36" build in Tallahassee - AKA Bruce's Folly

**Bec1208** · 05-09-2013, 04:04 PM

Re: 36" build in Tallahassee - AKA Bruce's Folly

Originally posted by kbartman

Bruce,
Here my thoughts and observations. You are correct, the rod in the center of the brick bracket in relation to bracket width, yes?????. As seen in the playing with my with IT in the pictures, the rod in relation to the center of brick vertically, No........ I flipped the bracket upside down placing the rod at the bottom of brick the arc had very little or no vertical offset error. I think If the rod is placed in the middle of brick vertically it may still introduce a unacceptable error........just my opinion.

The small width of the brick bracket horizontally allows movement of the IT in both horizontal directions with very little disturbance of the brick, caused by any horizontal offset error cause by brick bracket width????..hope this helps??..my perception of this comment is even confusing to me

but playing with my IT tells me different

?????..I never believed mom about the blindness??LOL

PS set the brick with rod in the center of brick horizontally

Have to say I am jealous as your tool is 2" longer than mine.

Here is a pic of my IT, any thoughts?

**Bec1208** · 05-09-2013, 04:17 PM

Re: 36" build in Tallahassee - AKA Bruce's Folly

Originally posted by cobblerdave

Gudday Bruce
I had a look at you secound course today on the computer it a bit patchy with gapes .
Regards dave

I tried your tips on the final bricks in the course, seems to be some improvement. Bruce

**deejayoh** · 05-09-2013, 07:53 PM

Re: 36" build in Tallahassee - AKA Bruce's Folly

Your joints shouldn't have cracks in the mortar like that after the brick is placed. I suspect maybe the brick was bumped after it set separating it from it's neighbor. Once the bond is broken, you really need to reset the brick.

One tip that helped me was getting a jointing tool to go over the joints once they'd set a bit. Seemed to help strengthen the bond.

**Bec1208** · 05-09-2013, 08:15 PM

Re: 36" build in Tallahassee - AKA Bruce's Folly

Originally posted by deejayoh

Your joints shouldn't have cracks in the mortar like that after the brick is placed. I suspect maybe the brick was bumped after it set separating it from it's neighbor. Once the bond is broken, you really need to reset the brick.

One tip that helped me was getting a jointing tool to go over the joints once they'd set a bit. Seemed to help strengthen the bond.

Thanks, I will look for a joining tool. Bruce

**brickie in oz** · 05-09-2013, 09:05 PM

Re: 36" build in Tallahassee - AKA Bruce's Folly

Originally posted by Bec1208

Have to say I am jealous as your tool is 2" longer than mine.

Give your tool a spray with a Viagra solution.....

**Bec1208** · 05-09-2013, 09:17 PM

Re: 36" build in Tallahassee - AKA Bruce's Folly

Originally posted by brickie in oz

Give your tool a spray with a Viagra solution.....

Mine is wider.

**cobblerdave** · 05-09-2013, 09:30 PM

Re: 36" build in Tallahassee - AKA Bruce's Folly

Gudday
A 6in piece of garden hose will make an except able tool for those joints
Regards dave

**kbartman** · 05-11-2013, 08:20 AM

Re: 36" build in Tallahassee - AKA Bruce's Folly

Originally posted by cobblerdave

Gudday
A 6in piece of garden hose will make an except able tool for those joints
Regards dave

Bruce,
Yours may be wider, and mines longer......Brickie must use Viagra......Poor Dave wants you to use his 6
Incher........We don’t have anything to be jealous about.......especially Dave's 6" tool

..........I bet he tells the wife it's 10".....

LOL............. that's funny!!!!!!!!!!

**Bec1208** · 05-11-2013, 11:07 AM

Re: 36" build in Tallahassee - AKA Bruce's Folly

Originally posted by kbartman

Bruce,
Yours may be wider, and mines longer......Brickie must use Viagra......Poor Dave wants you to use his 6
Incher........We don’t have anything to be jealous about.......especially Dave's 6" tool

..........I bet he tells the wife it's 10".....

LOL............. that's funny!!!!!!!!!!

I think Dave and Brickie would remind us it"s not the tool, but the skill of the craftsman.

Bruce

**kbartman** · 05-11-2013, 11:10 AM

Re: 36" build in Tallahassee - AKA Bruce's Folly

Originally posted by Bec1208

I think Dave and Brickie would remind us it not the tool, but the skill of the craftsman.

Bruce

Ha Ha you got me there.............

**Bec1208** · 05-11-2013, 11:16 AM

Re: 36" build in Tallahassee - AKA Bruce's Folly

Originally posted by deejayoh

Your joints shouldn't have cracks in the mortar like that after the brick is placed. I suspect maybe the brick was bumped after it set separating it from it's neighbor. Once the bond is broken, you really need to reset the brick.

One tip that helped me was getting a jointing tool to go over the joints once they'd set a bit. Seemed to help strengthen the bond.

I broke out the loose bricks (most of them) and reset them over the past few days. 1st pic is before and 2nd after the rebuild. Hopefully show some improvement. Bruce

**kbartman** · 05-11-2013, 11:52 AM

Re: 36" build in Tallahassee - AKA Bruce's Folly

Originally posted by Bec1208

I broke out the loose bricks (most of them) and reset them over the past few days. 1st pic is before and 2nd after the rebuild. Hopefully show some improvement. Bruce

Looking good Bruce......... Your craftsmanship has greatly improved in only one course. Your a Master mason in the making.......

.... Keep up the good work??.

Only one thing I see you might give some consideration. Try to make sure the top edge of each brick inside the oven is as level and consistent as possible. This should allow easier setting of the later courses. I made the horizontal joint on the front edge as small as possible, once the tilt of the bricks began. By tapping of the front edge of brick till it makes contact with the front edge of the brick below, careful not to chip the edges. This should make keeping the courses level and constant easy. Try to work out and inconsistencies of your first courses, pay particular attention to this edge on your next course.

**Bec1208** · 05-11-2013, 03:05 PM

Re: 36" build in Tallahassee - AKA Bruce's Folly

Originally posted by brickie in oz

Are you still having trouble with the mortar Bruce?

Short answer is yes, but I seem to be able to get it to work. They say you can't be too thin, and that seems the case for this mortar. Anything much more than liquid won't flow through the gaps. If I butter the tops of a few bricks, by the time I' laying the second brick, the surface of the mortar has started to set and won't flow or stick to the bottom of the brick being laid. I have found that if I scrape the excess off the excess mortar and apply new I can get it to work. By the next day, where I have managed to fill the gaps, the bond seems extremely strong. Any additional ideas appreciated.. Bruce

**cobblerdave** · 05-11-2013, 03:14 PM

Re: 36" build in Tallahassee - AKA Bruce's Folly

Gudday Bruce
The ply base is conspicuous in its absence in the photo again....it's removial and replacement might have something to do with those bricks dislodging?

It really needs to be left "in situ". If its to big to fit through the dome rntrance you might consider cutting it into smaller pieces and reattaching them together with battens and screws. That way it can be unscrewed at the end and the piece retrieved through the entrance.
Regards dave

**Bec1208** · 05-11-2013, 03:32 PM

Re: 36" build in Tallahassee - AKA Bruce's Folly

Hi Dave,
I didn't use the plybase as I wanted to be able to get to the bottom mortar. I plan to cut it into thirds and tape it together. I also plan to run masking tape around the perimeter as suggested earlier. Bruce

36" build in Tallahassee - AKA Bruce's Folly

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