Countryboy build in SC, US

[Tscarborough]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

Just to complicate things why don't you do a herringbone in the fireplace?

GDR

[countryboy]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

I could stand it no longer...

Have had a couple 150 watt lights and then a 1500 watt heater going in the oven for the last five days.

Typically, around here Sunday is a day of rest, but my idleness led to my downfall... The plan was to wait until Tuesday to build the first fire, but, well, you know what they say of plans...

I built a small fire with some dry scrap wood I have been saving. It has been going for the last two hours or so. During the process I determined I would need at least one more piece of chimney flue as well as an outer door.

Pics follow of the first fire as well as the oven with one then two sections of flue. Also, I threw in a pic of the current state of the fireplace. Guessing it will be put on hold this week as we get the enclosure for the oven done. Once dry, I want to keep it that way!!

Time to read/research pizza dough recipes. Saturday night is PIZZA nite!! I can almost taste it!!

Yippee!!!

Pics follow...

[countryboy]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

Leaning heavily toward the enclosure.

Started on some oven tools this morning as I was/am under strict orders not to get too dirty... Company coming in a while.

Here's the thread with pics and details...

[countryboy]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

Thanks for the input guys,

George, no there will not be a wall behind that counter. We want to be able to see the backyard and I think it might make the area feel too enclosed... Eventually we may put in a couple columns and a roof or pergola over the whole area, but no plans to decrease field of vision.

CB

[fxpose]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

I think the enclosure best fits your overall layout. Are you planning on building a wall on the other side, behind the counter?

George

[KraemerBAC]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

I like the enclosure...

Peter

[countryboy]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

Thanks, Jon... Seems you are the only one willing to go out on a limb... LOL!

Let me try it this way... I did a couple hasty photo alterations in MSPaint... Ugly, but they get the point across... I'll post those for opinion (if the cat will turn loose of the lurking tongues... )

I am leaning toward the enclosure in part for higher insulation, partly to 'balance' the size of the fireplace and partly to better protect the oven from moisture, but realize either way i go can be 'undone and the other course pursued... Just costs a little more.

The rough pic of the enclosure includes stone along the top of the enclosure and stone along the base. On the dome pic, the base would be covered with the same stone... I do plan to top the wall behind the right hand counter with a flat stone with about a 1" over hang on each side...

Also, I expect the enclosure to have some sort of detail over the oven and light fixtures on either side... May consider commissioning my SIL to paint a mural of sorts on the stuccoed finish...

Look at the pics and please opine!

CB

[Jon in Albany]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

I can't speak to performance and I'm not sure what enclosure you are planning, but I would go with the igloo here. I think it looks great with the wall behind it.

[countryboy]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

The midday report...

Ran out of stucco finish coat, so I came in for a shower and a break.. Lots done this morning with plans for later this afternoon. Big day!

As you recall I wasn't excited about the roughness of the chicken wire/stucco job I did on the shop wall. Whoever said, "Mortar covers a multitude of sins" is right on!! The finish coat came out fairly even and smooth. Took a little more finish that I hoped, but the savings on the diamond lath vs. the cost of the extra finish coat probably worked out in my favor.

I added colorant directly to the first batch to get a light buff color for the shop wall. After applying it as I prepared to mix the second bag I added colorant to a bucket of water then added that to the dry mix before getting it to the right consistency... Only, it came out MUCH darker/oranger... I wasn't planning to finish coat the oven base and counter supports, but there it was... close to the color I wanted.... so, I did the base and counter wall/supports.

Next I went back and was a little more careful mixing color as I went on the shop wall, but you can see it did not come out perfectly consistent. Now, we plan to paint the stucco a shade pretty close to this and the intent is to have the stucco colored so that any chipped paint will be less noticeable...

Lesson learned for others out there... To get a more consistent color next time, I would premix the whole bottle of colorant in a five gallon bucket with water. Then, I could more precisely measure a gallon of that water into the mixing bin with each bag of stucco mix. Then use clear water to get it to the desired consistency. Also, the colorant seems to settle, so agitate the water in the bucket before measuring out of it each time.

Later today I plan to lay the block for the fireplace enclosure as well as the wall behind the other counter.

On another note, the oven looks really good as a dome... I'm debating now ding without the enclosure... Oh, what to do??

For the experienced hands out there: How does 4" of vermicrete and a stucco cover compare to an enclosure with 4-8" of vermiculite around the oven? Which will perform better?

Opinions of the artistic eyes? I will have to build up the vermicrete over the arch as the design was intended to be against an enclosure backdrop...

Thoughts?

I'll have to get a cold one this evening and sit and look at it to visualize the differences...

A couple pics:

CB

[Millstone Man]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

That looks great along with you entire project.

[countryboy]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

Tscar,

Are you a dealer? Drop me a PM.

Also, LOVE the brickwork on your build. Admired the pics on your brokebrick site some time ago!! Very creative and well done!

CB

[Tscarborough]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

"Segmented Throat System"

Rumford Throats

Generally they will be about one half the cost of the cast throat (which is a marvel of casting, BTW, a really lovely piece of clay).

It is vital in a Rumford fireplace that the throat have the proper geometry. Unlike oven opening height (for example), the Rumford fireplace design rides the edge of what will work and what will not. It is a highly engineered design. The shallow depth, flat back, and tall opening do not leave much wriggle room. I diagnose a lot of fireplace problems, but they can usually be solved for "standard" fireplaces or modified Rumfords without teardowns or major rebuilds, but a true Rumford, while efficient if built correctly, is not forgiving of dimensional deviation, especially in the throat geometry.

[countryboy]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

George,

Local storms here generally track/blow in a direction that would carry some rain diagonally into the front of the outer arch. I expect the shop will protect from major water, but the drain is a bit of insurance... And, there will be an inner, if not outer door...

CB

[fxpose]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

Granted, the goal is to keep the oven dry, BUT, I'm sure I will get some water in/near the entrance in torrential down pours like we are having right now. A little drain in the side is good insurance to keep water from seeping back into the oven area...

What I did was I pitched the entire landing to at least keep some water from entering the oven area. The arch also overhangs the landing by an inch. But hopefully the oven door will keep most water out during a torrential downpour which is rare here in L.A.

George

[countryboy]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

BTW, TScar, what are the '1/4 round throat pieces?'

Thx,

CB