Mongo's 42" CT Build

[Baza]

WOW!
Absolutely amazing Mongo!
Love following the developments and incredibly creativity you are sharing with us!
As one just barely hanging on to a simple build - your work is inspiring (so is your help and support of others!)

Keep up the awesome work!
Barry

[mongota]

If you don't mind me asking, your bricks don't seem to be the typical tan color that most tend to use. I have been researching bricks here in the NW (Portland / Vancouver) region. A have found a supplier of firebrick, however was wondering why yours seem to have more of a "clay-brick-from-home-deeeepo" color? I noticed you mentioned firebrick and how fast they absorb water, so wasn't sure if there was a red brick available someplace or if they are indeed a clay brick from a box store?

Greetings Ope-dog,

My bricks are from a masonry yard the next town over, and they are indeed firebrick, full sized, 9" x 4.5" x 2.5", and weight a little over 7lbs each. The yard stocked two colors of brick, the buff color you referred to as well as the red ones. I simply chose red.

I look forward to following your build.

Best, Mongo

[Ope-dog]

Hi Mongo, I am fairly new to the site and have read through your build and beehiver's in depth! Some great info and a LOT of hard work. Frankly, there is a TON of hard work by most on this site. And I'm sure my upcoming build will be no different. :-)

If you don't mind me asking, your bricks don't seem to be the typical tan color that most tend to use. I have been researching bricks here in the NW (Portland / Vancouver) region. A have found a supplier of firebrick, however was wondering why yours seem to have more of a "clay-brick-from-home-deeeepo" color? I noticed you mentioned firebrick and how fast they absorb water, so wasn't sure if there was a red brick available someplace or if they are indeed a clay brick from a box store?

I can't say enough for your craftsmanship and patience. It has definitely paid off. Looking forward to starting my build and getting ideas. With all the great minds on this forum, I will look to post pics soon and make sure I don't go too astray too soon!

[mongota]

mongota. looking over your build I believe that you did a layer of red guard and no weep holes. Am I correct?

I loved your ideas for the stone vernier and poured columns. Enough so that I'm doing that for my build.

Correct, no weep holes. The 'four corners' of my hearth slab are exposed to the elements, I didn't want the slab to saturate and for water to wick up in to the insulation from underneath. My shell (brick dome, insulation, stucco and Thoroseal for waterproofing) had been in place for a couple of winters now, and I've had zero moisture issues inside the dome. I don't see any problem including weep holes. I just never incorporated them. I felt I could always add them later if needed by drilling up from underneath.

Glad you were able to take some inspiration from my build details. I hope you enjoy your build as much as I have enjoyed mine.

[Chris inPA]

mongota. looking over your build I believe that you did a layer of red guard and no weep holes. Am I correct?

I loved your ideas for the stone vernier and poured columns. Enough so that I'm doing that for my build.

[Chach]

Nice, I use a similar product called penetrox and no-lox for attaching dis-similar metals at work such as aluminum cable to copper Buss bar. Good stuff just don't get it on you or your hands it's hard to get off.

Ricky

[mongota]

very nice ingenuity but just keep in mind that the pipe will rust eventually and possibly leach rust stains on your veneer.

Ricky

Knew I had a picture somewhere. I posted the previous last night from my phone.

Prior to installation I cleaned the nipple, painted it it with rustoleum type paint. Mortared it in. Then gave it additional paint. The male and female threads that engage were not painted, they were treated with Penetrol. Penetrol protects the metal from oxidation, but doesn't really result in a mil thickness build up like paint does. That way the cap can still be easily threaded on and off.

Best to all, Mongo

[mongota]

very nice ingenuity but just keep in mind that the pipe will rust eventually and possibly leach rust stains on your veneer. I really like your stone work very cool.

Ricky

Thanks Ricky.
The black pipe was treated prior to installation.

[Chach]

Dome vent.

When I veneered the dome, I did not mortar down the cap stone, as I felt I'd install a vent pipe later on.

When the time came, I outlined where the vent would go, then drilled the circumference of the circle with a masonry bit. Chipped away the stucco and cut the stucco lath with a pair of side cutters. Put a 1-1/2" hole saw on my drill and drilled a plug out of the insulation to make room for the vent pipe.

Dropped the pipe in to the hole, took a measure of how high the pipe stood above the surrounding stone veneer, then cut it to final length. In retrospect, I could have cut it maybe 3/4" shorter. <sigh>

I cut several slots in the bottom part of the pipe that would be buried in the 4" thick refractory insulation that covers the dome. An easier path for moisture vapor? Why not.

I booger welded three small tabs around the pipe, the tabs will be buried in mortar and lock the pipe in place. I did that to minimize the chance of breaking the bond between mortar and smooth pipe, resulting in the pipe spinning in its hole.

Set the pipe in place, cut the capstone to surround it, then mortared it home.

very nice ingenuity but just keep in mind that the pipe will rust eventually and possibly leach rust stains on your veneer. I really like your stone work very cool.

Ricky

[mongota]

Took this video during the build but only recently uploaded it.

It shows how absorptive firebrick can be, and why it might be a good idea to soak the pricks prior to mortaring them up.

[mongota]

Dome vent.

When I veneered the dome, I did not mortar down the cap stone, as I felt I'd install a vent pipe later on.

When the time came, I outlined where the vent would go, then drilled the circumference of the circle with a masonry bit. Chipped away the stucco and cut the stucco lath with a pair of side cutters. Put a 1-1/2" hole saw on my drill and drilled a plug out of the insulation to make room for the vent pipe.

Dropped the pipe in to the hole, took a measure of how high the pipe stood above the surrounding stone veneer, then cut it to final length. In retrospect, I could have cut it maybe 3/4" shorter. <sigh>

I cut several slots in the bottom part of the pipe that would be buried in the 4" thick refractory insulation that covers the dome. An easier path for moisture vapor? Why not.

I booger welded three small tabs around the pipe, the tabs will be buried in mortar and lock the pipe in place. I did that to minimize the chance of breaking the bond between mortar and smooth pipe, resulting in the pipe spinning in its hole.

Set the pipe in place, cut the capstone to surround it, then mortared it home.

[mongota]

Just some decorative finishing details here.

With the cast chimney cap dry fit on top of the vent tunnel, I started dry fitting the stone veneer on each side of the vent tunnel. Used the grinder to trim a few of the stones.

Then I mixed up a batch of mortar, mortared the cast cap in place, then mortared the stones on each side of the landing tunnel.

Next up, the vent pipe at the apex of the dome.

[mongota]

Mongo, this build has turned out fabulously. I love the way you used PVC for the molds & forms...all really eye catching. After seeing what you did with your entry and chimney cap, I'd definitely be going that way on my next build (or recommending it to a friend whose threatening to build soon...).

I appreciate your comments, Mike.

The PVC pipe is a really nice way to soften the look of a hard material like concrete. It's shockingly easy to fabricate the form as well. Double bonus.

[SableSprings]

Mongo, this build has turned out fabulously. I love the way you used PVC for the molds & forms...all really eye catching. After seeing what you did with your entry and chimney cap, I'd definitely be going that way on my next build (or recommending it to a friend whose threatening to build soon...).

[mongota]

Chimney cap is in place, it's simply dry set for now.

I had to be careful getting it up there, as it was just pulled out of the form and the edges would be a bit delicate. But I hoofed it up there despite the thought that the Earth's gravitational pull on random chunks of cast concrete seems to have increased as I've gotten older.

Once up there, I notched out the stones under the rear corners so it would sit level, no rocking.

While I like the rustic nature of the voids in the bullnose, due to New England freeze/thaw cycles, I might fill them with a slurry while the concrete is still green.

Overall I'm happy with it.

Next task, veneer the sides of the vent arch with stone.