42" build in Central Texas

[GarnerAC]

Re: 42" build in Central Texas

More progress on the Dome. Im going to try to cork it today or tomorrow as I have Knee surgery on Wednesday. Should be an easy quick recovery and back at it.
Gotta get 25 more bricks and a another bag of Heat Stop Mortar today.

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: 42" build in Central Texas

Very nice work, especially the pooch house LOL

[GarnerAC]

Re: 42" build in Central Texas

Finished the Dome today. Had to buy a few more bricks from MPI. Looks like about 250 is what I will end up using. Still have front arch and vent to do. Not happy about a few joints lining up but I just could'nt see after all of the mortar on the small pieces. Keystone took a while to get a good fit. It didnt drop in as far as I hoped but was a good tight fit. It was a good feeling dropping in that last course and key!

[ATK406]

Re: 42" build in Central Texas

Well done. You really put it together fast. Love those shots of the inside of the dome and the arch transition. You'll be glad you took those pictures now because it'll never look like that again (at least while you can put your head or camera inside...too bloody hot). Congratulations.

[GarnerAC]

Re: 42" build in Central Texas

Broke out the big camera and fisheye lens this AM!

[kbartman]

Re: 42" build in Central Texas

Congraulations Job well done. I too am very impressed with the speed that has brought you to this point. You also will soon be yet another that has passed me by,........... keep up the good work. Look forward to watching your continued progress.

When do you plan to start your curing fires? Do you plan on curing it with insulation on or off?

I hope to start my curing fire on Monday. I have given the oven and vent time to air cure, now I think ready. I think I want to cure it with the insulation on, so maybe Tuesday.

[GarnerAC]

Re: 42" build in Central Texas

Thanks KB, I m not even thinking about fire at this point. The second arch with the Flare is looming and I am having Arthroscopic Knee surgery next week, followed by trip to the Netherlands a couple weeks after that. Things may slow a bit here. I do tend to obsess on a project and drop everything else around me. I have done that here .

This morning I covered the outside with a premixed refractory cement to clean up the outside of the dome. Its called #36 Refractory Cement. (Tscar said I could) This stuff was a pain, very thick and dense. 3 hrs later it was done. trying to keep it damp in 100 temps.....





A friend doing Missionary work in Paraguay just sent me this pic on Facebook just now.

[cobblerdave]

Re: 42" build in Central Texas

Gudday
Sorry to break this to you. Major operations, trips away ... These will not cure you. That oven will sit...patiently. It will not go away!
Regards dave

[Bookemdanno]

Re: 42" build in Central Texas

They're always there...sitting....waiting....watching...knowing.. .


Like the shot looking back at you, but why go to all the trouble of knocking the bricks out at the back of the oven just for a photo after all that hard work! tsk..tsk...

Nice work sir, and i hope the surgery goes well.

[GarnerAC]

Re: 42" build in Central Texas

What is the conventional wisdom on having a damper in the flue? I saw that Gulf had a clever one. I have access to all kinds of dampers, levers and air control devices in my trade so why not put one in? You have an insulated front door on it to hold heat longer after a cook, why not have the option to close the other end?

[Tscarborough]

Re: 42" build in Central Texas

Because the damper is outside the dome and the door. Several members have them, but I have not figured out the utility since, as stated, they are outside the heated envelope.

[GarnerAC]

Re: 42" build in Central Texas

If heat rises, and the damper is open, then heat loss will occur. I realize the front may have a door but it may leak enough to allow air to flow thru the system.

This may be one of those things that we over-think. I doubt I will need all that heat stored away that I couldnt add back in with a log or two but still I may add one in if its fairly simple.

[Tscarborough]

Re: 42" build in Central Texas

Once the heat hits the damper, it is already gone from being usable in the oven. All it does is deflect it from the chimney out the outer arch. No possible use, other than deflecting the heat from around the congruent area (the chimney) to an in-congruent area (the face of the oven).

[kbartman]

Re: 42" build in Central Texas

What is the conventional wisdom on having a damper in the flue? I saw that Gulf had a clever one. I have access to all kinds of dampers, levers and air control devices in my trade so why not put one in? You have an insulated front door on it to hold heat longer after a cook, why not have the option to close the other end?

Because the damper is outside the dome and the door. Several members have them, but I have not figured out the utility since, as stated, they are outside the heated envelope.

I also fell in love with the thought about dampers and gadgets after seeing Gulf's excellent build. I considered a damper on the flue as well. I'm curios to hear from Gulf on the utility he has found with his............... I'm still considering, but in the interest of speeding my build I left it out of my chimney, I'm thinking of maybe incorporating it in my stainless steel chimney extension\spark arrestor. Although Over dampering on the chimney could cause smoke to come out the front of the vent area's outside door............... I thinking some type of temperature\damper controller might work better work on the inside oven door.

[ATK406]

Re: 42" build in Central Texas

I don't know what good a damper would do, but I have thought about a heat exchange to capture some of the heat going up the chimney and redirect it down to the front of the oven where I stand. I would only use it a dozen or so times per year, but when it's really cold out, if would be nice to have a little extra heat for me and my guests.