, so two final courses's quarters and 1/5 of bricks didn't failed without any support. On the last two chains I was using the lath 3-4 rimes only.

I did it! Thanks to everybody here!

[Frances]

Re: It seems that I've started

Congratulations dvonk!! That looks really good!

The mortar IS cool to work, isn't it? I loved the way it just stuck the bricks whereever you put them...`

What are your plans for finishng the oven?

[SpringJim]

Re: It seems that I've started

Another nice building thread....thanks for posting!

XJ

[dvonk]

Re: It seems that I've started

Yeah, it's cool to work, I totally agree with you. And it's easy to make the dome's interior clean with a smooth seams - just with a help of brush.

But I've found today, that I've made a mistake building the opening walls apart of the dome's entry arch, so mortar doesn't give a contractual strength here and my first entry arch I've build yesterday strutted of the walls outside. So, I've detach every bricks of the opening and made a second try - to make a arch more pronounced in the height, to force it push wall's bricks only dounward, not to strut out.
I didn't like what I've got, so I'll try to rebuild it with tapered bricks.

[dvonk]

Re: It seems that I've started

Thank you, Jim, but I've faced the first real problem with an opening arch - see my reply to Frances.

[Frances]

Re: It seems that I've started

Ahaa, another advantage is being able to knock parts of your oven down to rebuild the next day - just wash off the mortar. (Nothing like thinking positive, eh?)

I'm not sure what you mean though. The first arch was leaning on the dome? Oh, the arch itself was too shallow and pushed out too much. Right? I think you're right, shaping the bricks will help with that one.

On your picture there you've got me wondering where you're going to put the chimney... or are you making an oven without a chimney? Otherwise I think you'd need to leave out the three top bricks or so for the vent opening.

[dvonk]

Re: It seems that I've started

I'm going to put the chimney on top of the two arches. But now I need to solve another problem - different height of them.
No, the first ark was not lean (by the way, which one is the first?
The front arch has no proper support of walls mounted into the dome - and, being shallow, it pushed the walls outside.
Now I'm going to build the arch, that would not push the walls outside - just like I've build now but more aesthetic.

[dvonk]

Re: It seems that I've started

New opening arch. Now it's bit better then previous. And that's all with brick works - and I'm pretty happy to clean everything around and to pack unnecessary tools and blah-blah-blah. Kind of tired with cutting and masonry, to say frankly.
Now the insulation and curing. And, of course, chimney of stainless steel.

[Frances]

Re: It seems that I've started

Very nice arch!

What kind of mortar did you use for the entryway there btw? I used regular cement-based mortat on the outside bits, becuase I was worried about what would happen if the refactory stuff got wet.

So, onwards and upwards... keep up the good work!

[dvonk]

Re: It seems that I've started

Hi Frances
I've used here the same mortar. I only used mortar + cement mixture for the lowest 3 bricks. Since I'm going to make a roof for the outdoor kitchen/gazebo, the question of clay going wet is not so important, so I've decided to go strict mortar way on the upper bricks.