WFO Build in Connecticut

[Aegis]

Re: WFO Build in Connecticut

Yup... I went with aesthetics as well and I paid attention to the easy viewable places such as the back wall. But once you get your outer arch on and all that the easy view starts to reduce tremendously. So I hid my short bricks close to the arch entrance.

Hi Dave, I did not pay as much attention to the seams as I should have, but did try to keep the small bricks in the front. I had a huge crack in my dome from floor expansion.(my fault for not being more attentive to cleaning out the gap between the floor and dome) But if you looked at this fissure running up the wall, not only did the crack appear in a couple of mortar joints but at least one firebrick cracked So, I agree with Faith that seam alignment is almost purely in the eye of the beholder.

From my personal experience I have found no one willing to stick their body and head into the oven when is running as 700 degrees to check out my seams.

Faith, My wife wanted to stick my body in there a few times, although I suspect it had nothing to do with seam watching - does that count?
Dave, you are doing a great job and if you need the wife to chill a bit, you are both invited here for Pizza.
John

[flyfisherx]

Re: WFO Build in Connecticut

Thanks for the invite John. I will definitely give you a shout. I was just down in Southbury buying 80 more bricks from Mike. Looks like your Labor Day prediction for dome completion that you said the last time I was there might come true....I hope. It's gonna be close!

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: WFO Build in Connecticut

Fish,

From your photo album, looks like we are both at similar stages in our builds, Labor day?? I was estimating for late August so I guess we are right in there on schedule. Build is looking good.

[flyfisherx]

Re: WFO Build in Connecticut

Thanks Russell. I have a vacation week on Aug 13th. I am not going anywhere and hope to use that week for the curing fires. I think I can make it. 7th course done and past the arch. On the 8th now.

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: WFO Build in Connecticut

Well, looks like pizzas in Conneticut before Utah, way to go. I think I am a course away from closing the arch. Hotter than a dickens here so staging my work to take advantage of the shade and I am getting quite a farmer's tan. A lot of neighborhood interest in the WFO, maybe wishful thinking on their end that they will get invited for pizza

[videts38]

Re: WFO Build in Connecticut

John,
Is this a case for building the dome on top of the floor verses the floor inside the doom?? Am I wrong,I thought the idea was to sweep ash into the open spaces of the brick floor to close up and smooth out the inperfections of the floor. I would love to know the proper way for my build. I finished putting up the stand today and I think I will be close to starting the floor in another month or so after the hearth.

[Neil2]

Re: WFO Build in Connecticut

"I would love to know the proper way for my build."

Either. People have built their ovens both ways with equal success.

I opted for the "dome on floor" approach simply to avoid detail cutting of the floor bricks to fit the walls.

[flyfisherx]

Re: WFO Build in Connecticut

Yes, my dome sits on my floor. I did not see much merit to the reasons for doing the dome inside. (Ease of floor brick replacement etc.) versus all the cutting needed to fit inside the dome.

I am trying to get away with doing the least work possible.

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: WFO Build in Connecticut

Videts88,

I second Neil2, it is a matter of choice, I have seen both ways. One deciding factor may be how you enclose your oven. If you chose to do an igloo style without an enclosure, then you may need to cut the floor bricks to maintain the round shape with dome on or off floor bricks. If I was enclosing my oven I would have placed dome on floor but I am not.

[flyfisherx]

Re: WFO Build in Connecticut

8th course done and above the arch now!!! The eighth went in great in about 2 hours. I'm on vacation for a week so when I get back, I am planning on being fresh and hopefully finishing out the dome in a week using weekdays and the weekend. Going smooth now. I did not pay too much attention to the bond joints and let me tell you, that was a relief. I had one or 2 joints line up. For the stress of not dealing with it, I can happily accept the result. I caught myself saying....Its close enough a lot.....and on to the next brick. Foggy picture due to the high humidity and my camera was inside with the AC.

[Bookemdanno]

Re: WFO Build in Connecticut

Nice work! Only just caught up with this thread, yours is the Firebrick version of mine!
I had reservations about the entrance arch, but just went with it on the Form before function basis! I went for 11" Radius. The volume of the opening was just slightly less than the 19x12 that the FB plans specified.

Onwards and upwards!

[redmen4]

Re: WFO Build in Connecticut

I know I am late to this question about building on the floor or around the floor. I chose to build around the floor. This was if a floor brick needed to be replaced, especially around the edge, it could easily be done.

[texman]

Re: WFO Build in Connecticut

Well done and looks really good! Nice transition and bond. You can grind those wedges off if needed. I would say break, but be careful with the hammers.
Tracy

[flyfisherx]

Re: WFO Build in Connecticut

Well done and looks really good! Nice transition and bond. You can grind those wedges off if needed. I would say break, but be careful with the hammers.
Tracy

Thanks Tracy. I did grind off some wedges before and plan to do so when I get the grinder out again. I plan on a total enclosure so it really does not matter what the outside of my dome looks like. I have been using the outside to get rid of the mortar thats left in my bucket once I get tired of laying bricks so as not to waste it. It may also add some more mass under the blanket insulation.

[flyfisherx]

Re: WFO Build in Connecticut

Well.....this is what happens when the patience of using the indispensable tool and pieces of wood to support brick wears out...........I am closed....pics to follow once I clean up the excess mortar that I could not clean due to my impatience tool (The golds gym exercise ball)