Fyrston's 42 in Cen Cal

[Fyrston]

Good afternoon all,

I'm just starting my build of a 42" Pompeii here in the sunny Central Valley. This should be the cap on an all summer long barbecue island project. My skills are somewhat lacking but the results so far have been pretty nice. I've built an island with 14' of bar top, two refers (one to become a kegerator) and a propane built in Q. The jewel in the project will be my very own 42" WFO (I've been reading the forum and picking up the lingo).



To start off, I'm at the point that I'm starting to build the dome and am having problems with the mortar. I'm mixing it to what I believe to be "peanut butter" consistency but it doesn't seem to have any plasticity. I butter the bricks but when I place them the mortar has no give. I've wasted a bunch of the stuff trying to get this right. Should it squish as I set the brick?

I could use some help as there are several friends (a small cult following really) who are watching my progress and really want a pizza party at my expense.

Thanks, I'll post some barbecue island "porn" as soon as I can

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Fyrston's 42 in Cen Cal

What type of mortar and if homebrew what ratios?

[Fyrston]

Re: Fyrston's 42 in Cen Cal

I'm lucky to live close enough to Forno Bravo that I bought one of their Pompeii kits so the mortar is their refractory mix. The problem I'm having is that the mortar doesn't seem to want to give once I put the brick in place. It doesn't move even with tamping with a the trowel handle. Most mortars that I've used before had a bit of movement but this stuff seems to stay solid. I'm just afraid of putting to much water in it an affecting the strength.

[mrchipster]

Re: Fyrston's 42 in Cen Cal

I'm lucky to live close enough to Forno Bravo that I bought one of their Pompeii kits so the mortar is their refractory mix. The problem I'm having is that the mortar doesn't seem to want to give once I put the brick in place. It doesn't move even with tamping with a the trowel handle. Most mortars that I've used before had a bit of movement but this stuff seems to stay solid. I'm just afraid of putting to much water in it an affecting the strength.

I used the FB mortar for my first build and found it to be very dry and grainy also, My second build was with 3.1.1.1 homebrew and it worked extremely well.

[Fyrston]

Re: Fyrston's 42 in Cen Cal

Here's the barbecue island, I've added the fridges and the insert

http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/memb...-barbecue.html

[Fyrston]

Re: Fyrston's 42 in Cen Cal

http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/memb...-barbecue.html

[Calisdad]

Re: Fyrston's 42 in Cen Cal

You're getting after it Fyrston. WTG.

From afar I'd say your mix is a bit dry. I would: dunk the brick, add some water, add some Portland cement and add a squirt of dish soap. Again- diagnosis at a distance.

What city are you in?

C-dad

[Fyrston]

Re: Fyrston's 42 in Cen Cal

Near Modesto.

I've dunked the bricks. I'll try your other suggestions and see if that improves things. I can't even fill in the gaps with a mortar bag. It's all fingers and knives while the mortar is still wet. I don't want to end up with air bubbles on the mix and blow out a piece when it heats up.

[Fyrston]

Re: Fyrston's 42 in Cen Cal

Starting out

[Fyrston]

Re: Fyrston's 42 in Cen Cal

Floor done

[Fyrston]

Re: Fyrston's 42 in Cen Cal

I had to readjust the floor insulation from the previous photo. I've been cruising the forums for some time now and am always upset when I come back into the house to reference another build and it's like "why didn't I see that post before?" Damn

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Fyrston's 42 in Cen Cal

Why don't you flip the landing over and the corner chip will be underneath. Tip, also run a strip of duct tap between you first row and floor. This will keep mortar from dropping down the expansion gap and minimize potential dome cracking.

[Fyrston]

Re: Fyrston's 42 in Cen Cal

Why don't you flip the landing over and the corner chip will be underneath. Tip, also run a strip of duct tap between you first row and floor. This will keep mortar from dropping down the expansion gap and minimize potential dome cracking.

Thanks for the info. I'm pretty sure I'm going in a different direction with the landing. There's a decorative brick that I'm thinking of putting in there. At there very least that brick at the entry will be cut way down. As for the tape issue, that's one of those "why didn't I see that before" times. I've already dropped some down the gap and have to lift the floor before I move any farther. Keep the tips coming tho I appreciate it all.

By the way, if you have any tips for the arch and transition that would help. I've already made the form and have to figure out how to cut the bricks and transitions. I've read a lot on here but not much as far as how to get it done.

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Fyrston's 42 in Cen Cal

Fyr,

Here is link for one of threads I used for my taper arch. If you read it all it covers how to use your IT to help establish the angles for both a full arch and partial arch. I also have quite a few pics on my Picassa album that might help you visualize the process.

http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/8/oc...tml#post111125

[Calisdad]

Re: Fyrston's 42 in Cen Cal

Good link(s) Russell.

If you notice on OctoForno's build he cut grooves in the top of his brick. I think they are helpful in the later courses to keep the brick in place but I cut them on the bottoms as the brick is more likely to move than the mortar. Also if you mortar the brick one at a time (as opposed to a course) adjustments become less messy as you won't get mortar on your saw.