May be starting my 42" Pompeii in NYC this week...

[NYC]

Re: May be starting my 42" Pompeii in NYC this week...

My cutting area is already covered in fireclay from all the cutting. Hopefully a good rain will clear it up.

I have access to any tool as I have friends in every field of construction. I just don't like big heavy saws. I already took a small chunk out of my pinky last week when I slipped on a brick with the angle grinder.

Only worked on it an hour today.

[ggoose]

Re: May be starting my 42" Pompeii in NYC this week...

NYC, I had the same delema with cutting tapers. I wound up renting a 14" dry-cut block saw for a few hours and made my arch cuts. It cost me about $30. It was worth it, as my attempts on my 10" wet saw were throw-aways. Do wear a respirator if you go this route, and note that whatever is downwind of the saw will get a nice coat of brick dust .

gene

[Lburou]

Re: May be starting my 42" Pompeii in NYC this week...

It looks good so far, and I'm sure you will gain confidence as you go along.

[chidding]

Re: May be starting my 42" Pompeii in NYC this week...

Cut it from both sides.. I was able to do this on a 9inch drop saw, im sure it can be done on a 10inch brick saw.

Its up to you.. your design, if your happy.. go for it.. !

[NYC]

Re: May be starting my 42" Pompeii in NYC this week...

My 10" saw doesn't want to cut the brick on it's side, only laying flat down. Any ideas to cut a vertical taper other than a dry angle grinder?

[chidding]

Re: May be starting my 42" Pompeii in NYC this week...

Thanks guys. It's my first time working with brick. Far from a skill.

You mean tapering the sides so I use less mortar in between? Won't that make me use alot more bricks per chain?

Nah just for the arch! just love the look of barely any mortar.

[vtsteve]

Re: May be starting my 42" Pompeii in NYC this week...

Just taper the arch bricks. If the mortar bond ever breaks, the bricks will remain in position. Without the taper, the brick can fall straight out of the 'slot' formed by the mortar on either side.

[NYC]

Re: May be starting my 42" Pompeii in NYC this week...

Thanks guys. It's my first time working with brick. Far from a skill.

You mean tapering the sides so I use less mortar in between? Won't that make me use alot more bricks per chain?

[chidding]

Re: May be starting my 42" Pompeii in NYC this week...

If possible you should taper those bricks. I find it's structurally more sound and looks awesome. Amazing work so far. Really stumped as to why someone with such skill never went DIY in the first place!

[brickie in oz]

Re: May be starting my 42" Pompeii in NYC this week...

Nice........

[NYC]

Re: May be starting my 42" Pompeii in NYC this week...

Survived the NYC hurricane and today finally was able to get back to working on the oven. Laid the floor, first 2 courses of wall brick and started the interior arch. Using yellow firebrick and heatstop50 refractory mortar.

[NYC]

Re: May be starting my 42" Pompeii in NYC this week...

Heatstop says on their website that you can mix color like you would any mortar with their product.

[Aegis]

Re: May be starting my 42" Pompeii in NYC this week...

I laid my floor brick tight and on the inside of my solders and I have had no cracking issues.

I would not recommend the color agent to the heat stop. I don't know for sure it would be bad but I would hate to build my oven and find out that I messed up the mortar for the sake of color.

Faith

Most people don't have a problem. The "problem" was two fold the hearth under coupled with gap being filled with firebrick bits/mortar droppings. If you have the bricks cut just remember the gap needs to stay clear. Pizza Bob used cardboard which he said just burned away with his first few fires. The hearth does expand a lot with heat.
I just want people to avoid my stupidity/slopiness

[Faith In Virginia]

Re: May be starting my 42" Pompeii in NYC this week...

You will want to make a mix of fireclay and sand and water. Using a notched trowel set this mix down like you were laying floor tile. This way you will be able to get your floor pretty level. Any raised edge of your floor brick will catch your peal.

Sorry I don't have the correct ratio at hand to the fireclay and sand mix I'm sure someone knows and will chime in.

I laid my floor brick tight and on the inside of my solders and I have had no cracking issues.

I would not recommend the color agent to the heat stop. I don't know for sure it would be bad but I would hate to build my oven and find out that I messed up the mortar for the sake of color.

Faith

[NYC]

Re: May be starting my 42" Pompeii in NYC this week...

Also, any thoughs on adding a coloring agent to the heatstop to match the mortar joints to the brick color instead of gray?