Paso Robles Pompeii dome completion

[Novaslo]

Hey Everyone,
I am curious to know your thoughts on covering the dome. I am about to finish my brickwork which will put me at the final stages. I will soon be finalizing my dome structure and covering it with the ceramic blanket.

Should I put a coat of mortar around the whole dome, or should I simply cover it with blanket and then start making plans to either stucco or coat it with brick etc.?

I want to do it right and will cover it with a roof structure when it is through that stage of the build.

Thanks in advance.

[Greenman]

Re: Paso Robles Pompeii dome completion

Hey Darin

I would be inclined to dry the dome and associated mortar with slow fires before putting the blanket on. Once the dome is dry then you can insulate and complete the finish. Even then a vent of some sort is good to allow any trapped moisture to escape.

There is a couple of thoughts about the vent but I have left mine in place in case I need to dry the oven out again one day.

Sounds like you are getting to the really rewarding/tasty bits of the build.

Good luck with finishing your build.

[v12spirit]

Re: Paso Robles Pompeii dome completion

Novaslo,

I flicked through your build thread. Good job and fine precise cuts!
I'm not the expert, but do you think you need that thermal mass mortaring your dome? The dome bricks look thick enough to provide full range cooking for multiple days. If all what concerns you is extra strength, I would not let that worry you. The dome geometry is well self supporting especially with your tight precise cuts.

[Novaslo]

Re: Paso Robles Pompeii dome completion

Thanks for the input,
I will be finishing the outer arch this weekend and placing the anchor plate. After that I will start a slow cure.

I don't need the extra thermal mass. I did however have a few gaps that needed to be closed up, which I did. Other than that, I won't add extra mortar.

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Paso Robles Pompeii dome completion

Darin,

IMHO, you will not need any more thermal mass on the dome. Just insulate well and you will get 4 maybe 5 days worth of cooking with a good insulated door.

[Novaslo]

Re: Paso Robles Pompeii dome completion

I will be fabricating a door and currently the plan is to take the form that I used to make the inner arch, cut some steel, insert my extra FB board and use that for insulation. Put some handles on it and it will be complete.

My brother in law wants to help me make it.
If I get my way, I may even figure a way to put the Letters P-O-M-P-E-I-I across the front.

We will see.