42" Pompeii Oven in Virginia

[mirassou]

Re: 42" Pompeii Oven in Virginia

Thanks Faith! have to finish up that course first, then figure out the plug Did you wait awhile before starting a small newspaper fire?

[Faith In Virginia]

Re: 42" Pompeii Oven in Virginia

Looking Good!! Now the plug. :-)

[mirassou]

Re: 42" Pompeii Oven in Virginia

Thanks Ireland5!

[irelande5]

Re: 42" Pompeii Oven in Virginia

nice build, great work on entry arch

[mirassou]

Re: 42" Pompeii Oven in Virginia

Definitely, and Deejayoh's comment about mixing a little wetter works well if you can find that sweet spot.

[hodgey1]

Re: 42" Pompeii Oven in Virginia

Looks great. The alternating between dome and arch was a good idea and seems to be working good for you.

[mirassou]

Re: 42" Pompeii Oven in Virginia

Just a few more bricks to close the dome. I'm still using the IT, switching back and forth between the vent transition and the dome. I don't have the angles, so I'm going to cut triangles to fit between bricks in the last course before the final key stones. Can't wait to finish the dome and start the first curing fire!

[Greenman]

Re: 42" Pompeii Oven in Virginia

If you are determined you will get right through the dome with the IT. With the benefit of various bits to hold it together until the mortar goes off. I didn't use forms and it worked out fine.

All about personal preferences. Push the envelope.

[cobblerdave]

Re: 42" Pompeii Oven in Virginia

Oh, and starting course 12, I'm still using the IT and not using the exercise ball yet....going to see how far I can go. I figure cutting bricks for the vent transition to the chimney and alternating mortaring between the courses and the transition permits the vertical brick to set before mortaring the next one

Gudday
That brilliant ! Alternate between the entrance and the dome. No wasted time no wasted mortar.
Regards davr

[mirassou]

Re: 42" Pompeii Oven in Virginia

The only problem is that the final course layout is out of round, due to errors in angles. It probably won't look pretty, but it'll get done

[mirassou]

Re: 42" Pompeii Oven in Virginia

Oh, and starting course 12, I'm still using the IT and not using the exercise ball yet....going to see how far I can go. I figure cutting bricks for the vent transition to the chimney and alternating mortaring between the courses and the transition permits the vertical brick to set before mortaring the next one

[mirassou]

Re: 42" Pompeii Oven in Virginia

Finished course 10 and 11 and started course 12 today. Also started working on shaping bricks to form a level surface to hold the chimney flue. I'm thinking now that I won't need buttressing on the arch sides, as half the weight will be supported by the inner arch/dome, and I'm going to frame Durock 2" around the flue and fill the cavity with vermiculite. Where it pops out of the roof, I'll use either stucco or brick veneer.

Looks like the vent opening will be something like 11x12.

[mirassou]

Re: 42" Pompeii Oven in Virginia

Took a work break, but started course 10 today and cut a few more bricks for the vent transition. I didn't realize when someone mentioned it, but I had a case of the dreaded droop at the inner arch transition. I cut some slices and mortared them in to fix it...I may have to do a few more after course 10.

My carpenter emailed me as he is short on work, so I may cheat and have him do the framing for the enclosure

[mirassou]

Re: 42" Pompeii Oven in Virginia

I've been attempting to get some consistency between batches of mortar and it's very difficult due to weather conditions and the level of moisture in the bricks. deejayoh commented that he just used the IT for the entire dome. I was able to do this on course 9 with one batch, about a half dozen bricks. It seems like there's a sweet spot with moisture content of the mortar vs. moisture content of the brick...I just find it difficult to achieve.

[stonecutter]

Re: 42" Pompeii Oven in Virginia

..I'm still stuck on the difference between cement and mortar

Cement is a general term for Portland Cement powder.

Cement (Portland) is used as a component of mortar powder. Combined with various amounts of lime, you get types M,N,S,O mortar. Not all mortar used for unit masonry contains Portland though, such as Lime, gypsum or clay mortar.

Concrete has Portland cement as the binder, aggregate and sand.