Artigiano 120

[DrakeRemoray]

Re: Artigiano 120

Nice patching work James! This oven has character!!
Drake

[Ken524]

Re: Artigiano 120

One thing to note is that if you go for the wider joint, you should consider using a true refractory mortar.

I didn't exactly choose to "go for the wider joint" Just sort of happened while learning about brick geometry and wet saws. I'm using HeatStop50. I hope that is considered a true refractory mortar.

I'm enjoying watching your progress with the crippled Artigiano. I would enjoy that kind of project.

Thanks for the compliments.

[james]

Re: Artigiano 120

Hey Ken,

That's a good point. This seems to be one of those "multiple good solution" things. One school of thought is to have very tight brick joints on the inside edges of the oven, where the theory is that the firebricks are better equipped to handle the heat. The Artigiano oven, and another nice oven I have seen made in Puglia, have a wider joint.

One thing to note is that if you go for the wider joint, you should consider using a true refractory mortar. The mortar in the Artigiano oven is extremely hard. I have seen bags of Refmix at the Artigiano workshop, though I have to guess that they mix their own. I hit the mortar with a hammer today, and it's as hard a rock.

Ken, your oven is beautiful. Keep it up.
James

[Ken524]

Re: Artigiano 120

James,

Great looking stand! I like the curved cantilever in the front . That oven will be cooking in no time. It's amazing how fast you can get (even a broken) pre-made oven set up and running.

I really appreciate you posting the pics of the interior of the Artigiano. After laying several courses on my dome, I was starting to get a bit bummed out at the width of my interior mortar joints. I notice with the Artigiano, that mortar joints on the inside of the dome are "OK"!

Beautiful brickwork on that thing.

[james]

Re: Artigiano 120

One more thing. I looked at the photos of the inside of the oven, and went back to clean up the extra mortar before it cured.

We'll see what we see in the morning.
James

[james]

Re: Artigiano 120

One more photo. Here are the supports I used to hold the front arch in place when it dried overnight, last night.
James

[james]

Re: Artigiano 120

Lack of patience???

My favorite saying is "patience is a virtue; that I don't have." :-) My thinking is that the Refmix dries very quickly (it has rapid setting agent), so it is going to be as good at it gets by tomorrow. At least that's how I am rationalizing it to myself.

Les, that jack is right on the point where three big sections were sagging. I jacked it up a little in the back, and just that one section raised up, and the other two stayed down. This seems to be the big intersection that caught all three.

I'm nervous.
James

[Archena]

Re: Artigiano 120



Out of curiosity, why not give it a couple days dry time? An arch (okay, dome) should be able to stand without it - but the poor thing has already been fractured once, why not let it take a breather?

[Les]

Re: Artigiano 120

It's looking great James - whats the purpose of the jack, it looks like its only supporting 2 bricks at best. Was the dome pretty much fused together at that point? Nice looking hearth, I think you have done this before.

Les...

[james]

Re: Artigiano 120

Day 2.

It's a good thing we have Refmix. I was able to cut bricks to be pretty close to the originals and set them with Refmix. Then, I went over the entire left half of the dome with a cover coating, so basically, the whole thing will hopefully be held together with Refmix.

I decided to patch the oven with red clay bricks. This should make for an interesting experiment with seeing how the clay bricks and firebricks behave, side by side, over time.

I used regular mason's mortar for the arch, to see if I could color match the exsting mortar. It's close -- sort of.

Tomorrrow morning I will be lowering the car jack. If you hear a loud scream at 9AM PST coming from California, you will know that it fell back in.

Wish me luck.
James

[james]

Re: Artigiano 120

We're off and running. I built the stand and hearth yesterday, set and leveled the floor and then set the dome. That's the good news. The oven is pretty cracked, but I am optimistic. I found an intersection where three cracks meet, and used a car jack to raise it up to its original height, and I've started to process of replacing the bricks that fell out, and patching the cracks.

I can definitely say this. Refmix is great stuff. Easy to work with and it sets as hard as a rock. I can also say that the Artigiano is a wonderful oven. I am getting up close and personal with this oven, and I respect the workmanship all the more.

Here are my first photos -- including the damage. More to come.
James

[dmun]

Re: Artigiano 120

I agree. I think there is a lot to be said for building up your facing, if it's a full wythe thick, up above the slab, and using that as the edge forms for the hearth slab pour. I think it forms one solid unit and makes the whole thing that much stronger.

My example:

[Unofornaio]

Re: Artigiano 120

I see 2 options:

1. 40" 4" is still fine with no under support using 1/2" rebar. If you are hesitant you could add a piece of 3 x 3 angle iron placed in the front of the form then pour on this. So looking at the face of the hearth slab you would see 1" of concrete and 3" of steel, in addition to rebar of course. But the angle Iron is really not necessary, 4" over 40" plenty even with a full brick surround and roof.
2. Build the stone arch then pour the slab so it rests on the stone. If its real stone its going to have structural support. Even if it was as thick as brick it will provide support.

I would do the arch first its going to be much easier to lay the stone without the slab in the way. When it comes time to pour the slab just drape a layer of plastic over the arch and build your forms over this.

[DrakeRemoray]

Re: Artigiano 120

Hi James, I leave it to the engineers, but I think it will work. Recently discussed here:

http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f8/angle-irons-corner-installation-2718.html

Drake

[james]

Re: Artigiano 120

I am getting ready to start my Artigiano 120 installation, and I've decided to try something different with the stand. I always think it's good for me to experiement and be the guinnea pig.

I'm thinking of using four courses of block, shaped as a U, without the return or the angle iron course of block in the front. To compensate to carry the weight, I am planning on pouring a 5 1/2" (2x6) slab, with rebar support. SuperIsol on top of that and the Artigiano on top of that.

In the wider opening into the wood storage, I am thinking of building a decorative stone arch, using the stone I took out of the fireplace surround in the house.

What do you think? 5 1/2" of concrete and rebar should safely span the 40" opening. Right?
James