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Re: Aloha!
These pictures show putting on the vermicrete layer, which I did in several layers. I actually did use some perlcrete, which you can see in the color striations on the dome. The larger size layers actually seemed to do a better job insulating although I found it to be more difficult to work with and/or needed more cement mixed into the larger size. I just wanted to try it out since it was cheaper than the vermiculite. I however, did not want to take the risk of using cinders, which would have been the most cost effective. I plan to try an experimental oven of all local rock and see how the results are. I then lit the second curing fire, although first one in a year, which let the fire get up to about 300 or so, although I know that some bricks were very hot including the front arch bricks. Amazingly there was only a hairline fracture on the front in the mortar!!! I have a feeling the extra bit of lime may have cured nicely these past two years it has sit in the damp Puna rainforest. May not be the best for keeping things dry, but perhaps excellent for curing masonry.
Next I covered the oven with chx wire with metal ties to the rebar extending from the concrete hearth pad underneath and the CMU below. I wanted to make this dome as water resistant as possible so I slapped on a coat of cement and mortars sand. I also looked into some sealants for cements, nearly every one seems to contain petroleum derivatives. In that regards still looking for suggestions...
These pictures show putting on the vermicrete layer, which I did in several layers. I actually did use some perlcrete, which you can see in the color striations on the dome. The larger size layers actually seemed to do a better job insulating although I found it to be more difficult to work with and/or needed more cement mixed into the larger size. I just wanted to try it out since it was cheaper than the vermiculite. I however, did not want to take the risk of using cinders, which would have been the most cost effective. I plan to try an experimental oven of all local rock and see how the results are. I then lit the second curing fire, although first one in a year, which let the fire get up to about 300 or so, although I know that some bricks were very hot including the front arch bricks. Amazingly there was only a hairline fracture on the front in the mortar!!! I have a feeling the extra bit of lime may have cured nicely these past two years it has sit in the damp Puna rainforest. May not be the best for keeping things dry, but perhaps excellent for curing masonry.
Next I covered the oven with chx wire with metal ties to the rebar extending from the concrete hearth pad underneath and the CMU below. I wanted to make this dome as water resistant as possible so I slapped on a coat of cement and mortars sand. I also looked into some sealants for cements, nearly every one seems to contain petroleum derivatives. In that regards still looking for suggestions...
What island are you on?
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