Begining dome construction

[rlf5]

Re: Begining dome construction

RLF, what Les is saying is to cut your bricks for the row without mortar, making sure that you have correct fit all around. From the photo on second course, it appears you have many interior gaps at the face. PATIENCE! Doing a dry run will allow you to work carefully and to be sure your consistantly cutting with same gaps for mortar. As mentioned by some members here, inconsistant gaps with mortar could allow for inconsistant expansions during heating, which allows for increased risk in cracks. Minimal gaps, mortar for the courses is best, but is needed. Since you are not using forms, take your time.

Acoma:

You're correct in there being gaps, but they are not staying there. I find it easier to get the correct amount on bottom and to bond the sides with enough mortar to get the correct spacing. I then go back and fill the rest of the gap using mortar in an icing bag. It was too dark when I finished that for a picture though.

[Acoma]

Re: Begining dome construction

RLF, what Les is saying is to cut your bricks for the row without mortar, making sure that you have correct fit all around. From the photo on second course, it appears you have many interior gaps at the face. PATIENCE! Doing a dry run will allow you to work carefully and to be sure your consistantly cutting with same gaps for mortar. As mentioned by some members here, inconsistant gaps with mortar could allow for inconsistant expansions during heating, which allows for increased risk in cracks. Minimal gaps, mortar for the courses is best, but is needed. Since you are not using forms, take your time.

[rlf5]

Re: Begining dome construction

Well I was able to get a little work in today on the oven. Been pretty busy with work and the shorter daylight hours don't help much either. Anyway, here's a couple pics of the almost completed second course, and the begining of the entry arch.

[rlf5]

Re: Begining dome construction

Hi rlf5....looking nice so far. Are you planning to locate the footprint a little closer to the front? Looks like it might be set back a bit far....I realize you are just dry fitting but wanted to make sure you have thought this part through so you have a comfortable reach for firemaking etc....wayne

Wayne

Not sure what you mean by the bricks being dry fitted, as everything is pretty much mortared in place right now. As far as the length from the front to the rear of the oven hearth, its really a lot shorter than the pictures let on (mostly due to camera perspective). Thanks though!

[dusty]

Re: Begining dome construction

RL,

I noticed you have the saw pump in the tray. This was a source of great pain. The pump kept failing because of the "mud". I hung a 5 gallon bucket off the back of the saw and dropped the pump into that. Haven?t had a problem ever since. Just a suggestion.

Les?

Very clever Les! I have had the same problem with my pump clogging up. So the bucket drains and the tray overflows, no big deal. The only downside is the pump not failing. I was going to use the failed pump to get a new saw when my project's completed by virtue of my "no questions asked" warranty.
Dusty

[waynebergman]

Re: Begining dome construction

Hi rlf5....looking nice so far. Are you planning to locate the footprint a little closer to the front? Looks like it might be set back a bit far....I realize you are just dry fitting but wanted to make sure you have thought this part through so you have a comfortable reach for firemaking etc....wayne

[asudavew]

Re: Begining dome construction

Nobody sees the outside of the dome, and the pizza chef has to crane over to see the inside of the dome. Plus, when it's between firings, it's black.

Function over form? :-)
James

I'm gonna have to agree. I'm not doing the best job of laying bricks...

I think it looks good! Keep it up and keep posting pics.

[james]

Re: Begining dome construction

Nobody sees the outside of the dome, and the pizza chef has to crane over to see the inside of the dome. Plus, when it's between firings, it's black.

Function over form? :-)
James

[rlf5]

Re: Begining dome construction

Yea. Dang prescription ran out....

[Les]

Re: Begining dome construction

Oh Oh, sounds like you're running out of pills.

Les...

[rlf5]

Re: Begining dome construction

Finally finished the soldier course, with a little mortar on top b/c of leveling issues. I looks pretty messy (and it is) but I'm beginning to care less and less with how it looks and more about how it will perform.

[rlf5]

Re: Begining dome construction

Me too Ken, but one more thing.
Metal studs and track can be found in 1 5/8" width. This should help with your problem.

Hopefully it will. My plan right now is to build an enclosure and then cover it with stone veneer. I want to just cover the bottom with a thin layer of stucco and then paint it, but then still have it be in the same vertical plane as the stone on top. I would think that a top which stuck out slightly more than the bottom would look kinda funny, but I don't know. I may have to cover the bottom with stone as well.

[rlf5]

Re: Begining dome construction

I'm out of bricks and mortar (dayum mortar eating gaps) for until tomorrow, so all I could do today was drill the holes for my thermocouples. The center hole was already drilled, as I've been using it as a point to measure my radius. This hole goes all the way through to the oven floor. The other two holes I have are on opposing sides of the oven (you can see it in previous pics where two floor bricks are removed) and they will only extend halfway through the brick. I'll have one more thermocouple that can be inserted into the oven door to gauge the air temp, and I may also put one into the dome itself. I've also attached a pic of the thermocouples and monitor.

[Les]

Re: Begining dome construction

we're only talking about a delta of around 4 inches - I think I'll stay the coarse.

Thanks,

Les...

[asudavew]

Re: Begining dome construction

The only advantage I see is not being limited to the center area for tall cooking pots/vessels.

Seems like a good advantage, but the rest of the courses will have more of an angle I think......