40" corner build in central TX

[stonecutter]

Re: 40" corner build in central TX

I've never used a true surgical glove, are they WAY more abrasion/cut resistant? I've used ,any latex and nitrile exam/mechanics rubber gloves and I always wind up shredding them.

They wont last very long with masonry.


I had bold printed some stuff in my last post, but if you want a glove that is going to hold up, Atlas is the way to go. I have been through tons of glove types, and the dipped ones are best for dexterity and durability. Atlas makes the best...Wells Lamont next. A 12 pack should run $38 - $45.

[mirassou]

Re: 40" corner build in central TX

I love the Atlas gloves too, but I haven't found any that are waterproof.

[ogorir]

Re: 40" corner build in central TX

My fingers get torn up mostly from striking mortar from the inside(left hand) and pointing the vertical and outside joint(right hand). I'm sure I could be using a pointing tool for the outside, but with the angle changes and such, I'd need about 10 sizes, so I will continue to remove my epidermis until I'm done setting bricks. Since I use my fingers, I wash them off all the time, as well as sponge the bricks, so my hands are soaked through, which I think is the real problem. skin isn't very durable when it's waterlogged.

[mirassou]

Re: 40" corner build in central TX

That's why I like the latex surgical gloves...they're waterproof and I can run cement over the joints with my fingers to point them up.

[ogorir]

Re: 40" corner build in central TX

sweet, if they hold up for half a course, that's good enough. I'll grab a box on the way home.

[mirassou]

Re: 40" corner build in central TX

Literally, mine are lasting most of the day. Yesterday, I replaced the pair after about 6 hrs.

[ogorir]

Re: 40" corner build in central TX

Totally missed your post, stonecutter. I hadn't thought about dipped gloves. those might work, especially with a latex glove underneath. I'll grab a pair of cheapies at HF tonight and see if I can work with them. It's got to be better than duct tape

@mirassou I have a feeling I'm a bit harder on my hands than most. maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think most people wear 5 holes down to the dermis in a weekend

[stonecutter]

Re: 40" corner build in central TX

Wear the surgical gloves under the dipped. Rubber doest breath, your hands will get wet either way.

[mirassou]

Re: 40" corner build in central TX

That's perfect

[david s]

Re: 40" corner build in central TX

I don't like using gloves because I can't feel what I'm doing so well. I use a good quality barrier cream instead.it does wear off but does a pretty good job. It is the lime in the mortar that is the culprit. The hands do get used to it though. Also try washing hands in vinegar when done.

[stonecutter]

Re: 40" corner build in central TX

I'd need about 10 sizes, so I will continue to remove my epidermis until I'm done setting bricks...

I meant to tell you, get a 3/8" tuck pointer, cut off 1/2 the blade, then starting about 1" from the end, taper it to a point. The short blade will allow better dexterity, and your pointing mix should be stiffer than your setting mix, allowing you to hold some in your hand....tucking it in with the modified pointer.

I made one 13 years ago, and every so often, it come in handy in tight areas.

[ogorir]

Re: 40" corner build in central TX

Good call, stonecutter! and I have a pointer I can modify.

I finished course #12 and got the first brick set for #13 (unsupported). I'm cutting the bricks into 4 pieces now, still just using the head bevel on the saw. It's a hair under 22.5 degrees for course #13 for me.

Course 12 was mostly round, but there is a little bit of distortion above the archway remaining.

(I keep forgetting to actually hit post. I just plugged the dome, but I'll put that in the next post.)

[ogorir]

Re: 40" corner build in central TX

So I just finished the dome*!

*I decided to do the plug in two vertical layers instead of two pieces split down the middle. Aesthetics. I only cut the inner plug, I'll do the outer tomorrow. The outer may be in two pieces, the hole was ~2.75" on the inside, so one full brick might not cover.

I will share how I marked my plug, which while not perfect, got it fit in the hole first try. I cut a brick in half, mortared one of the large faces, and stuck the mortar into the hole from the inside. That leaves a pretty decent impression in the mortar that's exactly the shape of the hole. I used my trowel to cut away the mortar outside the plug area, then used the dry grinder to mark the top so I could wash the mortar off. Then I used the wet saw with the head bevel eyeballed to the taper of the hole and cut along my lines. Had I done a better job transferring the imprint in the mortar down to the brick, it would've been a bit tighter, but as it was, it sat in the hole about 1/8" below the inside of the dome. I mortared the hole(instead of the brick) and tapped it in, ended up going a bit far and having to tap it back up a hair, but it all turned out way better than I expected.

It has been a lot of fun, but... Glad. That's. Done.
I should be pretty well set, curing wise, to do the turkey in it which is what I've been stressing over. I'll try to knock out the outer arch this weekend, which leaves me a while to figure out a door solution.


*Edit* I've used a single pair of black 9mil nitrile gloves from Harbor Freight for the last 3 courses. They've shown no signs of wear. They're way more expensive than the 'normal' 5mil gloves, but even at $11.50/50ct box, they're a good deal. I used a 25% coupon on them as well, so it was right around $10 w/tax. I'd highly recommend them for this purpose.

[kbartman]

Re: 40" corner build in central TX

Congratulations, Nice work you'll be cooking soon.

[ogorir]

Re: 40" corner build in central TX

Thanks, KB. I'm hoping to get the outer arch done this weekend and re-set the center floor bricks, then next week tackle the chimney.

Speaking of chimney, has anyone done a squirrel-tail recently? I may need to be talked out of doing one