I'm getting closer to my Dome!

[Cheesesteak]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Yeah - deadlines are for amateurs . . .

You'll get there - and enjoy many, many years of cooking in the oven. I had neighbors stop by today to see how my oven was coming and they were green with envy.

It look great - a bit more work to close the dome, let it sit a bit and get a small fire going.

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Dome is now closed up! YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll post pics as soon as I can stop sweating long enough to handle the camera without breaking it.

[Mike D]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Nice job. That is the best feeling, to finally close that thing up. Bring on the pictures.

Mike

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Here are a couple of pics of the closed dome. After looking at some of the inside pics I thought I saw a crack in a brick! Upon re-entering the inside of the dome (no small feat for a guy my size!) I cleaned the crack away! Whew! Just some mortar dripping down! The keystone did not fit all the way down to the bottom, but was a super tight fit and all the bricks in the ring around it got super tight!
Now the vent/chimney area and the facade, which I have a question to all those pros out there about brick work. On the left side I have a counter coming off at a 45 degree angle. I am facing the cement blocks with pavers, I know this is probably foolish in and of itself for many reasons. But, my question is how to face off the 45 degree corner and not have a straight line going up the corner. I thought about using (what I call a stretcher block) across the angle. But any help is WELCOME on this topic!
Thanks
John

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Cleaner dome without the faux crack! Happy Dancing!

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Hello All Masons!
Here is a pic of my "stretcher" block across the angle. If this is the way to go, how do I stagger the joints??? Are there any other options?
Here is a pic of the vent transition piece. At what point do I stop with the fire bricks and continue with a brick chimney?
I know these must have been answered before, so I apologize for the repeat questions.

Thanks for everyone's help!

John

[brickie in oz]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

how do I stagger the joints??? Are there any other options?

The wall is on three different planes so unless you want steps every other course it cant be done.

[pizza_bob]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

John,

Nice work on the dome! You moved much quicker than I did! Keep it going - you can have pizza for Labor Day! I have some left over ceramic blanket. Are you interested? Can't beat the price - free!

Regards,
Bob

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

The wall is on three different planes so unless you want steps every other course it cant be done.

Thanks Al,
I REALLY appreciate letting me know it can't be done! It was driving me a little crazy, more so than I already am. Any help on the chimney transition? ok so I'm pushing my luck!
Again THANKS
JOhn

[brickie in oz]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

A quick pic.

The steps will be every course, some on top, some underneath.

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

John,

Nice work on the dome! You moved much quicker than I did! Keep it going - you can have pizza for Labor Day! I have some left over ceramic blanket. Are you interested? Can't beat the price - free!

Regards,
Bob

Hi Bob,
I don't know how nice the work on the dome is, it pales compared to yours. My stomach hopes you are correct on the pizza for labor day! How did you have left over blanket? At any rate I would love more blanket for the dome. (I say that on a day that approached 95 degrees - lol) It sounds like you cannot over insulate. I'll trade you a bottle of Chianti for the blanket, how does that sound?
How has your oven been cooking? Your patio came out fantastic!
Thanks
John

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

A quick pic.

The steps will be every course, some on top, some underneath.

Thanks for the illustration, a picture is worth a thousand words. The face on the cement block is priceless!
John

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Hi All,
I am sure everyone is getting tired of my constant questions, but here is another one. (hoping someone will respond )
It concerns the chimney, I will be using a clay flue 8*8 a clay vent 13*13 at bottom and 8*8 top for the flue sections. I think I have a handle on that part so far. I will be setting that on top of the firebricks that span the inner/outer arches. Then I will be building a brick chimney around the flue on top of the fire bricks. That is where I have some mental issues. I don't know high high up I should go with the firebrick before I start with decorative bricks? I have seen Brickie put in insulated bricks for a thermal break, which the only way I could come by those were through mail order (heavy shipping costs) Could I use foamglas for a thermal break and build the brick chimney on top of that foamglas base. So it would be the last layer of firebrick, layer of foamglas and then clay bricks on up. Am I way off base? I would worry that the foamglas may compress on one side and instead of a chimney, I would have the leaning tower of Pisa!!!! OMG! Help!

[brickie in oz]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Never seen foamglass, do you have a link for the specs sheet, it should say on there the compressive strength.

What about direct contact to flame, being glass I suspect it would fail.

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Never seen foamglass, do you have a link for the specs sheet, it should say on there the compressive strength.

What about direct contact to flame, being glass I suspect it would fail.

Brickie,
I have the entire oven built on the foamglas base. But that is short and squat, rather than a small footprint and tall. The flue would keep direct flame away from the foamglas. Here is the compessive spec sheet.
Thanks
John