Build started on 36" Pompeii in Socal

[DavidApp]

Re: Build started on 36" Pompeii in Socal

Hello Kallipigous

When I got the inverted "V" I would do a bit of trimming with my hand grinder. You need a bit more angle on the cutting table to get rid of the inverted "V"
I would cut a few bricks then do a test fit and adjust as necessary. Then cut the remaining bricks in that chain.
As you get higher in the dome you will find that you need to trim the bottom corners of the brick to reduce the wedge of mortar caused by the bridging effect n the two bricks below.

Randy.
Looks real good.

David

[RandyJ]

Re: Build started on 36" Pompeii in Socal

Yes the bricks that meet the arch are pretty tricky. But once you are past that it is clear sailing.

Randy

[kallipigous]

Re: Build started on 36" Pompeii in Socal

Well we've managed to do 4 layers now. It's working though I slightly screwed up the angle on the last row so there's a slight inverted v but it's a low one so it's easily filled. I'm really finding join the arch with the dome tricky. They all seem to meet at very odd angles but I'll have another crack tomorrow and post some pictures.

[RandyJ]

Re: Build started on 36" Pompeii in Socal

This is what I ended up with.

Randy

[RandyJ]

Re: Build started on 36" Pompeii in Socal

I never used a jig so much. I just used little cut off shims of brick to make all my angels. I wish I could have figured out the dome spree sheet but chose to just wing it and cut to fit. It worked pretty good and for me was less thinking.

Randy

[DavidApp]

Re: Build started on 36" Pompeii in Socal

Hello Kallipigous

I tended to go with the Adjust and Cut method. If I needed more angle I made a small adjustment and if I had gone too far I saved the brick for the next chain.
Not very scientific but it worked for me.

David

[kallipigous]

Re: Build started on 36" Pompeii in Socal

Is the angle effectively half of the inverted v angle? That's all I could think.

[DavidApp]

Re: Build started on 36" Pompeii in Socal

Hello Kallipigous

On the side angle (the angle that changes with each chain) I would check a few bricks on the next chain to see how much I needed to increase the angle.
It worked out well for me.

On the higher chains you may need to trim the bottom of the brick if you want to minimize the mortar joint.

David

[Greenman]

Re: Build started on 36" Pompeii in Socal

If you are using a wet saw there is a level of 'freehand' cutting that you can do if you take some care. There is also a some latitude available with some cuts. Gaps on the hearth will fill with ash and some forgiveness is there to be had.

It is fine to aim for minimum tolerances in joints but absolute precision is not essential.

[kallipigous]

Re: Build started on 36" Pompeii in Socal

Ok so today we cut and laid out the floor. Cutting turned out to be relatively easy until you need to cut a notch in a brick. It hadn't occurred to me how difficult this would be with a circular blade. So I ended up having to use the angle grinder with a diamond blade. It works but it's very difficult to cut at the right angle I found. Ideally you could use a jigsaw with a diamond blade as it would cut vertically but I don't think there are any long enough. Are there any tricks for doing this better with an angle grinder?

Cheers

Toby

[kallipigous]

Re: Build started on 36" Pompeii in Socal

How do you determine what the vertical angle should be when cutting on the jig? - other than using the spreadsheet that is.

[Novaslo]

Re: Build started on 36" Pompeii in Socal

Creating the Jig was what made the biggest difference for me. My goal was mortarless on the inside of the oven. With this jig a novice like myself who also had never cut a brick before could easily become what appeared to be a pro.

The inside of the oven is your masterpiece and worth the effort in the end. That is only my opinion.

Finally I used my iphone level to determine the degree of cut laid out in the spreadsheet. It all came together then. Ultimately a bit of custom cutting will be used in many cases but once you understand the angles it becomes much easier to make an adjustment cut to get it to fit.

Cheers

[kallipigous]

Re: Build started on 36" Pompeii in Socal

Thank you. I was just studying that with the pompei dome calculator. I think I understand how it works. I'm not sure how I'd figure out the vertical cut angle but deejayoh's spreadsheet seems to work well . I guess I'll just have to sacrifice some bricks and experiment.

I now need to figure out the entry arch cuts. Seems that if I cut all the arch bricks the size for the top centre brick I can shave them down as it goes further down the course. I'll make a form tomorrow and experiment.

[DavidApp]

Re: Build started on 36" Pompeii in Socal

Hello Kallipigous

I think this is the link to Mr. Chipster's brick cutting fixture.
It makes cutting bricks a breeze.

http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f28/possible-new-idea-brick-cutting-table-16780.html

David

[kallipigous]

Re: Build started on 36" Pompeii in Socal

Well there are still lots of areas I'm very uncertain of. I've never laid a brick in my life - let alone cut one. But I'm encouraged but the forum and the fact that the rest has gone ok so far.