Getting started

[rsandler]

Re: Getting started

Finally somewhere here I read about making a stuco base using portland cement, hydrated lime and sand but cannot seem to locate the thread for the proportions.

Forum extraordinaire david s recommends a 4:1:1 ratio sandortland:lime by volume, ideally with some reinforcing fibers thrown in. Check the "Design Styles" board for references. The fibers are cheap--I picked up a bag for $6 from my local brick yard when I went to get a clay flue tile yesterday. Haven't figured out how many parts fibers to add, although the guy at the brick yard said the bag was good for a cubic yard of concrete.

[Les]

Re: Getting started

You want to use fire brick, Clay liner, stainless for you chimney / vent. The gasses that are leaving the dome are pretty damn hot...

[mrchipster]

Re: Getting started

Half inch thermal gap is overkill 1/8 inch is enough and better for your rope fill, less exposure to the high heat,

Others will need to comment on the chimney. I used 10 inch id 12 inch od double wall stainless class A flue.

Chip

[bgreed]

Re: Getting started

Well the dome is finally finished!! Sorry no pics it was dark when I finished, short daylight this time of year. I put about a half inch of the home brew over the outside for a little more thermal mass. Now to tell the truth my dome is not the work of art that some of you have turned out as I had a couple of bricks slip a bit and didn't notice till I was cleaning up the inside.

Now on to a couple of questions. Since I am doing a thermal break between the oven and the landing, chimney I should be able to build these from regular brick correct. I have seen others that have done this it appears from their photos.

So I am planning on leaving a half inch gap from the entrance to the oven proper and the landing and then filling this gap with fire rope to fill it. The landing floor will be firebrick which I will back cut underneath and fill the void with an 11-1 vermicrete mixture.

Finally somewhere here I read about making a stuco base using portland cement, hydrated lime and sand but cannot seem to locate the thread for the proportions.

Want to thank everyone for their help getting the extended arch through my thick skull.

All the best.

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Getting started

Gregg,

I would still duct tape over the edge of your temp form and the crack by the soldier to keep mortar and crap out of the space between your floor and soldier since the floor sits inside the soldier course. Here are some more pics and mark-ups to help you visualize the taper arch and using the IT to determine.

[bgreed]

Re: Getting started

OK I have hit a frustration point. I have read everything I can find on using the IT to mark the bricks for the arch but I am just not getting the idea. Am I marking the point where the edge of the brick will sit in the dome chain and then drawing my lines back to the inner and outer edges to get the arrowhead looking cut or am I marking each of those then drawing the lines to the point at the back if the brick that intersects that particular arch brick. Really didn't think it would be this difficult to grasp.

I actually did put down a floor to protect the cooking floor but had not put it in at the time I took the pic.

Thanks for all the help
Gregg

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Getting started

To help keeping mortar out of the crack between the floor and your soldier course put some duct tape over the crack. This will prevent mortar from getting in there and causing expansion issues later on.

[bgreed]

Re: Getting started

Thanks for the replies. Here's a photo catually have the first chain on top of the soldier course.

[Laku]

Re: Getting started

Forgot to mention I'm using the FB homebrew. Any ideas for keeping the mortar warm until it cures as the temperatureare supposed to drop into the thirties this weekend. Was hoping to get the arch finished and maybe a couple more courses laid. Will be out of brick then and the brickyard is taking a long weekend.((

Tarp it and have a space heater or lamp to keep the temperature under the tarp at sufficient level.

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Getting started

Maybe this will help. This is from GianniFoccacia's thread.

[bgreed]

Re: Getting started

Forgot to mention I'm using the FB homebrew. Any ideas for keeping the mortar warm until it cures as the temperatureare supposed to drop into the thirties this weekend. Was hoping to get the arch finished and maybe a couple more courses laid. Will be out of brick then and the brickyard is taking a long weekend.((

[bgreed]

Re: Getting started

Took advantage of the great weather today got the soldier course mortared in and the first chain all went together pretty fast. Just had to make some awkward cuts around the arch. (obviously a layout or math error somewhere but making it work.

Want to buitld the arch next using the method of extending the arch back to the curve of the dome just having a difficult time visualizing how to use my IT to mark the bricks. If my guesses are correct the length (depth ?) of the bricks at the top of the arch should be about 7 inches. I built my IT using the method that Mr. Chipster developed works great! Thanks Chip !

So any ideas on how these arch brick should be marked? Mine is not a pure arch as the opening in a 36" oven is too small this way. I have straight sides 7 inches high and then the arch starts going up to 12 inches. I'm just not getting the visualization of marking the bricks Help!!

[rsandler]

Re: Getting started

I did my oven with a half soldier resting on the insulation board, didn't adjust anything else and my IT worked fine. The IT will place the bricks along a perfect half circle, centered on whatever height you have the pivot of the IT. The lazy susan idea that Chip linked to will give you a lower dome, but I believe that's independent of your soldier height. If your soldiers are especially tall, then your first non-soldier coarse won't line up perfectly, but probably not to enough to be particularly noticeable. Hopefully that makes sense?

-Ryan

[bgreed]

Re: Getting started

A 36 inch oven

[Les]

Re: Getting started

In regard to sanding - I did it. If you can run an edge over the brick with it not catching - you are golden. About the IT - didn't use it. It seems to me that it will work for whatever radius you want. What size are you building?