36" Pompeii oven in North Carolina

[Faith In Virginia]

Re: 36" Pompeii oven in North Carolina

Here Perhaps this will help you understand what my arch did.

[Faith In Virginia]

Re: 36" Pompeii oven in North Carolina

Stephen *Z

No you read it correctly. After a few firings where the oven got to temp the two bricks that are standing up, the ones holding up the arch...the arch base, Things started to move. So the radius of the arch caused the bottom of the arch to spread outwards. So the bottom of the arch to the standing brick (arch base) moved. Now the keystone had more room and started to slip down.

So what I ended up doing was I fixed the arch and put it back in the original place. Then I put a layer about 1 inch of Portland cement and vermiculite then made a form around the arch and poured concrete in with rebar. The arch can't move now and the concrete form will become a part of the oven covering so a nice stone veneer will dress it up nicely...A project for the spring.

Here is a picture of my fix,

[stephen*z]

Re: 36" Pompeii oven in North Carolina

Faith,
what do you mean by "the base was too small"? It looks great to me, or am I reading it wrong?

[Faith In Virginia]

Re: 36" Pompeii oven in North Carolina

Arch height is determined by your interior oven height. There is a magic number 63% so the top of your lowest arch should be 63% of your internal oven height. A low arch will need a wider support as the base of your opening a high arch will require less. But when your dealing with a constant such a brick size I don't think adjusting up or down will affect the amount of base support needed as long as you make a sufficient base. My next oven I will lay them flat with the long side of the brick facing out.

I went too small on my arch base and had some arch problems so I made some changes to correct that problem. Next time I will do it correctly from the start. Live and learn or make mistakes and learn.

My oven is up and running and I was thinking of some bread this weekend (Sourdough) I'm thinking about waiting till spring to first move the oven, I have it set in a temporary location, then dress up the exterior once it's in the final location.

I have two thoughts on location one is just behind the house. Problem is I would need to relocate the dog yard, not an easy thing for me or the dogs. The second is an addition just off the kitchen on the side of the house and put the oven in an exterior wall.

I added a picture of my arches, this base was too small
Faith

[stephen*z]

Re: 36" Pompeii oven in North Carolina

Looks great what you have done so far.

I have great concerns about your arch design. I'm not great with words while typing this is one of those times I would need my hands to assist in what I'm trying to say. but I will give it a try.

First concern is your two lower arch supports the pressure of the arch will make those two bricks (tops) push out thereby increasing the risk of the arch failing.

second concern is the thinness of the arch. I think as you build the dome you will have some forces that would want to push the arch out towards the opening thereby breaking the arch. In short just not strong enough.

Hope this helps, Faith

that is just the info I was looking for.... so the arch should be made of bricks with the wide side touching inorder to get more pieces in there?
it seams the curve of the arch would have alot to do with it also. I matched the metal frame to some arches I had seen being used on other ovens. do you think it is too shallow?

It should be warming up some in VA about now.... building soon?
Steve

[stephen*z]

Re: 36" Pompeii oven in North Carolina

Any reason you made a break in the floor bricks between the oven and the oven landing? I have not seen that before and don't plan to do that......?


the break in the floor is where the ash dump is located. I plan on having a brick covering it most of the time and then be able to take it out when I need to use the trap door. as of right now none of that is set in just yet.
I wanted the hearth floor to be done with the herringbone design and then the hearth door area to be streight bricks comming out.
all that shoule clean up and look better as I pregress with the design.

[Lburou]

Re: 36" Pompeii oven in North Carolina

I like the arch....Is that a metal form behind the bricks? I hope so, I fear Faith has a valid point there.

I am watching you closely today because I'm going to play with setting the floor of my oven today too

Any reason you made a break in the floor bricks between the oven and the oven landing? I have not seen that before and don't plan to do that......?

Looking good

[Faith In Virginia]

Re: 36" Pompeii oven in North Carolina

Looks great what you have done so far.

I have great concerns about your arch design. I'm not great with words while typing this is one of those times I would need my hands to assist in what I'm trying to say. but I will give it a try.

First concern is your two lower arch supports the pressure of the arch will make those two bricks (tops) push out thereby increasing the risk of the arch failing.

second concern is the thinness of the arch. I think as you build the dome you will have some forces that would want to push the arch out towards the opening thereby breaking the arch. In short just not strong enough.

This is a great page that can explain things better.Auroville Earth Institute, training courses, workshops on Vaults, Arches, Domes(VAD), stabilized rammed earth walls, compressed earth blocks, vaulted structures, compressed stabilised earth blocks, rammed earth.

Hope this helps, Faith

[stephen*z]

Re: 36" Pompeii oven in North Carolina

I got back out there today and started the floor and the arch.
1) What does everyone think about an arch without as many bricks?
it is still the right height and everything... just seemed easier for the inside arch.
check out the photo below.

2)here are some of my tools... the brick setting tool is simple but effective, and it only took me about 15 min to make it.
the other thing is my brick crushing tool...again simple but effective!

and one photo of the floor....thought that would be easy..... boy was I wrong...took me about an hour to get it flat.

[chidding]

Re: 36" Pompeii oven in North Carolina

Am I crazy if I have a stack of firewood for a wood fired oven ...
but have not finished the oven .....

How about if I have already made most of the tools needed to cook in the oven...
but have not finished the oven.......yet?

Steve

Yea but now when your oven is done, your ready to cook right away, rather than wait on getting tools/wood!

[GianniFocaccia]

Re: 36" Pompeii oven in North Carolina

Am I crazy if I have a stack of firewood for a wood fired oven ...
but have not finished the oven .....

Not in the least... I too am only halfway through my build and yesterday went and picked up a brand new 6 QT cast iron dutch oven (4-pc set) off Craigslist for $45.

You're just thinking ahead...

[stephen*z]

Re: 36" Pompeii oven in North Carolina

Am I crazy if I have a stack of firewood for a wood fired oven ...
but have not finished the oven .....

How about if I have already made most of the tools needed to cook in the oven...
but have not finished the oven.......yet?

Steve

[stephen*z]

Re: 36" Pompeii oven in North Carolina

Looks great so far, were you able to salvage the old oven? Makes for some great hardscape in the garden, very cool craftsmanship.

yes I got the head off the dragon and half buried him in a flowerbed. I want him to get overgrown and look like an architecturial find from some lost society..... the imagination is always going....
Steve
PS I have a photo of him on my build blog

[Lburou]

Re: 36" Pompeii oven in North Carolina

A truly enviable talent to sculpt in green concrete! It is beyond most of us and yours looks fabulous! Great job so far

I'm subscribed

[mn8tr]

Re: 36" Pompeii oven in North Carolina

Looks great so far, were you able to salvage the old oven? Makes for some great hardscape in the garden, very cool craftsmanship.