I'm getting closer to my Dome!

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

John,

The build is looking great! You're moving a lot quicker than I did!
Some advice on the arch...When you start to mortar it make sure you have a board or something to use as a guide that will keep the face of the bricks aligned. I mortared one brick on the left side and then while that was curing I went to the right side and did a brick. I kept alternating liek this until I met at the keystone. I didn't have a guide and my bricks were slightly offset. The direction I'm talking about is "in and out" of the oven.
Please let me know if I'm making any sense.

Keep up the good work!

~Bob

Thanks for the compliment! Coming from you it is really more of an honor than compliment, your entire project is spectacular!
That is great advice! I will certainly now use a board on the backside for z-axis alignment! THANKS for the invaluable hint!
John

[GianniFocaccia]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

When assembling my inside arch, I used a square to keep my brick faces as vertical to the entryway floor bricks as possible.

[pizza_bob]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

John,

The build is looking great! You're moving a lot quicker than I did!
Some advice on the arch...When you start to mortar it make sure you have a board or something to use as a guide that will keep the face of the bricks aligned. I mortared one brick on the left side and then while that was curing I went to the right side and did a brick. I kept alternating liek this until I met at the keystone. I didn't have a guide and my bricks were slightly offset. The direction I'm talking about is "in and out" of the oven.
Please let me know if I'm making any sense.

Keep up the good work!

~Bob

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

John,

Your arch is looking really good. It's symmetrical and has the small joints we all strive for. Keep going!

Coincidentally, I grew up with my step-father (great guy) who was from Warehouse Point, 45 minutes or so up the 84 from you.

John

Thanks for the encouragement, and with the weather we are having this spring, I fully understand you being in Ca.

[GianniFocaccia]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

John,

Your arch is looking really good. It's symmetrical and has the small joints we all strive for. Keep going!

Coincidentally, I grew up with my step-father (great guy) who was from Warehouse Point, 45 minutes or so up the 84 from you.

John

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Being from CA, I've been going clockwise. Does it show?

Hi John,
If going clockwise gets my build anywhere close to yours, I'm going clockwise too!

Well I got the forth chain done yesterday and paid much more attention to the vertical joints. Then is was arch day today, and boy was it a little frustrating to say the least. I needed a primer on cutting brick tapers and back to geometry for finding an arc with a 20" chord and 4.5" height. Ok so I did get that all done and started cutting bricks with the proper angles and all. I should have cut the bricks a little smaller as the saw tended to push off the brick at the end of the angle. I dry stacked the arch just to see how badly I did and if I needed to start over again. I'll look it over in a day or so and then decide. It has been nothing but gloom and rain on and off here, its down right miserable. But I think it is probably great for the mortar to cure properly! Here are some update pics!

John

[GianniFocaccia]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Being from CA, I've been going clockwise. Does it show?

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Cut your self a couple of small bricks to help with the vertical joints. Start with the back of the oven (the part that you will see when you are cooking), and work your way around to the arch. That way you will see the nice area when you are cooking, you won't see the areas on the side as much.

Mike

Thanks Mike, I'll do just that! I do start from the entry side and work around, I was paying more attention (or no attention to the vertical joints) to the curve and angle cuts and the upside down vee bevel than to the joints lining up!
btw, should I start clockwise or counter clockwise? I am located north of the equator if that means anything! lol

Thanks
John

[Mike D]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Cut your self a couple of small bricks to help with the vertical joints. Start with the back of the oven (the part that you will see when you are cooking), and work your way around to the arch. That way you will see the nice area when you are cooking, you won't see the areas on the side as much.

Mike

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

John, keep an eye on your verticle bond joints, I see a few that are very close to being in alignment. Need to keep those joints as close to the middle of the bricks in the previous course as possible.

RT

It is funny how those vertical bonds know that I am not a mason, and as soon as I turn my back they are aligning them selves up like good little ducks. I will get better at paying attention to the vertical bond. Angle cuts, bevel cuts, keep the correct angle, no mortar joints showing inside, Sheesh, ya think I was building a brick oven or something!

Thanks I will watch that more closely, now that I have buttering and brick setting somewhat under control!

John

[RTflorida]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

John, keep an eye on your verticle bond joints, I see a few that are very close to being in alignment. Need to keep those joints as close to the middle of the bricks in the previous course as possible.

RT

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Great-looking start, Aegis. FWIW, I incorporated my arch as I went along and didn't complete it until the sixth course was almost done.

I am by nature a make it up as I go along type of guy... So that fits right in!
Actually, I am more of I have to figure it out as I go along... lol with everyone's help of course!
Thanks
John

[GianniFocaccia]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Great-looking start, Aegis. FWIW, I incorporated my arch as I went along and didn't complete it until the sixth course was almost done.

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Some progress between the rain drops! Thanks to all that have helped so far, I really do appreciate all the guidance. I have completed the second chain and I am now wondering if I should start mortaring the entry way and arch.... Is there any benefit to do more chains first or do the entry arch? Here are a couple of pics of progress so far! I know I am a long way from finished but I think there is a faint smell of Pizza in the air! Oh, I think that's from Bob's beautiful oven! LOL Now back to work!

[Aegis]

Re: I'm getting closer to my Dome!

Ive started a new thread on dome cutting so as not to hijack this thread.

It is ok to Hijack this thread, not a problem. It has been raining here for days and all oven work has stopped! So between no work and your beautiful oven, hi-jaking is allowed, even wanted! LOL All I just ask, is for you to take this rain with the thread when its hi-jacked!