36+ Pompeii in St. Louis

[merk]

Re: 36+ Pompeii in St. Louis

Forgive me for the large gap in posts. I've been busy!

Today is day 4 of curing fires.

[cobblerdave]

Re: 36+ Pompeii in St. Louis

G'day Gulf
I agree! make them deep ....... But make the entrance wide and tall so you operate the oven with ease. Mine comes in handy I can draw the coals forward throw on a log and use it as fireplace
Regards dave

[Gulf]

Re: 36+ Pompeii in St. Louis

Gulf,

Thanks. I understand. As far as moving the vent opening forward and completing the back arch... i don't have a lot of room to work with. I could complete the back with 2" deep bricks and widen the vent opening.

I was planning to help lock in the back of the arch with the flue base. Planning to recess them a bit so that they sit down within the existing opening that you see now, helping to lock the center/sides of the vent. I'll make sure it has the same area as the flue pipe.

Let me know what you think.

Most, don't allow enough room to close the back of the entry arch. It is the norm to make them as shallow as possible. I'm sure it does help make working the oven easier. Mine is very much deeper than most that you will see on this site. Though, it is even deeper than needed to accomplish that, I don't have a problem working my oven.

I'm not sure how you will "lock it in with the flu base", but many on this site have done similar vents. Theirs are working fine, have, and will probably do so for many years.

But, years to a young person seems like a very long time. For an old person, it is like the blink of an eye.

just sayin'
Joe

[merk]

Re: 36+ Pompeii in St. Louis

Gulf,

Thanks. I understand. As far as moving the vent opening forward and completing the back arch... i don't have a lot of room to work with. I could complete the back with 2" deep bricks and widen the vent opening.

I was planning to help lock in the back of the arch with the flue base. Planning to recess them a bit so that they sit down within the existing opening that you see now, helping to lock the center/sides of the vent. I'll make sure it has the same area as the flue pipe.

Let me know what you think.

[Gulf]

Re: 36+ Pompeii in St. Louis

Hey Gulf... I'm not sure I follow. How would I finish the back? Are you saying there is more work I could add to strengthen it? Or too late and roll the dice?

The ancients designed arches to fall in on them selves to make a perfect support system. With mortar, or no mortar, they should support theirs, and any weight that is placed from above.

That is why "dry stacking" is important to test this before it is set permanently.






The back of your arch, that which, is against the oven entry arch, is not complete. They will not 'fall in on themselves" to correct for mortar and brick failures. The bricks in the back of the arch will fail "someday". Maybe not in your lifetime, but someday.

To keep the flu exit the same, you can take a little, out of the outer arch and add the same to that next to you oven entry arch.

You can also, do the same, by using the space above your oven entry arch to support the back of your entry. That would mean rebuilding and raising up your entry . A lot of work to redo, I know. But, you could also include a heat break at the same time .

[merk]

Re: 36+ Pompeii in St. Louis

Merk,
Your work looks great! But, I have to add one word of caution on the entry. I really like seeing the entry completed (front and back). I know that many don't. But, I was taught to test every thing using sort of a dry stack test. By that, I mean, if the mortar failed, the brick cracked, etc............would it still stay in place?

just sayin' .

Hey Gulf... I'm not sure I follow. How would I finish the back? Are you saying there is more work I could add to strengthen it? Or too late and roll the dice?

[Gulf]

Re: 36+ Pompeii in St. Louis

Merk,
Your work looks great! But, I have to add one word of caution on the entry. I really like seeing the entry completed (front and back). I know that many don't. But, I was taught to test every thing using sort of a dry stack test. By that, I mean, if the mortar failed, the brick cracked, etc............would it still stay in place?

just sayin' .

[merk]

Re: 36+ Pompeii in St. Louis

Merk,

I am not sure if I can tell... did you use arch bricks in your dome as well as your arch? I have been wondering what that would be like to try...

No I did not. I just cut the bricks smaller on the top few courses (thirds and smaller). Definitely not as precise as other parts of the oven.

[felix]

Re: 36+ Pompeii in St. Louis

Merk,

I am not sure if I can tell... did you use arch bricks in your dome as well as your arch? I have been wondering what that would be like to try...

[merk]

Re: 36+ Pompeii in St. Louis

Nice clean work. I like the alternating brick colors.

Thanks. Those bricks are #1 and #2 arch bricks and were different shades. When I planned it on the ground it wasn't alternating... but when it came time to build it worked out better that way and looks nice too

[deejayoh]

Re: 36+ Pompeii in St. Louis

Nice clean work. I like the alternating brick colors.

[merk]

Re: 36+ Pompeii in St. Louis

Weekend progress pics

[bobmurphy]

Re: 36+ Pompeii in St. Louis

I have about an inch of difference between my inner and outer arch. I was more concerned with being able to easily put the oven door in and out than smoke coming out. I do get smoke when first firing, but not after everything gets warmed up. I did use a 6" stainless double wall flue. I think that an 8" would probably have gone a long way in keeping the smoke where you want it. I do not mind smoke stains on the front of my oven, but I know for some people that is an issue. Have you read the sticky about leaving a reveal?

[merk]

Re: 36+ Pompeii in St. Louis

Hey All!

The dome is complete and I'm starting on the flue and front arch.

Question for you guys: Can the front arch be taller than the internal oven arch?

The oven opening is 12 inches tall. I mocked up the entry arch and now I'm trying to figure out the height of that arch. My concern is that the visibility into the oven will be a minor annoyance if I make it 12 inches as well. I'm gonna have to lean down a bit to see in. I should have made the block stand about 2-3 inches higher due to the patio height etc.

Just wondering how much the front arch affects the draw.

Thanks for any advice!


note: the pavers in the pic were just temporary supports. I laid down a mat so I could get inside the oven and clean the dome a little

[kanoer54]

Re: 36+ Pompeii in St. Louis

Merk,
Looking good. You'll be doing your curing fires soon. Then comes the fine cooking time over a beer or two ...or more. Keep posting the pics.
jon