San Clemente, CA Build

[Mongo]

Started in November 2019
The hearth is a bit unconventional as I wanted a small foot print and an 'open' storage area underneath.

[Mongo]

On to December."The Back-Saver".

[Mongo]

Pouring the form. Re-barred the schiznit out of this thing as there are a few spans and an overhang.

[Mongo]

Doing some layout and dry fitting while allowing some 'cure time'.
Dry fit of the tapered inner arch as so well photo documented by UtahBeehiver.
This surface is at the 'standard' height for a kitchen counter. The overhang on the right will be a food prep counter.
Will do another pour to raise and insulate the oven floor.

[Mongo]

Fast forward to today. 2 inch FB ceramic board over concrete. Oven floor height of 47 inches.

[SCChris]

Welcome to the neighborhood!

Chris

[SCChris]

How's your build going?


Chris

[Mongo]

Build is coming along. Been too busy to post.
Laying out the floor. Bricks where fairly uniform. Only had to float select bricks rather than the entire floor. Used a fire clay and sand mixture.

[Mongo]

Floor layout and the dry fit of my tapered inner arch.
I used whole brick up until the keystone. Once I cut the keystone I found doing that lengthwise double cut was not the nightmare I thought it would be.
With whole brick I used a few wedges to cut down on the too large mortar gaps.
For the outer arch I'll be tapering each brick lengthwise.

[UtahBeehiver]

You did good on the tapered inner arch. It is a concept that is very hard to visualize for many.

[Mongo]

UtahBeehiver
Thanks, I really appreciate that. I was actually going to mention you and thank you for the photo documentation you did. I spent over a week studying your album to wrap my head around the tapered inner arch.

Catching up with a few more photos.

[Chach]

Very nice your doing an amazing job! Russell is correct about that tappered inner arch. I feel thats the hardest part of the dome building to grasp. You are well on your way just when you start to get over the arch many jave a tendancy to start to droop the dome. I just made sure the IT kept me im check and I didnt lay the brick to the arch but let the IT place the brick. If it doesnt fit rigjt you have to grind it and contour the brick so your gap is minimal but the IT is whats setting the brick. When you get to that point you will understand. I also used a line laser to make sure I was doing good.

Ricky

[NCMan]

Looking very good, Mongo. Keep those progress pics coming!

[Mongo]

Thanks all. I'm a bit more ahead than the latest photos. Posting a few weeks progress in the next few days.
Here's the first few chains mated to the inner arch, then the completion of the arch.

[Mongo]

About to clear the arch. On the last 2 chains I did notice a droop as the dome bricks met the arch. What is it with that? It seems to happen to just about everyone. I was even expecting it and it still happened. I floated several of the bricks in the last 2 chains to make up for the droop and still ended up with a less than perfect final chain over the arch.
A wise man once asked "does it bother you enough to tear it out and do over?". The answer is "hell no", so I'm pretty happy with it.