My first attempt for 42" oven / changed to 36"

[RandyJ]

Here is another picture of the expansion gap.

Randy

[UtahBeehiver]

I don't think you and I are on the same page. Here is a pic/.

[George_M]

Around the floor ok, i understand the purpose.
But why need between first course and dome?Have you got a photo from this?
I don't know if it is easy to build the first raw on cardboard..

[UtahBeehiver]

Just put a piece of card board (abt 1/8" thick) around the floor and between the first course of the dome and leave in. This does two things, first gives you an expansion gap spacer, and second, it keep errant mortar from falling down and filling you expansion gap. The cardboard will burn out during your firings and the gap will eventually fill with ash.

[George_M]

I have a question about the expansion gap.
I will make the floor inside the dome so the bricks will go around of the floor.
Between floor and bricks how much must be the epxansion gap?

[George_M]

I will wait a week more david.Thanks for the file.

I made the perlcrete mix in a cement mixer,i know that many suggest to avoid this but the mix is better than my first try which made by hand.
Is more strength and not crush on the top now.
Also,perlite didn't crushed while i made it in the mixer..

[david s]

Regarding the drying of the vermicrete, you may like to read this little experiment on attachment that i did.

[UtahBeehiver]

Correct, no mortar on floor or first course of dome to floor. Want expansion of dome and floor to float.

[George_M]

Yes,you are right.I will keep it to protect it.
I will start the oven floor and i plan not to build with mortar in case of need to replace any floor plate after the years.
I saw some builders(not here) that they use mortar to build the floor.I think this is wrong..

[UtahBeehiver]

You should be good to start work,but if possible, leave the forms on to protect the edges of the p-Crete while you construct the dome

[George_M]

Guys,
How many days need to wait until the perclrete will dry?
Here the temperature is 30-40 oC.
As you can see in the photos,from the first day until today which is the sixth day.

[david s]

Great suggestion by David. David - did you pour those countertops yourself? Is that crushed glass mixed in?

This is a customers oven, I didn't do the countertops, it was just a variety of aggregates no glass.

[Saluki]

Great suggestion by David. David - did you pour those countertops yourself? Is that crushed glass mixed in?

[david s]

Get to it! I don't envy that tight corner, that's for sure.

Here's a solution that eliminates the corner altogether and makes it much easier to finish. Just blend the oven into the corner. You go through a lot of vermiculite, but for the large space in the corner at the back you can throw in a lot of empty plastic bottles with the lids on and just cover them with vermicrete.

[George_M]

Perlcrete layer done!!!
Looks perfect!