40" Driftwood,TX Pompeii

[Driftwood]

Re: 40" Driftwood,TX Pompeii

Okay. I have made some progress, even with the rain.

Got started 3 Saturdays ago laying out the dry stack block work. I filled every other core with concrete the following week. I also set the form for pouring the hearthe base slab during that week.

The next Saturday I was able to pour the concrete. During the following week, I was able to put down the Perlcrete, 6" with a 1" of Homebrew mix inset.

Rain screwed me for this past weekend but was able to cut some brick, lay out the door and install the first chain of brick.

Details:

40" inside diameter
Homebrew mix of 1 Lime-1Portland-1Clay-2 Coarse Grog-3 Fine Grog.
Dooe openning expected to be 11.5"X 19"
Dome height 19"

I am using an Old School Guide rigged with a hinge bolt that fits into a 2X4 inserted with a bushing to rotate the hinge around.

Here are a few pics of my progress:

[Tscarborough]

Re: 40" Driftwood,TX Pompeii

Looking good. I use the same type of form, but do not anchor it, just use it to check as I go.

[Driftwood]

Re: 40" Driftwood,TX Pompeii

Thanks Tom!

I got a couple hours in this afternoon and completed Chains 2 and 3.

Next up will be putting the entry in and them taking it on up.

Pics below:

[texman]

Re: 40" Driftwood,TX Pompeii

Looks good. I would definitely get the arch in next. It is much easier to be able to figure out the cuts that meet the arch when you have the visual. Also will help you avoid the droop at the arch

Texman

[Driftwood]

Re: 40" Driftwood,TX Pompeii

Thanks Texman.

Being as this is the first project I have tackled like this in years, it is actually going very smooth.

A lot of that has to do with all of the great progress that has been made through this forum. The builds that have been chronicled on here are priceless for someone trying to figure this out.

Thanks to all of you.

[Driftwood]

Re: 40" Driftwood,TX Pompeii

Entry Arch completed this evening.

Probably will not be able to do any more on it until Saturday as rain is expected to set in tomorrow evening.

[Novaslo]

Re: 40" Driftwood,TX Pompeii

Great progress.
You are moving quickly. There are a number of techniques that can be leveraged. Not sure about others, but after struggling with mortar, I bought a mortar bag from Amazon. It was around 10 dollars. I used that to mix my mortar and apply it. In some cases I would use a wetter mix and squirt it in place.

It worked really well. I was able to keep my joints really close and apply the maximum amount of mortar.
Good luck with your build.

[Driftwood]

Re: 40" Driftwood,TX Pompeii

Thanks Navaslo, I have been using a Peanut Butter textured mortar for setting the bricks and then going back around with a wetter/thinner mix to fill in the joints.

Hopefully tomorrow I can put in a few chains before the rain interupts me again.

[Driftwood]

Re: 40" Driftwood,TX Pompeii

3 more coarses and I am over the door!

[Tscarborough]

Re: 40" Driftwood,TX Pompeii

And more rain tonight. Ah well, you are making good progress. I wanted to fire mine tonight, but the wood is all wet.

[Driftwood]

Re: 40" Driftwood,TX Pompeii

Let it rain. I put in all I could give today. Now I am on my to my youngest Daughter's Engagement Party.

Tomorrow I will try to put two more chains.

[Driftwood]

Re: 40" Driftwood,TX Pompeii

Two more chains after work today. Getting really tricky with the current slope of the chains. I hope to have the dome done by this weekend. Barring travel and rain.

[Greenman]

Re: 40" Driftwood,TX Pompeii

Looking good! It is surprising how quickly the dome forms with some steady consistent work.

[Driftwood]

Re: 40" Driftwood,TX Pompeii

Getting close to closing it in. Two more chains finished last night.

[Tscarborough]

Re: 40" Driftwood,TX Pompeii

That leading single helps, doesn't it?