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Re: Curing strategy
Now, to the new technique recently updated, and practiced. I believe that after the 4th cure, at 600 temp day, for 10 hour sessions, totaling 40 hours into the curing process, that I may (or may not) have answers to help others for crack prevention. This also applies to the building process, which leads to the curing cracks that I believe are impacting me.
I thought I had a disaster on my hands when I saw the spider web of cracks on the outside dome, and the 3 cracks along my arch, one on each side, and one up top. I believe my approach to building the oven was careful, with consistant mortaring of bricks, using patience and practice. I thought that by just applying a thin amount of mortar to the outside dome (1/4 to 1/2 inch) it might help the bricks to limit movement. I did not mortar or add support to the outside of the arch sides. For the dome, the bricks all crossed bricks below with middle point positioning. I believe that the Refmix mortar I used was well worth the cost, it did not break up or crumble meaning that heat in the area was right for the environment during the COLD and snowy winter, and no bricks are cracking. What I did by packing each bricks sides, keeping the bricks moist, then moving to the next brick allowed strong bonding between brick and mortar. The weight of the dome is also great and limits movement due to pattern of bricks laying upon each other with great balance. I built my arch with the idea of having an angle for looks, but I also attempted the best way to keep strength as well.
Now for the cracks, I look at where the cracks are and believe I may know the answer.
A: Dome cracks are only showing on the outside, not on the inside. I believe that due to the shell of mortar and expansion, that it was a waiste at this time, but after the curing process would be possible. The bricks were well mortared together and needed to bond with moisture being driven out. No cracks are going into the dome, none are going through bricks. I believe I would have none, or fewer crack concerns upon exterior of dome if I would have waited with this detail.
B: The arch has cracks along the wall which I believe is because of limited weight with no true mass of supporting bricks above. Looking at the dome, lots of weight is balanced by brick upon brick, altered upon each other. My cracks on the sides occur after the 3rd brick up which prepare for the arch to meet the wall. There is no real weight at the front face area either, just one brick above.
C: The arch at the top center is also full of exposure with no support above or on the sides.
D: For the arch, so much is expose to the cool outside compared to the dome, and the heat measurement at the arch is approximately 30 percent of dome temp. To me, this is where the root issue is to be answered.
When dealing with heat expansion from within the oven for 10 hours plus at 300, 350, no issues occured to the dome or arch. Upon entering the 500 temp, the heat finally reached the outside dome and arch enough to allow varing heat to create the varying expansion of bricks while the mortar cured. Being that they have different heat affecting the cure, I believe that seperation of bricks and mortar resulted. I also believe that if I did a rectangular arch, My issue may have been prevented as well. The curves of the arch seem to expose curing differences and weight balances during the cure, that I believe were the cause of the cracks. Now, this is a new practice, and I am merely documenting the details. Am I wrong, who knows, I am not a mason, I have only built one oven.
Tomorrow is day 5 with 10 hours of 700 temp. I may or may not have further issue with cracks. I may or may not have cracks on the inside of the dome.
Once the curing process is done, I will then go into the plasma state where my oven will once again be tested with a new dimension of heat. I may go up to 900 for a couple hours for a few sessions, and do some foods. This will not be long hour curing temps, just heat temps. After a few sessions, I will then go to Plasma state and saturate the bricks to allow for pizza. I will likely do my first pizzas on Sunday, April 13th. Saturday is wood day.
I can only hope this detail helps someone?
Now, to the new technique recently updated, and practiced. I believe that after the 4th cure, at 600 temp day, for 10 hour sessions, totaling 40 hours into the curing process, that I may (or may not) have answers to help others for crack prevention. This also applies to the building process, which leads to the curing cracks that I believe are impacting me.
I thought I had a disaster on my hands when I saw the spider web of cracks on the outside dome, and the 3 cracks along my arch, one on each side, and one up top. I believe my approach to building the oven was careful, with consistant mortaring of bricks, using patience and practice. I thought that by just applying a thin amount of mortar to the outside dome (1/4 to 1/2 inch) it might help the bricks to limit movement. I did not mortar or add support to the outside of the arch sides. For the dome, the bricks all crossed bricks below with middle point positioning. I believe that the Refmix mortar I used was well worth the cost, it did not break up or crumble meaning that heat in the area was right for the environment during the COLD and snowy winter, and no bricks are cracking. What I did by packing each bricks sides, keeping the bricks moist, then moving to the next brick allowed strong bonding between brick and mortar. The weight of the dome is also great and limits movement due to pattern of bricks laying upon each other with great balance. I built my arch with the idea of having an angle for looks, but I also attempted the best way to keep strength as well.
Now for the cracks, I look at where the cracks are and believe I may know the answer.
A: Dome cracks are only showing on the outside, not on the inside. I believe that due to the shell of mortar and expansion, that it was a waiste at this time, but after the curing process would be possible. The bricks were well mortared together and needed to bond with moisture being driven out. No cracks are going into the dome, none are going through bricks. I believe I would have none, or fewer crack concerns upon exterior of dome if I would have waited with this detail.
B: The arch has cracks along the wall which I believe is because of limited weight with no true mass of supporting bricks above. Looking at the dome, lots of weight is balanced by brick upon brick, altered upon each other. My cracks on the sides occur after the 3rd brick up which prepare for the arch to meet the wall. There is no real weight at the front face area either, just one brick above.
C: The arch at the top center is also full of exposure with no support above or on the sides.
D: For the arch, so much is expose to the cool outside compared to the dome, and the heat measurement at the arch is approximately 30 percent of dome temp. To me, this is where the root issue is to be answered.
When dealing with heat expansion from within the oven for 10 hours plus at 300, 350, no issues occured to the dome or arch. Upon entering the 500 temp, the heat finally reached the outside dome and arch enough to allow varing heat to create the varying expansion of bricks while the mortar cured. Being that they have different heat affecting the cure, I believe that seperation of bricks and mortar resulted. I also believe that if I did a rectangular arch, My issue may have been prevented as well. The curves of the arch seem to expose curing differences and weight balances during the cure, that I believe were the cause of the cracks. Now, this is a new practice, and I am merely documenting the details. Am I wrong, who knows, I am not a mason, I have only built one oven.
Tomorrow is day 5 with 10 hours of 700 temp. I may or may not have further issue with cracks. I may or may not have cracks on the inside of the dome.
Once the curing process is done, I will then go into the plasma state where my oven will once again be tested with a new dimension of heat. I may go up to 900 for a couple hours for a few sessions, and do some foods. This will not be long hour curing temps, just heat temps. After a few sessions, I will then go to Plasma state and saturate the bricks to allow for pizza. I will likely do my first pizzas on Sunday, April 13th. Saturday is wood day.
I can only hope this detail helps someone?
...enjoy every sandwich!
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