Homebrew - not for guzzling?

[Gooters]

Hi
I just figured out that "homebrew" refers to a mortor mix !! Duh.
For a while I was thinking this was the "bunch o drunks " forum.

I am having trouble searching the posts to find a viable recipe or mix ratio with the actual ingredients listed.

So Far as I can tell its sand, fireclay, Hydrated lime, portland cement .

I have seen mixing ratios of 3.1.1.1 and 5.1.1.1

But I havent found the mixing volumes related with each componant.

AND - just to clarify - This is mortor recommended for adhering the firebrick in the cooking dome?

I think I read in some instruction to just mix fireclay and sand but thats sounds iffy.

thanks for helping and sharing the knowledge

[Greenman]

Re: Homebrew - not for guzzling?

Hi Gooters

The 3:1:1:1 Sand - Fireclay - Hydrated Lime - Portland will do the trick. They are measured by volume and add just enough water to make it just how you like it. That depends on if you are soaking bricks or not (and that is another subject that has been explored at length on the forum).

To clarify, this is the stuff to join the bricks in the cooking dome and the flue gallery.

The fireclay and sand might have been recommended as a levelling agent under the hearth bricks but just enough to get the surface level right.

The other sort of home brew is also a valuable oven making tool but best used at the end of the working day!

[GianniFocaccia]

Re: Homebrew - not for guzzling?

I made up a 5gal bucketful of dry homebrew and kept it sealed until ready to use. Scoop out enough mix for that session and just add water.

[thesharkbar]

Re: Homebrew - not for guzzling?

When I bought my bricks at claypave here in Australia they told me the ratio of
3 sand
2 cement
1 fireclay
That's what I've bee using but the last mix I put in 1 part lime
Does this sound right or should I cut back on the cement?

[dakzaag]

Re: Homebrew - not for guzzling?

I would substitute one part lime for one part Portland. The Portland looses it's bonding strength over 600 degrees F. So after the first good hot fire, the Portland becomes very fine sand. The lime, and Fire clay remain as the heat resistant binder.
The reason Portland is in the mix is to provide early bonding strength to allow you to keep building without the brick falling down. It provides a faster initial set to the mortar, and then the lime/fire clay hold the structure in place once you start burning with some intensity.
Heat Stop is an expensive over the counter product that most builders can source, but you might have something different Down Under.
Not to ignite the whole sand ratio discussion, which you can read ad-nauseam in this forum, but I would bump the sand up to 4-5 parts if you have very fine sand. It gives the mortar more substance where your joints get wide on the outside of the dome.

[Greenman]

Re: Homebrew - not for guzzling?

The 3:1:1:1 is tried and true. After years of it being used by those on the forum and that is what I used. I believe that you can trust it.