Questions/Clarification,

[cobblerdave]

Re: Questions/Clarification,

G'day
I always get drawn out into the open by this one and shot at like a wood duck but here goes...
I used table margarine spread over the surface of the insulation to stop the insulation from drawing the moisture from the mix. Used a notched trowel, combed the surface and set my brick into position. Got a good flat surface which is still good today.
In saying that you could use a dry mix, most paving is laid on dry sand mix. If would still use a notched towel to smooth the surface.
Regards dave

[GianniFocaccia]

Re: Questions/Clarification,

Ceramic board is flat enough that you shouldn't need any fireclay/sand mix to level. If any, a very minimum dry amount will be sufficient to fill any firebrick irregularities and gaps between bricks.

Mixing a slurry will quickly turn to unworkable porridge as soon as it hits the firebricks.

[mmissler]

Re: Questions/Clarification,

But on a brighter side as translated details work there way out of my wife's head it has now been determined that fire clay is available. Luckily for most of you the oven build is all you have to deal with, try translating all of this through someone that isn't really sure of what I am trying to do.

Ok, now that I can get fire clay, I just mix with sand and a little water and use for leveling ( if required) between the ceramic board and the fire brick floor???

[mmissler]

Re: Questions/Clarification,

Sorry, the glass bottles had beer in them, I was using the beer for insulation....not the bottles. My head feels a little "insulated" today.

[Gulf]

Re: Questions/Clarification,

Hi MM,

What are you insulating with glass bottles?

I think, that it was just a joke.........without an emoticon

[Laurentius]

Re: Questions/Clarification,

Hi MM,

What are you insulating with glass bottles?

[mmissler]

Re: Questions/Clarification,

UtahBeehive and others,

Thanks for the posts, Utah that's the pic I need to show my builder.

BtW, I now have several glass bottles for insulation, I needed everyone of them last night!

The oven build doesn't begin until mid-March so I am sure you will see many more dumb questions from me since I tend to over plan things.

[TropicalCoasting]

Re: Questions/Clarification,

To insulate oneself from the world, I prefer self medication.

The bottles make good insulation if used correctly

[NCMan]

Re: Questions/Clarification,

NC,

Will post pics, I am in the final stages of a house build so this is wearing on me. I have read so many posts that I am dizzy.

Mike

Mike,
I have built houses for years, including three of my own over the years, so I can definitely relate. Good luck w/it all.

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Questions/Clarification,

mm,

I attached a pic of insulating away from the concrete base. Also, I left about 1/4 gap between floor and wall for an expansion joint. If you go this way make sure you cover the gap while the build is going on to keep any surplus mortar from falling in. Ash will fill in the gap later on. But if you are enclosing the oven then you could lay the dome walls right on the floor rather than around the floor saving a lot of tedious circular brick cuts.

Gulf - I saw Zapps at the store today so picked up a bag, I am now a Nawlins foodie.

[mmissler]

Re: Questions/Clarification,

NC,

Will post pics, I am in the final stages of a house build so this is wearing on me. I have read so many posts that I am dizzy.

Mike

[NCMan]

Re: Questions/Clarification,

Mike,
Good luck w/your build. You certainly have a wealth of knowledge and experience here to tap into. I am about to get started on my first WFO, too. Send us pictures when you have some. NCMan

[mmissler]

Re: Questions/Clarification,

Thanks for the replies. We just met with the builder, what a fiasco that was. I think I got in 2 words for every 500 by the builder and my wife. I do think we made progress. One thing that did get clarified during the meeting was that my wife had the thickness of the ceramic insulation and board wrong...it is inches so that problem is solved.

The only problem I have with his method is he doesn't want to put anything between the ceramic floor and the fire bricks. He thinks they will be level and since he doesn't know where to get fire clay ( and either do I) we decided to discuss later. I think I saw somewhere on the forum where someone just crushed fire bricks to smithereens and mixed with sand. That brings me to the sand, he thinks it will explode. Any comments???

I did finally get him to buy into the 63% design theory, that took a while in itself.

[david s]

Re: Questions/Clarification,

.
Either way as Gulf said insulation between the oven and the base and the world.

To insulate oneself from the world, I prefer self medication.

[TropicalCoasting]

Re: Questions/Clarification,

I assume 3 is wall sitting on floor v wall and floor being separate.
The reason for a gap and separate floor and wall is for easy replacement of floor at a later date.
Either way as Gulf said insulation between the oven and the base and the world.