Cracks help

[Troy]

I am on the 7th day of of firing my oven and last night I could see the fire through the cracks. I want to know how I should fix the cracks with heat stop or the high temperature caulk from the wood stove store. I want to fix it before I put the insulation on. Any suggestions would be helpful.

[dmun]

Re: Cracks help

You can get inside with your angle grinder and the diamond blade, and undercut the cracked joint, and press in some new heat stop. (guard your lungs and eyes) As an alternate, you can just push some mortar in the joint, without pre-grinding, since that's such a mess. Or, you could just do what most of us do, unless things are actually falling apart, and just leave them be. Charm of the homemade, and all that.

I'd stay away from the high heat stove caulk. I think it has some nasty solvents in it. Read the label.

By the way, there will be a lot of water in the dome if you insulate with vermiculite concrete, and you should go slow heating it up until the whole dome is really dry.

[Troy]

Re: Cracks help

Thank you I just don't want all the heat loss through the cracks. I want to fix it before I put the ceramic blanket two layers and then percrete.

[asudavew]

Re: Cracks help

Thank you I just don't want all the heat loss through the cracks. I want to fix it before I put the ceramic blanket two layers and then percrete.

Embrace the cracks... once insulated and covered the smoke will go up the flue

dave

[Ken524]

Re: Cracks help

Thank you I just don't want all the heat loss through the cracks.

You won't lose any heat through them once it's insulated.

[Troy]

Re: Cracks help

Ken and Dave

Thank you. You start to worry about it when you see it and you think yours is worse than every one else's. I think I will still put a layer of heat stop over the top before I put on the insulation Just for piece of mind.

[Les]

Re: Cracks help

Troy,

I think the advice given is dead on because they have all been there. I am curious though, how big are the cracks? I plan on going nuclear on Saturday, I expect to see a few I have seen some pretty wide ones posted but after the insulation, it appears to be a non issue.

Les...

[asudavew]

Re: Cracks help

Troy,

I think the advice given is dead on because they have all been there. I am curious though, how big are the cracks? I plan on going nuclear on Saturday, I expect to see a few I have seen some pretty wide ones posted but after the insulation, it appears to be a non issue.

Les...

Mine is hugE!!!

maybe 1/4 inch or so... runs up the back...

Nuclear!! sweet! One of the highest anticipated moments on these boards.

I think this calls for a video and champagne Les!

Congrats and Good luck my friend!

Dave

[Ken524]

Re: Cracks help

You start to worry about it when you see it and you think yours is worse than every one else's.

Amen. I know the feeling!!
Can you post some pics? We'd love to see your cracks!

[asudavew]

Re: Cracks help

Here ya go.

Hope these pics makes ya feel better, or worry less.

Dave

[Troy]

Re: Cracks help

Thank you to everyone I do feel better. I had my first pizza from the oven tonight and it was excellent. I know it will get even better once I get the insulation done. The cracks are all through the refractory cement and all seem to have stabilized. I will put more heat stop on this Sunday because I will be away for a week then put on insulation. The cracks are about an 1/8 in at a few
spots the rest are about 1/16 in. The one goes all the way around at row 5. I used a full brick shoulder row. Pictures will follow soon.

Troy