The plan was to use clay, I started using brick today. Paul's 36"er

[dakzaag]

Re: The plan was to use clay, I started using brick today. Paul's 36"er

you are the only person who is going to know or care about the look of the dome. After the first pizza, you wont care. After the 10 pizza you won't remember.

Time to move on to better things.

[Paul150]

Re: The plan was to use clay, I started using brick today. Paul's 36"er

Well, the chamber is done. Those with a weak stomach my want to stop reading and move to another thread. It is not pretty. My hanger weight tool only worked on rows 7 and 8. I used sticks for rows 9 and 10. Then I decided to use the ball. And yep you go blind on what is going on, on the inside. I cut my bricks down but still had some gap issues. After removing the ball I decided the best thing to do is just fill it in. So I did. I figured smooth was better than not and it would not affect the integrity of the oven. I know I have seams lining up and I got some grinding to do at the entrance, middle top and right. I almost hated to show these pics but I figured someone could learn from them. Comments?

[dakzaag]

Re: The plan was to use clay, I started using brick today. Paul's 36"er

As the radius gets smaller, the brick need to get smaller to keep the joints tight. Lower on the dome, the brick sit nicely on top of each other. Around course 8-9 you have to start using smaller brick to control the gap between the courses of brick.
You should be able to observe the bed joint gradually increasing as the upper brick span over the lower brick. The gap between the top of one brick and the bottom of the next will get too big and is more likely to crack. By cutting the brick smaller, you reduce the length of the span and amount of gap.
The compound angle gets more severe or tapered as well because the brick are turning a tighter radius. The brick take a trapezoid shape and finally a triangle shape before the plug is put in place.

[Paul150]

Re: The plan was to use clay, I started using brick today. Paul's 36"er

Starting row 8 today, and would like To use 4 inchers as long as possible. Any comments on this?

[DavidApp]

Re: The plan was to use clay, I started using brick today. Paul's 36"er

Hello Paul

Found a photo of my props. You can see the bricks holding the base in position.

David

[DavidApp]

Re: The plan was to use clay, I started using brick today. Paul's 36"er

Hello Paul

Another milestone passed.

The props work better on the higher courses as they angle over more. I cut some thin strips from a 1 x 4 about 1/4" thick for the props. Had to adjust the length and position of the base of the prop to get them to hold the brick. Sometimes I would put a brick against the prop to prevent it from moving.

David

[Paul150]

Re: The plan was to use clay, I started using brick today. Paul's 36"er

Well, somehow I finished the dome arch merge today and row 7. A lot of customizing and adding to the scrap pile. We will be probably be doing a little grinding tomorrow . Row 7 started out real slow. I was trying to make props to hold the bricks but nothing was working for me. Then I remembered what Darin (Novaslo) said about using fish hooks. Sold the boat and all the gear when I moved from Mich to Tenn. However it gave me the idea to use wire cloths hangers. I keep them next to my duct tape. Then row 7 was off and running I am glad I thought of it sooner than later. Additionally I saw on one of these threads where someone cut off the end of their trowel. What a difference it made. Much easier to work with especially working with smaller batches.

[Novaslo]

Re: The plan was to use clay, I started using brick today. Paul's 36"er

Giving credit to "edsiajb" in his thread....I think what he did in this picture is perfect. Easy to make and bend them to make them work.

If I ever do another oven, I will likely use this method.

[Paul150]

Re: The plan was to use clay, I started using brick today. Paul's 36"er

Thanks, lots to think about.

[DavidApp]

Re: The plan was to use clay, I started using brick today. Paul's 36"er

Hello Paul

I used the IT tool to the last chain and then had to unscrew it from the base to get it out. I used sticks to hold the bricks in place while they set from about chain 8 or 9. As soon as they started to slide when I removed the IT tool.
That way you can clean up the joints and make sure they look good.

Like a lot of things on the build there are a lot of ways of doing the same job.

David

[Novaslo]

Re: The plan was to use clay, I started using brick today. Paul's 36"er

I put down row 5 last night, still avoiding the arch/dome merger. Unless someone can change my mind I am going to use an exercise ball to finish the dome. I have a couple different sizes to work with. Anyone have experience with that process that wants to give me any tips/tricks and/or advise what row I could start using it instead of the IT?

Just to throw a wrench into things....have you thought about using weights or bent metal clamps to hold bricks in place?

I used a simple method of Fishing hooks and bricks for weights to hold mine in place. Then when I got to the final three layers I built a round platform out of 2x4'and a round piece of plywood to create a floor for the last layers...I then used sand to form a dome shape to finish it.

Cut all of that out after I was done. You have to make sure it will all fit out the front door?

Finally if you use the sand method or the ball, You will learn that you can't see how well the bricks line up. You simply can't see how well they fit. It will definitely make those rows messier.

Just a few thoughts for you.

[Paul150]

Re: The plan was to use clay, I started using brick today. Paul's 36"er

I put down row 5 last night, still avoiding the arch/dome merger. Unless someone can change my mind I am going to use an exercise ball to finish the dome. I have a couple different sizes to work with. Anyone have experience with that process that wants to give me any tips/tricks and/or advise what row I could start using it instead of the IT?

[DavidApp]

Re: The plan was to use clay, I started using brick today. Paul's 36"er

Hello Paul

The cleaner you can keep the brickwork during your build the better it will look when you are finished.
On my build I would wipe over the bricks and joints with a damp rag or sponge at the end of every day. It cleans up much better when the mortar is fresh.

I do not think there is much danger of it falling into the cooking unless there are big gobs of mortar hanging from the joints.

David

[Paul150]

Re: The plan was to use clay, I started using brick today. Paul's 36"er

I also noticed that my assistant has been rubbing mortar in between all the little overlaps on the inside. Do I need to remove what has been done for 4 layers? I think the reason to keep it clean is that with the heat it degrades over time and can fall onto what you are cooking. Yes or no?

[DavidApp]

Re: The plan was to use clay, I started using brick today. Paul's 36"er

Hello Paul

It is amazing how much you notice in a photo that you don't see in person.

David