Chch NZ build

[Les]

Re: Chch NZ build

John,

I dropped some rebar into the hearth and then used cored bricks to "beef" everything up. I'm having no issues. I really don't know if it was needed but it seemed like the safe thing to do.

Les...

[John French]

Re: Chch NZ build

Hmm! That was a worry for me. I did a seach on vent wall collapses and found no real help there. I concluded ( falsly it would seem ) that there wasn't a general problem. I will trevist some other builds and look to find a way of improving lateral support.
Note your extra support, FIV , with extra bricks in front of arch and floor.

Any other thoughts out there?

[Faith In Virginia]

Re: Chch NZ build

You will need to provide some sort or lateral support otherwise it will all just collapse over time.

Agreed!!! Mine held up fine till I put some heat to it then I started to get cracks and loose arch bricks.

This is my before and after. In the first picture you can see the cracks in the key joints and at the bottom of the arch where I got spread you can see where the arch pushed out

[brickie in oz]

Re: Chch NZ build

You will need to provide some sort or lateral support otherwise it will all just collapse over time.

[John French]

Re: Chch NZ build

Spent the weekend mainly planning and revisiting design ideas re the outer arch and vent. It was really difficult to resolve some concepts. In the end i decided to follow a previous build with a flared opening and although this meant a few tricky cuts on a tile saw the outcome was okay. I am worried about the stability of the vent walls as the arch is built but hopefully it will be able to withstand the lateral forces even though there does not seen to be too much holding the structure up. I am down to my last 6 bricks and so i am trying to estimate how many extras i will need for the vent and support for the flue. Not sure what the chimney will be contsrtucted of yet.

[John French]

Re: Chch NZ build

By using a hinge from the centre with the I tool attached it meant that instead of describing a circulat arc it will produce an ellipse and therefore generate a lower height. My original though was to produce a lower dome than puely hemispherical one. However, I only used the i tool as a guide rather than as a brick placement device and not at all for the upper chains.
There are some good examples on the forum with more detailed information.

[kriso]

Re: Chch NZ build

Hi there John
Good job, must be a good feeling to have the dome completed.... I have just got the pavers for my dome and are going to make a start on Monday or Tuesday. I am not sure of the reason behind a off set as opposed to a center I tool. Can you explain in simple terms the diff and why you chose the off set one. I was going to use a support system but feel that the free laying of the bricks is the way to go... always up for a challenge.
Cheers
Kris

[John French]

Re: Chch NZ build

Couldn't agree more. In spite of reading a lot from this forum it can't replace first hand experience. I reckon my next dome would be easier and technically better. Still hopefully this will work as an oven okay - seems like quite a bit to do yet.

[John French]

Re: Chch NZ build

Thanks for the correction of terminology, I wasn't aiming to confuse anyone.

[Faith In Virginia]

Re: Chch NZ build

Doesn't that feel so GOOD! Placing in that plug...what a sense of accomplishment. Congratulations John...it looks great.

[DaveW]

Re: Chch NZ build

Nice looking dome.

dave

[C5dad]

Re: Chch NZ build

John,

You are making great progress. The last chain looks great and the plug does too. Can't wait to see your outer arch and smoke box. I found that I am getting better with the cuts as I go along too. Kind of wished I did an oven for someone else first and then my own to take the lessons learned.

[brickie in oz]

Re: Chch NZ build

A keystone relates to an arch as its the "key" to it all staying up.

Yours would be a plug, as the dome is already supported.

[John French]

Re: Chch NZ build

Heres a view of the keystone. Took a while on the tile saw but i am happy with the outcome.

[John French]

Re: Chch NZ build

Finished the last full chain and created the keystone. I cut and dry staked the brick for the forst time since the soldier course. This really helped in terms of progress. just a shame that my mistakes in the previous couple of courses made the appearance of the inside of the dome a bit shabby. The hole of the keystone was a bit eccentric in all respects but i was happy with the sculpting of the brick. Tomorrow i will fit and seal the dome up.