what is next?

[leckig]

i am doing fairly well with my built. As you see on the pictures I am a bad builder - my work is not nearly as neat and proper as most of yours.

I would now like to start working on the interior arch. Originally I thought I would tie in the courses with the arch for a strong connection. But maybe I should not?

I am looking for the simplest solution. My other idea was to follow the book and use the angle iron in the transition area, so no interior arch I suppose. However, it seems like this method is hardly ever used by other members.

What would you advise me to do next?

Greg

[leckig]

Re: what is next?

no love for me

[kebwi]

Re: what is next?

An angle iron lintel is probably the easiest. People don't do it because they don't like the look and they're willing to attempt a brick arch instead. That's your choice to make.

Lots of people build basic segmental and semicircular arches with success. Again, it's somewhat up to you how complicated to make it, whether precisely groove the dome bricks to fit the arch or whether to just cram them in there and fill the gaps in with mortar.

I can't personally advocate the "fill with mortar" approach since I wouldn't want to bear in responsibility for structural failures that might result...plus, since I didn't build that way, I have no direct experience with such an approach and can't advise on it.

You'll do fine, build an arch, there's lots of ways.

[dmun]

Re: what is next?

The angle iron approach is the way it was done in the original plans, and it works fine. One suggestion that was made by a builder was to mount the inner angle iron upside down so there would be a 45 degree angle face to tilt your bricks against.

The fill-in-with-mortar approach works fine. If some falls out, you can just point in some more, but this usually isn't a problem.

Most of the builders who brag about their builds go the cut-every-brick road, but it's by no means necessary. A simple oven works just as well as a complicated one.

[leckig]

Re: what is next?

Thanks so much!

So there would be two angle irons for the inner arch, dome bricks would rest on the upside down iron. Probably the iron would be on 4 brick high wall. Does it mean the top edge of the door would rest against the angle iron?

I think I could do that and still have the outside arch build on a plywood form, the arch would have 4 brick high wall as well so I could fit the door.

greg

[fxpose]

Re: what is next?

Does it mean the top edge of the door would rest against the angle iron?

Greg,
That's basically how I set my angle irons so the top of the door would butt against it.

But aesthetically, I'm not sure how a rectangular inner opening would look inside a graceful outer arch.

George

[leckig]

Re: what is next?

thanks! This is what I needed - pictures (estimated value of 2000 words)