Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Insulated Hearth Question

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Insulated Hearth Question

    Ok, so here is a few real newb questions. I just got my two 90lb bags of portland cement and however many bags of vermiculite weighing next to nothing for my hearth pour this weekend. Having never worked with vermiculite (again why I am sticking to the newb end of the pool here) I was expecting some thing a bit more . . . substantial. It is just hard to believe that 180 lbs of cement mixed with fluff is going to create a 4" x 76" x 76" slab capable of supporting much of anything, particularly a one ton oven and a quarter-ton builder. Does anyone know the compression strength of this mix? How long can you work it ? cure time? Just point me in the right direction.

  • #2
    Re: Insulated Hearth Question

    I don't know the answers to your specific questions........but many people have built ovens using this plan.

    Trust the others who led the way for you.

    Good luck.
    My thread:
    http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f8/d...ress-2476.html
    My costs:
    http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?k...Xr0fvgxuh4s7Hw
    My pics:
    http://picasaweb.google.com/dawatsonator

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Insulated Hearth Question

      So with great apprehension I poured the insulated hearth this past Sunday and as I toted my five-gallon bucket of 5:1 oatmeal-like mixture and dumped it in place I was more convinced than ever that this can't be correct. The pour took about two hours and upon completion it was as mushy and useless as I had suspected when first viewing the dry ingredients.
      Five hours later - mushy and useless.
      Monday morning - a bit more rigid but easily compressed, still useless.
      Tuesday morning - solid as a rock, my faith restored.

      Who thinks of this stuff?
      Jim

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Insulated Hearth Question

        Good to know. I am just about to prepare the form for the hearth, so I am right behind you.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Insulated Hearth Question

          Mine was very rigid in less than 8 hours.............
          My thread:
          http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f8/d...ress-2476.html
          My costs:
          http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?k...Xr0fvgxuh4s7Hw
          My pics:
          http://picasaweb.google.com/dawatsonator

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Insulated Hearth Question

            Yeah, I think I used too much water.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Insulated Hearth Question

              Well at least it hardened up.

              Made any progress?
              My thread:
              http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f8/d...ress-2476.html
              My costs:
              http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?k...Xr0fvgxuh4s7Hw
              My pics:
              http://picasaweb.google.com/dawatsonator

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Insulated Hearth Question

                sounds like other vermiculte experiences posted here. I thought mine would never solify....
                My oven progress -
                http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f8/c...cina-1227.html
                sigpic

                Comment

                Working...
                X