32 Igloo Build, Lakeway TX

[pfennigthecat]

Re: 32 Igloo Build, Lakeway TX

I don't know how accurate it is, but the thermometer did get to about 275 yesterday. Even if the thermometer is accurate, the differing temps at different heights in the dome seems like it would make that reading meaningless for curing temp purposes. I got 275 only after the fire burned down and I put the arch-form back in to act as a temporary door -- keep cooler air out for a while. It was a decent fire IMO too (not enough to burn the soot off the interior, but more than just kindling), but the thermometer never got above ~200 until I closed the 'door' later.

Does this indicate that I need to keep the fire size constant for a few burns till things cure enough to continue increasing? Or does it simply indicate an issue with temp measurement that might be 'solved' by getting an IR thermometer gun thingie and measuring off the back wall?

I was hoping to get up to 'clear soot' temps by this weekend, then add insulation and stucco.


So far no cracks that I can see anywhere. Oh sh!t, stupid PfennigCat, don't jinx it, find some wood to knock on (then burn).....

[david s]

Re: 32 Igloo Build, Lakeway TX

Buy another another oven thermometer, they're cheap as chips, but you only require them for roasting and baking. Don't use it for pizza, it will probably be off the scale anyway. I pop rivet a larger base onto them because they fall over easily and are difficult to right again. When your oven is curing the bottom will stay cold while the top is hot. I think your thermometer is probably not broken but reading correctly. Just proceed really slowly with the fires and the temperature will eventually equalize.

[pfennigthecat]

Re: 32 Igloo Build, Lakeway TX

Curing fire day #3, seems to be going well. The oven thermometer I dug out of a box in the attic (right edge of picture) seems to be broken, so I'm just guessing as I make the fire bigger each day.

[pfennigthecat]

Re: 32 Igloo Build, Lakeway TX

I figure I really should be patient and let my chimney base cure a bit more before I start making fire, so after putting the anchor plate on and levelling it, I spent the weekend building the roof. The oven will remain as an igloo underneath the roof, covered in blanket (I have three 2x25' batts in boxes and chicken wire ready) and stucco.

Home Despot only had four of the 2' x 10' roof panels that weren't either defective or damaged somehow, so I'll have to go try another HD next weekend for the final piece.

Dremel cut the circle around the chimney nicely. It has about a 1/2" gap all around -- I bought a storm collar with the chimney, but it looks awfully big. I'm trying to think of some other way to waterproof this gap. But the roof is there and nice and solid

[oasiscdm]

Re: 32 Igloo Build, Lakeway TX

I tawt I taw a Puddy tat.

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: 32 Igloo Build, Lakeway TX

I see that etching the plug is becoming more common. Build is looking great.

[texman]

Re: 32 Igloo Build, Lakeway TX

Cat
Congrats on being closed in. much more fun now.

Texman

[pfennigthecat]

Re: 32 Igloo Build, Lakeway TX

Here's my 'decorative' arch. It's not overly decorative -- i'm using the same brick as the rest of the oven.

The bricks used were either 1/2 bricks (the topmost 3) or cut into an "L" shape so that the inside has a 'cavity' to catch the smoke and funnel it to the chimney hole. The outer arch is obviously larger than the inner arch so that a door can fit through it and seal against the inner arch. Larger arch + "L" shaped bricks == the tail end of the outer archway sits on top of the inner archway bricks.

Once the chimney arrives I'll have a few brick slivers to make to provide a flat mounting area, then the masonry work should be complete! At least until I get around to ordering and applying stone veneer to the stand. Functional oven first I think -- I'm not in a huge hurry for the cosmetics (it's not like the stand could be damaged by anything short of a tank at this point).

The buttresses on the front were a last minute addition. Cosmetically I would have preferred to do without them, but since the bottom of the arch is sitting only on vermicrete, not even mortared in place, it wasn't exactly rock steady. Better safe than sorry.

[pfennigthecat]

Re: 32 Igloo Build, Lakeway TX

Exactly what Chip said -- this is my first attempt at masonry .

Especially with TX being so hot and dry, and it being summer, I probably have been keeping my bricks too wet -- I soak them in a plastic tub after cutting them, watch them bubble! I don't take them directly from the tub and butter the mortar onto them, but they only sit out for about 10 mins before I start laying.

Even so, I haven't actually had _major_ problems with bricks falling out of place, but the lock brick / lock stone approach still helped a lot, mostly with my confidence.


I put in the dome plug brick today!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

After getting it just the right shape, I carved a cat into the bottom so you could see it if.... um... you were in the fire???? Oh, a mirror, smart......

I also completed the decorative arch this weekend --- vertical sides and buttresses yesterday, the arch itself (with hole for chimney) today. Will post pics later once I trust it enough to take the wood form out -- right now it's covered in damp towels to keep it from drying too fast.

[mrchipster]

Re: 32 Igloo Build, Lakeway TX

Either your mortar or your brick are too wet. Proper mortar should grab almost instantly as the moisture is absorbed out of the mortar into the brick. You should not need to use anything to hold the brick up at all.

For the majority of us this is the first time we ever laid a brick and the first hundred or so on the oven are quite easy for even the novice, then they start to tip in it is a whole different game and the technique of leaving a brick sit over night really helps those of us who otherwise would be throwing bricks through windows in frustration over not being able to get the second brick to hold against the first without starting over.

Unfortunately we do not know how to "read" wet mortar vs dry and are trying to just get the brick in the right place at the right angle at the right distance from the previous brick and still keep our sanity.

[Tscarborough]

Re: 32 Igloo Build, Lakeway TX

Either your mortar or your brick are too wet. Proper mortar should grab almost instantly as the moisture is absorbed out of the mortar into the brick. You should not need to use anything to hold the brick up at all.

[oasiscdm]

Re: 32 Igloo Build, Lakeway TX

And you need to let it set. Thought I would be smart and do this, go to hardware store, come back and lay next brick and guess what. The pressure dislodged the key brick. Motto, leave overnight is a must so it dries properly

[mrchipster]

Re: 32 Igloo Build, Lakeway TX

I am (I think) within dome-closing distance -- one more chain then a plug ought to do it.

I started having problems with bricks sliding inwards about 3 chains ago. The solution for me, which I hadn't seen elsewhere was to use a 'lock stone'. Think of it as the opposite of a key stone:
- A key stone locks the whole chain by being the last brick in place -- once it's in place, the whole chain can't slip inwards because they push against each other.
- A lock stone means after completing one chain, I immediately place the first brick (or 2) of the next chain. The IT supports this brick while it sets, so that the next day I can set the rest of the bricks in the chain and have something immovable to lock against until I complete the whole chain and place the key stone.

This has worked well for me so far -- no slippage, no need for extra support mechanisms.


.

I like the term lock stone but "lock brick" is even more descriptive in this case. In either case it is good to put a name to it. That technique worked well for me.

[pfennigthecat]

Re: 32 Igloo Build, Lakeway TX

Meine deutch ist nicht sehr gut, aber ya pfennig ist 'penny' :-)

I've ordered 6" ID Selkirk MetalBest stainless (inner and outer) pipe for my vent, along with anchor plate and cap. It was a bit cheaper than I could find for duratech and seemed just as good. hopefully will close the dome and build outer arch this weekend and then be able to start curing fires while ordering and waiting for ceramic blanket.

Cracks, here I come!

[boerwarrior]

Re: 32 Igloo Build, Lakeway TX

Pfennig (hah - that's German for "penny"!)

I have a 32 inch oven and I have a six foot Duravent Stainless Steel 6" chimney. I also used a 6 inch SS vent plate and a 6" SS Chimney cap.

My chimney draws extremely well. I also considered using an 8 inch chimney but I am glad I didn't. I don't think I would have gained anything.

You can see my chimney installation pictures starting at post #84 in my thread:

http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/8/32-inch-pompeii-northern-california-19283-9.html