30"/760mm Scotland Pompeii

[mrchipster]

Re: 30"/760mm Scotland Pompeii

I wanted to get two courses done today but only managed one. Not having a solid face to work from took up a lot of time, I mortared two bricks and then left them to set for 30 mins, otherwise they were just getting pushed around as I tried to add more.

Gravity was definitely starting to make itself known with this course. I might be able to do the next course without a support but I'm going to look at getting an exercise ball or making a form to hold up the later courses.

I'm really happy with how circular it ended up. The arch transition finished well so I'll take the arch form out tomorrow.

Set one brick on the next course up as the last thing of the day, by the next morning it will provide a nice starting point.

It is nice and round.

No rush to remove the inner arch form unless you want it out to aid in cleaning, just do not put any undue stress on it if you take the form out.

[jms]

Re: 30"/760mm Scotland Pompeii

I wanted to get two courses done today but only managed one. Not having a solid face to work from took up a lot of time, I mortared two bricks and then left them to set for 30 mins, otherwise they were just getting pushed around as I tried to add more.

Gravity was definitely starting to make itself known with this course. I might be able to do the next course without a support but I'm going to look at getting an exercise ball or making a form to hold up the later courses.

I'm really happy with how circular it ended up. The arch transition finished well so I'll take the arch form out tomorrow.

[mrchipster]

Re: 30"/760mm Scotland Pompeii

Coming along very nicely.

[jms]

Re: 30"/760mm Scotland Pompeii

Course 5 is on. Just the top of the arch transition to add tomorrow. I think i've avoided a bad droop although the transition is a bit messy.

[mrchipster]

Re: 30"/760mm Scotland Pompeii

Almost. I'd really like to have the oven watertight within two weeks. Maybe I'll even get a pizza next weekend

That would be pushing it, go slow with the curing fires, I think you should plan on 3 -4 weeks minimum. You do not want to put major stress on that nice structure.

Be happily with roasted veggies and or othe medium heat items while curing. You will be happier with minimal cracks, I have cracks but they are very small and oven is performing gerat after almost 2 years.

[jms]

Re: 30"/760mm Scotland Pompeii

It is looking great. I bet you can almost smell the pizza.

Almost. I'd really like to have the oven watertight within two weeks. Maybe I'll even get a pizza next weekend

[mrchipster]

Re: 30"/760mm Scotland Pompeii

It is looking great. I bet you can almost smell the pizza.

[jms]

Re: 30"/760mm Scotland Pompeii

Finished courses 3 and 4. I moved onto 1/3 bricks for course 4, the extra mortaring was a load of fun

[jms]

Re: 30"/760mm Scotland Pompeii

The weather for most of today was pretty crap but it cleared up enough for me to get half of the third course on before dark.

I think I'll start from the back of the oven for future courses, with what I've done today I can see how easy it is to get compounding straight mortar joints rather than a stagger.

[deejayoh]

Re: 30"/760mm Scotland Pompeii

On another topic, what does everyone do with their offcuts and saw waste? From the floor+soldiers+courses1&2+inner arch I've got nearly a full bucket of wet firebrick dust and a nearly full 40litre tub of offcuts .

Yeah, the bane of oven building. I had piles of it too. As Tex recommends, sift out some of the dust for fireclay to use in your home brew. Some of the larger brick cutoff bits may become usable as you get to the top of the dome. The rest is unfortunately landfill bound.

[Bookemdanno]

Re: 30"/760mm Scotland Pompeii

Dry out the dust, and sell it on Ebay for the next oven builder?
Use the offcuts to wedge your bricks further up the dome?

Make a scale model of your oven?

Anyway, best to hoard it until you've definitely finished.

[texman]

Re: 30"/760mm Scotland Pompeii

I had probably 10 gallons of clay and a heaped wheelbarrow of scrap brick. Kept 5 gal of clay and to the trash with rest. you can use the clay in your homebrew.
Tex

[jms]

Re: 30"/760mm Scotland Pompeii

Don't feel bad about cutting some of the bricks smaller to get better angles and avoid lining up the joints. I have a small oven like you - which means the radii are much tighter than the big oven guys have. Smaller bricks segments make it a little easier to keep nice curves. I use 1/3 bricks from about row 6 and for the top layers I used 1/4 bricks

I'm definitely going to look into doing this tomorrow, possibly 1/3 brick from course 4.

On another topic, what does everyone do with their offcuts and saw waste? From the floor+soldiers+courses1&2+inner arch I've got nearly a full bucket of wet firebrick dust and a nearly full 40litre tub of offcuts .

[boerwarrior]

Re: 30"/760mm Scotland Pompeii

Looking good, jms!

Don't feel bad about cutting some of the bricks smaller to get better angles and avoid lining up the joints. I have a small oven like you - which means the radii are much tighter than the big oven guys have. Smaller bricks segments make it a little easier to keep nice curves. I use 1/3 bricks from about row 6 and for the top layers I used 1/4 bricks

[texman]

Re: 30"/760mm Scotland Pompeii

jms
That looks really good. And you are fast! I think you will be really happy with your oven. That arch looks great too. I am glad you tapered those and you will be too. keep up the good work.

Texman