New 32" build in Saskatchewan, Canada

[cobblerdave]

Re: New 32" build in Saskatchewan, Canada

G'day
Don't worry its just some cracks in the sparging layer once that's insulated you'll stop worrying. It will not harm anything. Great progress by the way!!!
Regards Dave

[thebigt]

Re: New 32" build in Saskatchewan, Canada

Was checking out my coat of mortar on the outside. Is it normal to have hairline cracks in the mortar while it's drying? We've had some rain so I've kept it covered with a tarp.

[thebigt]

Re: New 32" build in Saskatchewan, Canada

Thanks. Im pretty pleased with how its turned out so far. Cant wait to cook on this thing!

[Gulf]

Re: New 32" build in Saskatchewan, Canada

T,
Congratulations on completing the dome! There will soon be the great smell of food cooking. And, it will coming from your oven .

[thebigt]

Re: New 32" build in Saskatchewan, Canada

Here's a better picture of the outside


Here's some quick ones I took of the inside. I had to free hand the top and it shows. In the larger mortar gaps I have some pieces of firebrick burried in the mortar. The plug had to be hammered in with a board and a 3lb sledge.





I also got the outside coat of mortar in place and entrance floor is done. I've started my arch forms and will begin working on the entrance whenever time permits

[thebigt]

Re: New 32" build in Saskatchewan, Canada

Tonight I managed to get the dome closed. Not the prettiest build but it should work. Looks rustic lol... Next is finishing the floor of my entrance then onto coating the dome with mortar.

Picture was taken in the dark. I'll get an inside of the dome picture when it's light out.

[thebigt]

Re: New 32" build in Saskatchewan, Canada

Made some progress today. Had to stop using my IT as it was getting too hard to use and had to freehand a couple courses. It started raining today as I ran out of mortar so I stopped but have 2 bricks plus the plug and the dome should be closed. Hopefully the weather cooperates tomorrow, but calling for rain and high winds so I may need to hold off.

[Gulf]

Re: New 32" build in Saskatchewan, Canada

Any idea how much CFB I'll need? I currently have a 50sq ft roll of 1" thick CFB but wondering if I need to order more or not. I'd like at least 2" of insulation if I can get that I won't order more as I didn't budget for it but if it won't I'll have to bite the bullet and order more.

You should be OK if you take the time to fit it closely. But, please double check my math .

A 32" id dome, plus 4" of brick, has a raduis of 20 inches.

The surface area of a sphere is = 4*Pi*R2

4 X 3.14 X 20 X 20 = 5024 inches. Since a dome is 1/2 of a sphere, you have 2512 square inches of surface are to cover.

50 square feet of blanket is = to 7200 square inches.

7200 divided by 2512 is roughly 2.8.

[thebigt]

Re: New 32" build in Saskatchewan, Canada

Any idea how much CFB I'll need? I currently have a 50sq ft roll of 1" thick CFB but wondering if I need to order more or not. I'd like at least 2" of insulation if I can get that I won't order more as I didn't budget for it but if it won't I'll have to bite the bullet and order more.

[thebigt]

Re: New 32" build in Saskatchewan, Canada

Last night I took off the arch form and was happy that it didn't collapse

[cobblerdave]

Re: New 32" build in Saskatchewan, Canada

G'day
Bricks were halved then split lengthways. Yielding a brick half as thick as a normal brick.
Only the dome and hearth of my oven is firebrick. The entrance, chimney
Dome cover are all clay bricks. All different types house bricks commons and even a few clay pavers. The chimney and entrance can handle the heat no probs, it's been four years now so if there were to be problems it should have happened by now. Best thing is they don't soak up water like a firebrick does. If you haven't dropped one in water try it. The water will turn to a mass of bubbles like soda water, doesn't happen with a house brick. I'm happy I went that path . I've checked its actually in the plans that you can use house bricks to save on firebrick
Regards

[thebigt]

Re: New 32" build in Saskatchewan, Canada

G'day
I agree with gulf on the sealer the outer surface of the brick is water resistant so why waste it . In fact a house brick is designed to be water resistant a firebrick certainly is not.
My build I've finished with house bricks cut 1/4s and split down the middle. You guessed it brick bulster again . I had the use of a chop saw but only used it for some small cuts but did the organic way and split it by hand . It overcome the disadvantage of render ..... Cracking and gave me a wheather resistant exterior and still keep the dome shape and the open sky. Best thing I ever done.
Follow the link to my build as I can't attach a pic at this time
Regards dave

Dave - Love the look of that brick on the dome. So you split the brick in half(lengthwise) the into 1/4's?

I noticed that for your oven entrance that you used clay bricks instead of firebricks. How have they held up? It would reduce the number of firebricks that I would need as I have about 600 of these red clay bricks that were free that I was going to use for veneer anyways.

[thebigt]

Re: New 32" build in Saskatchewan, Canada

G'day
I agree with gulf on the sealer the outer surface of the brick is water resistant so why waste it . In fact a house brick is designed to be water resistant a firebrick certainly is not.
My build I've finished with house bricks cut 1/4s and split down the middle. You guessed it brick bulster again . I had the use of a chop saw but only used it for some small cuts but did the organic way and split it by hand . It overcome the disadvantage of render ..... Cracking and gave me a wheather resistant exterior and still keep the dome shape and the open sky. Best thing I ever done.
Follow the link to my build as I can't attach a pic at this time
Regards dave

The only reason I was looking at putting the cut edge out was for the look, but based on your and Gulf's advice that doesn't sound like a very good idea. I'm liking the dome shape and will likely keep it and use the bricks as a veneer with the finished side out.

Thanks again for the advice much appreciated.

[cobblerdave]

Re: New 32" build in Saskatchewan, Canada

G'day
I agree with gulf on the sealer the outer surface of the brick is water resistant so why waste it . In fact a house brick is designed to be water resistant a firebrick certainly is not.
My build I've finished with house bricks cut 1/4s and split down the middle. You guessed it brick bulster again . I had the use of a chop saw but only used it for some small cuts but did the organic way and split it by hand . It overcome the disadvantage of render ..... Cracking and gave me a wheather resistant exterior and still keep the dome shape and the open sky. Best thing I ever done.
Follow the link to my build as I can't attach a pic at this time
Regards dave

[Gulf]

Re: New 32" build in Saskatchewan, Canada

............... I actaully really like the look of the cut side of the brick on the outside, seems rustic to me. I might even bolster that red brick I have and put the cut side out to face the dome after I insulate, rather than a small enclosure.

I don't mean to encourage or discourage that. I can see where it would be a great looking build. But, if I remember correctly, you are not wanting to put an open sided roof over it either. That may mean several coats of some kind of clear acrylic to seal the rough exterior from the elements.

just sayin'

Joe