Oven floor brick cuts

[UtahBeehiver]

Either work, but with backer board, you can incorporate in pour and leave. You do need to make sure you temp. support underneath.
I used 1/2" that overlap the wall but not covered up the cell completely so I could grout.

[mleuck]

Thank you for the information. Another question....When framing the hearth, what is the best option.... plywood or backer board for the base. The plywood is 3/4", what is the thickness of the backer board? 1/2" ?

Thank you all for taking the time to answer my "beginner" questions.

[moderator]

Thanks for posting that graphic explanation to help out mleuck, Gulf!

[Gulf]

The width of the opening is not nearly as important as the height. I have a 44" oven. (22" dome id) My opening width is 20" wide. The height is 12.5". I could of went up a little higher with the height of my "door". The perfect number is 63% of the the height of the id of the dome for the height of the opening. In making a template, you will want to decide if you want a a flared entry or a straight tunnel. Mine is straight. But I have a large reveal which gives about as much side to side room for working the oven. You will also want to decide how deep your entry will be.

Edit: You may also want to check @JRPizza's build, and find out how far forward that he finally decided to place his inner arch. The dimensions aren't the same but, the theory behind it is.

Edit:I corrected a sentence above to read door instead of dome.

[mleuck]

Thank you very much! Your explanation and picture makes it very clear for me!

One other question..... My plan is to build a 42" pompeii. I see everyone has a template. How is the template created? I understand the circumference, but how is the opening calculated?

Thanks again for taking the time to explain the brick cutting.

[Gulf]

Mleuck,

I did mine with a 10" wet saw. So, my advice comes from that experience. Yes, they are sort of free handed. I would describe cutting the curve on a floor brick as a series of straight cuts. However, you can simplify it by first making one straight cut across the brick on the outside of the mark. Set the waste to the side and make a couple more cuts, just outside of the mark, at angles. Sort of like shaping part of the brick to a stop sign. Now, you can start making a series of short cuts. After a couple of bricks, you will notice that the kerf of the saw blade will allow you to proceed a little ways through the brick while forming a curve. When the cut starts getting tight against the blade, you will then know to finish the finish the cut straight across to get the waste out of your way. This probably doesn't make sense right now but, after a couple of bricks, you will be a pro .

EDIT: I attached this diagram hoping to make it a little clearer

I hope this helps.

[david s]

Most folk buy or rent a brick saw. You can also get by using a large angle grinder fitted with a tile cutting diamond blade. Either way be sure to use a respirator as brick dust is dangerous to inhale.
If the dome is built on top of the floor instead of around it, then you don't have to cut the floor bricks, they can stick out past the base of the dome, just cut roughly with a brick bolster. The only disadvantage of building it this way is that replacing a floor brick (if ever) that sits under the dome wall is very difficult.

[mleuck]

After setting up the fire bricks for the oven floor and tracing the template, what is the best way to cut the bricks? With the "rounded" cuts, they must have to be "free handed"? Looking form a good technique for this step.

Thank you

Michael