Tapir Force Steps up to the plate!

[brickie in oz]

Re: Tapir Force Steps up to the plate!

Brickie, I did try to get a larger image up. I will keep working on this problem. Sorry.

Robert

No need to apologize Id just like to see the build a bit better.

[Lburou]

Re: Tapir Force Steps up to the plate!

Robert

Soak the bricks before cutting too, it will save your saw blade

[Tapir Force]

Re: Tapir Force Steps up to the plate!

Brickie, I did try to get a larger image up. I will keep working on this problem. Sorry.

Robert

[Tapir Force]

Re: Tapir Force Steps up to the plate!

Paul,

I was soaking my bricks as you were suggesting. The tip is a good one as the bricks are certainly dry and absorb all of the moisture from the mortar. The last batch that I made up was the trick. I used a slightly higher ratio of Portland and brick clay in the last batch. Everything is good and tight this morning. Even the splatter was more difficult to remove. The next test is how the opening survives the installation of the clay flue tiles. I plan on being very careful. Thanks for the interest

The pictures are of my build this morning. My wife took them on her iphone so the lighting is not the greatest.

[Paul in Rockwall TX]

Re: Tapir Force Steps up to the plate!

regarding the mortar not sticking to the bricks - are the bricks damp? they shouldn't be dry, but they shouldn't be wet either. If you soak them for a while, then let them air dry, the mortar should grab pretty well. the residual moisture in the soaked brick helps the mortar joints cure at a good pace with out drying out.

I had a batch of cut bricks that I forgot to soak, and I couldn't figure out at first why the mortar wasn't sticking. I then realized that I had forgotten that step.

If the bricks are damp and it's still not sticking, then you have an issue.

[Tapir Force]

Re: Tapir Force Steps up to the plate!

I finished the entryway arch today, but by the time I finished, the sun was down so I will have to do the pictures tomorrow. I had cold weather and was less than happy with my mortar mix. The mixture does not stick to the firebricks very well as so many have stated before me. I played around a bit with the lime content and a new bag of brick clay. Nothing seemed to help. I had to redo the front arch a couple of times because the work was pretty fragile. Tomorrow morning will be the tale of the tape. I hope that it dries solid. My cuts are good and snug so maybe I will be okay. If all goes well. I should be able to add my flue that I cut yesterday pretty soon. I also got a start on the third tier and recalculated my bevels and angles.

Robert

[DrakeRemoray]

Re: Tapir Force Steps up to the plate!

Hey Tapir,
I am just south of Denver near Highlands Ranch (not really Littleton at all). Looks like you have a great start! Nice to see another Colorado oven!

Drake

[Tapir Force]

Re: Tapir Force Steps up to the plate!

Thanks Brickie,
I will up the sizes from here on.

Robert

[brickie in oz]

Re: Tapir Force Steps up to the plate!

if you find that I am doing some really bonehead moves, please alert me.

The pics are a tad on the small side, internet standard for pics is 800x600 pixels, that way they will fill a small monitor screen without having the need to scroll to see the entire pic.

[Tapir Force]

Re: Tapir Force Steps up to the plate!

Thanks for your reply Les. I too drew out my cuts; first on CAD, next on paper and then the tile. But, as is sometimes the case with me, the neatness of my desk does not translate into reality. I just have my moments where I can do nothing but screw up. I actually try to build that fact into to my time tables.

Yes, I did make sure to have all of the concrete in front of the WFO just in case. Thanks!

Robert

[Tapir Force]

Re: Tapir Force Steps up to the plate!

Here are the pictures my wife took of part of the second tier of bricks that rest on the soldiers and the beginnings of my entryway and chimney with my transition work. Not lovely, but I feel good about my cuts and the mortar work.

I have had some wonderful comments and encouragement from a number of the people here on the forum. It is remarkable on just how small the world has become and how people from all walks of life can get together and offer advice criticism and praise in such a meaningful way. It is just proof that when we have common purpose, the people of the world can get along. I really do appreciate all of the posts.

That said, my hands are coming apart from the lime in the cement, the weather is not cooperating and my back is serving as a daily reminder that I am not as young as I once was. Enjoy the pics, and as always, if you find that I am doing some really bonehead moves, please alert me.

[Les]

Re: Tapir Force Steps up to the plate!

Fire is a very real concern, I plan on paying great attention to the chimney and the spark arrestor. Any comments here would be greatly appreciated.

I can honestly say that sparks are a minimum. Sometimes when I start with pine, I will get some "pops" that come out the entry. If you have a base surface of concrete / paver's, it seems to be safe. I've seen very little coming out the vent.

It's a little late, but when I cut my flue for a taper, I drew it out on paper to get the angle, then transferred it to the pipe. One cut and done...

[brickie in oz]

Re: Tapir Force Steps up to the plate!

On one load of mortar alone, I experienced sunshine, rain, snow and then hail.

Sounds like Melbourne's weather.... like they say here, if you dont like the weather then wait a minute.

[Tapir Force]

Re: Tapir Force Steps up to the plate!

I got a lot done today on my build. I am actually going backward here, because I did the work on the clay flue tiles last. The weather here today was strange at best. On one load of mortar alone, I experienced sunshine, rain, snow and then hail. Spring here is a challenge. Back to my chimney piece.

I saw a couple of others oven builders that split flue pieces to increase the mouth at the base of the chimney in the entryway and then bring it into a standard sized piece (8.25"). I liked the concept and was encouraged by the reports that the modification still produced a good draw and actually trapped more smoke. We live on a high plain at 7,300 ft. Fire is a very real concern, I plan on paying great attention to the chimney and the spark arrestor. Any comments here would be greatly appreciated.

I had four or five pieces of these flue tiles from an auction a few years ago. I had an old B&D circular saw and a good dry diamond saw blade. I figured that this was going to be easy. It wasn't. The only thing that I can compare my experience with is the time I went to shorten a table leg in a foolish attempt to stabilize it. Long story short, when the table was short enough to use without chairs, I knew I was out of my element.

I had to make a jillion cuts to get the pieces to fit together so that I had any chance to mortar the pieces together. I have no idea what I did wrong, but the more I measured and checked my angles, the smaller the piece became. I finally laid down the measuring tools and eyed it in. Instead of having a 15.75" opening I ended up a 14". The other end, which increases in size with each mistake was not off by nearly as much and the standard flue piece does fit, but not by much.

The good news was that the blade worked well and the old B&D did not seem fazed by the dust. The first picture is probably all you needed to see. The second shot is what I believe to be an editorial comment on all of the dust and noise from my barn cat.

[Lburou]

Re: Tapir Force Steps up to the plate!

Great pictures! Also great place to spend the summers!

Having lived right at the foot of that mountain for 15 years, I can say that the growing seasons are real short.....Even shorter there in pergatory (meaning Elbert)

We have tomatoes on the vine and melons in the early stages of growth here in NOrth Texas. Your pictures show an idyllic setting, I'm a little homesick, but it too shall pass.