28" Pompeii

[ggoose]

Re: 28" Pompeii

Nate,

The tree was originally a concern when I began construction, but I have since borrowed a pruning saw from a neighbor and cut the limbs back to at least 10 feet from the chimney, so it shouldn't be a problem. Any smoke should be quite cool before it reaches the tree. I also added a spark arrestor to my chimney cap...

gene

[Pompeii Nate]

Re: 28" Pompeii

Gene,

I am not sure if somebody else has asked you this so I am sorry if I am repeating something already asked but...I noticed that you have a tree not too far away from your oven. Are you worried about that or did I miss a thread somewhere that spoke to this? I have several trees in my backyard that I am concerned about building near but if it is the general consensus that it should be fine I will keep some of those areas in mind. Your (and anybody else's) input is greatly appreciated.

Nate

[ggoose]

Re: 28" Pompeii

A little more progress to report. I sheathed the enclosure with hardie board and back-filled it with pearlite. The pearlite was a bit finer than I expected, but the price was right at about $12 per 4 cubic ft bag. It took 5 of them. The soffit is tongue-and-grove attached with pocket screws. I like the way they stand out from the wood. The metal roof is vented at the ridge to allow some air flow and will be complete as soon as I wrap the chimney with a storm collar. I need to keep setting the cultured stone and pour a countertop. The end is in sight .

[Lburou]

Re: 28" Pompeii

Your repair looks good to me

[mrchipster]

Re: 28" Pompeii

Looks very nice I like the front overhang.

Keep up the great work.

Chip

[ggoose]

Re: 28" Pompeii

Yesterday I ground out the cracks in the dome and filled them with DAP high heat mortar, then cured it with a fire for several hours. This morning the mortar was very hard with no cracks. I wrapped the dome today with ceramic blanket and finished framing the enclosure. Hopefully tomorrow I can sheath the walls with Hardie board and fill in the empty space with pearlite (my local masonry supplier carried it. Thanks Lee and Chip)...

[ggoose]

Re: 28" Pompeii

Thanks Lee. This product sounds more to my liking as it doesn't seem to require a 500F fire to properly cure it, as does the other product from Ace (it is unlikely the outside of my dome bricks would reach 500F without insulation covering them, and I don't want to cover the dome until the the cracks are addressed - catch 22). I'll pick some up today.
Thanks again

gene

[Lburou]

Re: 28" Pompeii

About the caulking. I used a one inch putty knife to fill the cracks and it seemed to get the caulking in there where it was needed. This is the post I made immediately after the project:

The Dap ASTM E-136 rated High heat mortar in a tube -From HD or Lowe's- was easy to use and has plugged the cracks and stabilized the loose bricks with ease. I removed a lot of loose mortar, cleaned the areas between bricks with an ice pick and started a fire in the oven. After 30 minutes of fire in the oven, I caulked the cracks with the mortar and smoothed the outside with a putty knife. Max dome temp I measured was 950 F, then, I fed a smaller fire for three hours to cure the mortar.
This morning, the cracks are filled, bricks stable....All seems OK.
I would use this product again.

A dozen fires to the 900 F level still had the bricks stable, then, I insulated it. HTH

[ggoose]

Re: 28" Pompeii

Thanks for the reply Lee. Your experience and feedback are encouraging; misery loves company ...or perhaps "been there; done that!" and you survived. My plan is to grind the cracks a bit and shoot in some mortar from the caulikng gun and forget it (best part). My bricks are also tapered so no fear of collapse. Still on schedule for September pizza.

gene

[Lburou]

Re: 28" Pompeii

Thanks John. I just figured out how to use the search function for these threads and there was some good info to be found. It seems that grinding a V-cut into the crack and filling it with Fireplace Mortar has been done successfully...that, or just leave it alone. I also saw a quote attributed to James that went: "Embrace your cracks; Enjoy your pizza". Both solutions seem reasonable . Thanks again for your ever-prompt and encouraging replies...

gene

Gene

When I read the account of your 'cracks', it was like Yogi Berra said, 'It's D?j? vu all over again'.

I understand your feelings completely. My cracks were/are significantly larger than yours. I could see light through the cracks.

I removed the additional mortar where my cracks were located on the outside of the dome and found a couple loose bricks. I patched the cracks with wet mortar.....It cracked again, and turned black with smoke.

After encouragement from experienced builders here, I concluded it was a natural expansion joint and I needed to move on and enjoy the oven. My bricks are tapered, so they won't fall out. However, I did use some mortar, applied with a caulking gun and cured with heat, to secure the loose bricks one last time -not to fill the the cracks as much as to bind the loose bricks -it worked, and I felt much better.

Then, I covered it with two layers of one inch ceramic insulation and then poured my enclosure full of vermiculite. No worries now, the oven performs as it should. :happy camper:

This is a long way to say you appear to be within normal limits with your cracks. Move on, and finish curing your oven.

[ggoose]

Re: 28" Pompeii

Thanks John. I just figured out how to use the search function for these threads () and there was some good info to be found. It seems that grinding a V-cut into the crack and filling it with Fireplace Mortar has been done successfully...that, or just leave it alone. I also saw a quote attributed to James that went: "Embrace your cracks; Enjoy your pizza". Both solutions seem reasonable . Thanks again for your ever-prompt and encouraging replies...

gene

[GianniFocaccia]

Re: 28" Pompeii

Gene,
I haven't had to do it (yet) but most posts I've read recommend applying a thin refractory mortar slurry while the crack is still warm and visible. Getting the viscosity right is the trick.
Even if you can't get much material into each crack I wouldn't worry about it.

[ggoose]

Re: 28" Pompeii

Thanks for the quick reply John. So how does one repair such cracks? They seem too small to force mortar into them...

[GianniFocaccia]

Re: 28" Pompeii

Gene,
Thanks for the update and pics. While the linear exterior cracks follow mortar lines, the meandering interior crack really says a lot about the strength and application of your mortar and joints. Hopefully it will be an easy repair and I will be watching closely, because now I'm certain it'll happen to my oven!
John

[ggoose]

Re: 28" Pompeii

Curing update: I've had several fires increasing in intensity now over the past 4 days or so. When I got up this morning to check the oven I found several cracks. I know these things crack, but this is a bit more than I expected. Any thoughts if I should be concerned? Some of these cracks are visible on the inside and outside. I would greatly appreciate any input.
Thanks,

gene