36" in Seattle

[kebwi]

Re: 36" in Seattle

The second and third curved courses are up!

The third photo shows some details of my technique. First, I shove brick wedges into all possible gaps. Namely, vertically between adjacent bricks of a given course and horizontally between a brick and the brick below it. In addition, starting with the second course, I am gouging oblique slices out of the tops (and bottoms although you can't see it) of the bricks, with the gouge pointing out from the oven, such that any gravitational pressure of the brick to slide radially will catch against the mortar. This is basically unnecessary as I am also cutting my bricks such that they are pretty much self-supporting...but I'm paranoid, so such as it is.

Cheers!

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Re: 36" in Seattle

keb...

looking good.... You'll be closing your dome before you know it..

Cheers
Mark

[fxpose]

Re: 36" in Seattle

That dome is shaping up very nicely! I like it.

[Neil2]

Re: 36" in Seattle

"This is basically unnecessary as I am also cutting my bricks such that they are pretty much self-supporting...but I'm paranoid, so such as it is."

Looks good.

[dmun]

Re: 36" in Seattle

I don't usually chime in with "I love this build" choruses, but I really love this build. I love the no-soldier construction method, I love the alternating brick semicircular arches, and I love the seriousness of anyone who would cut mortar grabbing lines in bricks, whether they're needed or not. This is going to be a great oven.

[kebwi]

Re: 36" in Seattle

Thank you for the kind words everyone. I'm still trying to determine how I will handle the next stage. I am leaning heavily toward a nonigloo enclosure. What I really want is a "tuna-can" building in ledgestone about 67%-100% the dome height with a copper conical roof.

The other thing I'm still figuring out is the insulation. I have loose fiber, not a blanket, which should be easy to coat over the top, but I'm unsure how I would hold it to the vertical sides (chickenwire wrap perhaps?)...so I was thinking of building the outer wall that will back the ledgestone and then filling the cavity with loose vermiculite up to the curve where I can transition to the bulk fiber...something like that. I have tons of both (loose bulk and vermiculite) so I'm trying to decide on the best method to pursue.

Suggestions are welcome.

Cheers!

[dmun]

Re: 36" in Seattle

I think filling the enclosure is easy and foolproof. If there are areas you don't want to insulate you can always block them off with cement board. I think the copper conical roof is great too, although it makes the chimney transition a bit of a challenge.

[kebwi]

Re: 36" in Seattle

Hmmm. It seems like an elliptical hole in one slat of the roof would suffice. Copper rooves are generally made from individual slats, about 12" wide each. I'm unclear how to seal the seams and lots of othere details, but would't the steel pipe just project through a hole with some sort of flashing around the edges?

I admit, my thoughts are preliminary at this point.

On a different topic, this external wall. It would be (I'm asking) steel studs tapconed to the hearth, with cement board, layered in ledgestone. The ledgestone will obviously let a lot of moisture through between the stones, wind-driven rain, piled snow, etc. Sooo, cement board can be directly exposed to water like an almost-external wall? Or am I misunderstanding something about this constructiion process?

Thanks.

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Re: 36" in Seattle

hey keb,,,
Try doing some research on copper gutters, They still make them and they are generally copper screwed and soldered together where there are seams... I do have a soldering iron for that (electric) and would be happy to loan it to you if you need to go that route.. Im hoping for you theres an easier way... It would look very cool though
Cheers
Mark

[kebwi]

Re: 36" in Seattle

Cut the bricks for the fourth curved course. First work since last Thursday. I was snowboarding all weekend.

[kebwi]

Re: 36" in Seattle

Fourth course is almost up, minus arch merges. This photo shows what happens when you set bricks in thirty degree weather with warm water. The halogen makes a nice effect. The whole oven looks like a gurgling volcano.

Cheers!

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Re: 36" in Seattle

the "oven vesuvius" takes shape

Cheers
Mark

[tfasz]

Re: 36" in Seattle

Glad to see you going strong. You look a lot higher up than most for your 4th course - I'm guessing because of your soldier course? It looks like you'll be done by your 7th or 8th.

[kebwi]

Re: 36" in Seattle

Yeah, if you look at the schematic cross-section of my oven design (attached), you will see that my design encompasses about eight tilted courses, plus some cruft around the keystone.

I hadn't noticed that this is atypical of FB-styple Pompeii ovens, although now that you have commented on it I'm sure I will notice. Perhaps you are merely referring to an arbitrary numbering convention. I'm calling my most recent course the fourth course, but it is actually the fourth tilted course. It is the sixth true course where the bottom two (three actually, but one is at floor level) courses are vertical side-walls replacing the conventional soldier course.

Also, note that I am making a 36" oven while many FBers make a 42" oven. Perhaps on a smaller oven you "get up higher" faster.

[fxpose]

Re: 36" in Seattle

I see a peaceful Mt Fuji behind Vesuvius....