Wood Fired Beehive in Utah

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Wood Fired Beehive in Utah

Wahoo, no more droop...........finished course 7 (by my calcs and 3" brick thickness, looking like 12 courses) and was able to get the last of the droop out of the dome. Still able to keep on bond but having to make a couple width adjustments on each side. Slightly out of round (3/8") so making small 1/8" adjustments each course. Going to have do some grinding to take some of the edges off so of the internal bricks caused by this adjustment but going to wait for a few days to make sure the mortar is set and dry. Getting a little harder to clean and see inside of the dome to work and it hurts my back!!!

[Gulf]

Re: Wood Fired Beehive in Utah

Wahoo, no more droop........... Getting a little harder to clean and see inside of the dome to work and it hurts my back!!!

Congratulations, It's looking great, and in the words of one of our \ presidents "I feel your pain" .

[Tscarborough]

Re: Wood Fired Beehive in Utah

This is just a suggestion, but I think it helps with the smoking out of the front. In the shaded area, I cut my brick on a chamfer, and you could do the same with a grinding wheel pretty easily at this point.

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Wood Fired Beehive in Utah

Tscar,

I notice this on your build, just to confirm was the chamfer in the inside of the inner arch or the outside of the inner arch. By the way, I remember, early in my fact gathering coming across a build with neat wavy brick work and contrasting colors, now I realize it was yours as I was looking at your latest cedar bench pics. Like how you think outside the box.

[Tscarborough]

Re: Wood Fired Beehive in Utah

Thank you. It is on the inside to help smooth the airflow out of the oven into the vent. Don't take it to a point, leave 1/2" to 3/4" width on the outside of the arch and just chamfer inward from there.

[Tscarborough]

Re: Wood Fired Beehive in Utah

Maybe wait one more course then.

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Wood Fired Beehive in Utah

Tscar,

Did a "little" chamfering today, roughly 1/2" and 1/2" on a 45. May do a little more, no issues with the arch. Thanks for the idea.

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Wood Fired Beehive in Utah

Finished course 8 this weekend. Mother nature is winning this battle. Bricks need to be held by the IT and/or sticks longer cause gravity is pulling them out of alignment. I do a couple bricks, one each side of the course and go cut a couple more bricks or do something else for a while waiting for the mortar to grab. Finding that my brick faces are narrowing to the point where the IT will need mods soon or have to go with a plywood disc like Karangi Dude or Gulf. I don't know if I am imagining things but the angles and bevels seem more sensitive and having to make more corrections on the cuts for fit or to stay on bond as I move up.

[cloita]

Re: Wood Fired Beehive in Utah

Keep it up, i got course five up this weekend and had angle problems so I got wide joints. Each course seems to new adventure!

[dvm]

Re: Wood Fired Beehive in Utah

The surprise (to me) was on the upper courses when the angle of the bricks needed to decrease (after increasing slightly for each of several courses) and the bevel suddenly increased! Definitely cut a few, dry set, adjust, mortar, repeat.

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Wood Fired Beehive in Utah

Not alot to show progress wise, finished course 8, set anchor block for course 9 (thanks Tu) and cut dry fitted some bricks for course 9. Really having to pay attention to bond since not a lot of wiggle room. Slight out of round on last course that I need to adjust for. All in all getting closer.

[dvm]

Re: Wood Fired Beehive in Utah

Looking Good!
I spent all last Saturday trying to start a new course. I had not placed the first brick previous, and tried to start up and go. After jostling the "first brick" three times (and having to re-start), I finally placed it and walked away for 3 hours. once it was solid it all became much easier.

[Bookemdanno]

Re: Wood Fired Beehive in Utah

Looking Good Johnny Utah!!!

Those top courses really get the Hamstrings!

[texman]

Re: Wood Fired Beehive in Utah

Russell
Have you done a mockup of your finish of your corner build? i am looking to steal some ideas because i am stuck on my corner build. I wish i would have poured my hearth flat at the corner like yours. DJ had a good idea on mine to pour concrete and flatten it out. Anyway, any help appreciated and will be credited.
Tracy

[dvm]

Re: Wood Fired Beehive in Utah

I have one more course to go then a plug. I plan to use 4 blocks per brick for the last course. That leave the plug - I think the diameter on the dome side will be < 4-1/2" I have been toying with the idea of using the grinder to bring the opening to a perfect circle before forming the plug.