I'm getting closer to my Dome!

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Hi all, Here are some more pics of some progress. I have NO, as in NONE, as in first bricks I have ever put down! So things are going in super slow motion. I did get about 9 soldiers cemented in place. That was after spending way too much time on the oven entrance/reveal. Please someone let me know all the things I am doing wrong, I will not be offended. It may be the only way this gets built and still stands after its built! I would especially love comments about the reveal and subsequent arch. Is it too much reveal? Will I pay for it in the arch/vent area? Thanks in advance!
John

[calipizzanapoletana]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

John,
The build looks good so far -Thanks for the thermocouple info. Also, glad to hear that info on the firing temps w/ regard to the foamglass -should workout fine for you.

Two things:

1- looks from your photos from a previous thread that your plywood cover, protecting the oven floor, is constructed out of 4 sections (the four quarters of a circle). You might find that difficult to remove through your oven opening, once the dome is complete. Make sure that you'll be able to get each piece of the floor out of the completed entry arch without hassle. Could be I'm seeing it wrong, though.

2- the reveal on your entry arch looks large - nothing wrong with this (I tend to think 'the more the better'), but I wonder how the bigger entryway will affect the draw of the oven. How wide is your entry arch going to be?

I wouldn't veer too far from the recommended oven opening dimensions specified in the pompeii_oven_plans2.0.pdf file from FB. -see the chart I attached below

But then again - you've laid more bricks than I at this point.
Anyone more knowledgeable want to correct me, please?

-Dino, Dmun, Help us out!

Cheers!
-Simon

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

John,
The build looks good so far -Thanks for the thermocouple info. Also, glad to hear that info on the firing temps w/ regard to the foamglass -should workout fine for you.

Two things:

1- looks from your photos from a previous thread that your plywood cover, protecting the oven floor, is constructed out of 4 sections (the four quarters of a circle). You might find that difficult to remove through your oven opening, once the dome is complete. Make sure that you'll be able to get each piece of the floor out of the completed entry arch without hassle. Could be I'm seeing it wrong, though.

2- the reveal on your entry arch looks large - nothing wrong with this (I tend to think 'the more the better'), but I wonder how the bigger entryway will affect the draw of the oven. How wide is your entry arch going to be?

I wouldn't veer too far from the recommended oven opening dimensions specified in the pompeii_oven_plans2.0.pdf file from FB. -see the chart I attached below

But then again - you've laid more bricks than I at this point.
Anyone more knowledgeable want to correct me, please?

-Dino, Dmun, Help us out!

Cheers!
-Simon

Hi Simon, The actual entry between the reveal is 20" from the forno bravo book. The 20" 2x4 between the reveal is stolen from Dino's build. I am not sure if I will have problems with the reveal this big as I go into the arch/vent area. At this point I can still close the reveal down without much trouble. The one thing I like about having it built this way is the soldiers are locked together with the arch for a little buttressing. I'll make the height of the arch opening 12.5" high as per the directions, with a 21" high dome.

The Plywood is cut into thirds, middle third is the center piece and can be pulled straight out of the opening then the other side pieces can then be moved towards the center and then pulled straight out.
Thanks for taking the time to look things over, again I agree with your statement bigger is better for the reveal, but then I am not a mason! lol
Thanks
John

[brickie in oz]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

and can be pulled straight out of the opening

Or burnt out..

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Or burnt out..

That would be a good top down burn for sure!

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Hey John,
Those bricks on each side of the entry look like they may cause a dead spot and be hard to clean coal etc. If they follow the curve of the soldier course it is not a problem but they do look like they are at right angles to the entry.

Cheers Doug

Let me take a pic from above/behind. Believe me I will redo the entire front if it is wrong. At least I'll redo it before I mortar them in place.

btw, I know why I never became a mason, it took me 90 mins. to lay 8 soldiers! At that rate I would have to be paying the client room and board

Ok, here are the pics, I am still worried about the entrance being a good base for the arch vent and chimney.
Again thanks for the comments!

[calipizzanapoletana]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

...I am still worried about the entrance being a good base for the arch vent and chimney.

It looks to me as if your interlocking design with the entryway base and the soldier course will provide a good stable foundation. Are you using a full brick height in the soldier course or are you using a half brick height?

The only worry I would have is if it was a full brick height soldier course (due to the talk of instability with side thrust when using a full brick height soldier course without buttressing.)

Keep it going!!
-Simon

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Thanks Doug for taking the time and inspecting! I could use all the help available on this site. I did actually finish the soldier course today! YooHoo! Didn't get a chance to take any pics, had to take the neighbors son to the ER for a head injury. They took a CT and all is fine, except for a concussion.
Again thanks
John

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Here are some pics of the soldier course mortared, Yippe! And the first chain dry stacked with wedges in place. I had to angle the cuts on the first chain to tighten up the inside vertical mortar joint. Has anyone one else had to angle this cut?
Thanks
John

[Mike D]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Are you referring to the upside down V shape that you get? If so than yes this is what people call the bevel. It gets worse as you go up, so get ready for some cutting.

- Here is a link that talks about it http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/8/it...al-3124-7.html

good luck

Mike

[brickie in oz]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

It gets worse as you go up,

Please excuse my ignorance as I havent built a domed oven.

Why would it get worse the higher you go, wouldnt all the beds (horizontal) cuts be the same angle?
The perpends (verticals) would change due to the dome coming together at the top.

Scratch the perpends being different, they should all be the same too.

[Muscats]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Why would it get worse the higher you go, wouldnt all the beds (horizontal) cuts be the same angle?

Brickie, it gets worse becuase each course is a smaller circle than the one before, therefore you use less bricks to make each ring. So the angle is divided into less pieces.

[brickie in oz]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Brickie, it gets worse becuase each course is a smaller circle than the one before, therefore you use less bricks to make each ring. So the angle is divided into less pieces.

So less cuts but same angle?

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Are you referring to the upside down V shape that you get? If so than yes this is what people call the bevel. It gets worse as you go up, so get ready for some cutting.

- Here is a link that talks about it http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/8/it...al-3124-7.html

good luck

Mike

Thanks Mike for the link, I did read, or thought I read his build last fall. I obviously just looked at the pics of the lake and wish I still had my boat! LOL Geeze, I think old timers is setting in! I actually had printed out the sketch for cutting the angles with three cuts on the HF saw, that jcg31 (Jim) had posted.. Which I used and worked beautifully!!!!!!!!!!THANKS Jim! (even if you don't know you helped me!) I just didn't remember or maybe at the time understand the bevel thing! So much information, so little memory!!!
I wonder if a sticky could be made that contained pics and instructions on all the jigs and terminology that the highly inventive members have come up with to make life easier or certain problems solvable.

Doug, thanks for the advice and what to expect on the next couple of chains! This forum and members are the only reason I have half a chance at building this complex of a structure! I laid out the first chain, saw the inverted v's and first thought was, I can't believe I messed the first course up so bad that I have to start compensating with bevel cuts!
So again Thanks All!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I will be having more concerns at every chain. I hope I don't exasperate everyone here with foolish questions!
Thanks
John

[Muscats]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

So less cuts but same angle?

No. Its less bricks bigger angle.

The less bricks it takes to make the ring the bigger the angles are.