I have been following this forum for almost 4 years and started work last year only to suspend for family illness. Now started anew on 36" corner build on heavy steel frame 3" deep on top, which I filled with vermiculite/portland over steel plate base upon which i have laid out 3 FB boards followed by the floor and soldier course on top of floor( that I completed today). I had not planned on cutting lots of angles and bevels even tho' I have the HF saw (which is great). Using the "indispensable tool" to lay out and hold rings going up and set one brick on ring 2 before staring at things a LONG time and knocking off for the day to ask these questions before continuing:
1.Floor is not mortared nor is the landing--todays pictures show landing mortared--should I back up and mortar my landing?
2.Bought 3 boxes of mortar from FB along with boards but realized I`ll need much more, particularly using untapered 1/2 bricks. Heatstop is only $45 for 50 lbs. so am using it for first rings and saving FB stuff for arches and upper rings Any problem of incompatibility?
3.I have some old and roughed up firebrick that I practice on cutting wedges and shim shapes--can I insert these into mortar between rings to avoid overly thick mortar joints?
4.Seeing small upside down v's already--can I slip thin brick shims between bricks horizontally and then mortar them in joint(did one dry and it looked good and again would reduce width of mortar joint)? Thanks for any help!
1.Floor is not mortared nor is the landing--todays pictures show landing mortared--should I back up and mortar my landing?
2.Bought 3 boxes of mortar from FB along with boards but realized I`ll need much more, particularly using untapered 1/2 bricks. Heatstop is only $45 for 50 lbs. so am using it for first rings and saving FB stuff for arches and upper rings Any problem of incompatibility?
3.I have some old and roughed up firebrick that I practice on cutting wedges and shim shapes--can I insert these into mortar between rings to avoid overly thick mortar joints?
4.Seeing small upside down v's already--can I slip thin brick shims between bricks horizontally and then mortar them in joint(did one dry and it looked good and again would reduce width of mortar joint)? Thanks for any help!
Comment