Acoma 42" Tuscan

[asudavew]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

It looks pretty clean to me Robert. Far better than mine was!

I have spots here and there, but they are actually kind of cool. They start glowing before the bricks do. A nice sign that pizza temps are approaching fast!


Great job Robert. I can see how hard you worked to build a clean beautiful dome.
I think you can now say "Mission Accomplished!"

Now get that arch built.

I'm ready to see a fire, and food!!

Dave

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

As Paris Hilton would say: "That's Hot!"

Those pics of the inside of your dome are beautiful! When I start cutting my bricks I'm hoping the concept of beveling cuts will somehow come to me.

Say, looking at the pic of your arch wall, how deep or how many blocks is your arch landing? I'm drawing my oven footprint now on autocad and noticed you cut an angle on the bricks at the front. Is this for a more "pleasant" entry or will it help poking around a long handled pizza peel?

Thanks and great work, very inspiring!
Dino

[Acoma]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

Dino, my landing is 16 inches from entry to dome floor, where the dome wall inside corner exist. I have a two inch section for future door, leaving entry area at 14 inches.

As for the angle of the arch, that was originally from JC Jim. My finished will likely look a little different. I will be worrying about pizza sets, peel lengths for access to the oven once the arch is done. I have a 10" platform in addition to the 16" to the oven floor. That part was part of the concept Les had going. I hope this helps you.

As for my internal height, the keystone to center floor stayed at 20.75. Not bad for going back to my 4-6 courses of 1 1/8 inch lift in backs, to .5 lifts. I did have a couple courses where I shaved the face .75.

Dave, I am going insane thinking about firing up now. I know if I rush to finish, I will pay the price somehow.

[asudavew]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

Dave, I am going insane thinking about firing up now. I know if I rush to finish, I will pay the price somehow.

Take your time with curing. I rushed mine a bit.

I hope you never here the pinging of bricks cracking.....
I remember the sound all to well.

[james]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

I know if I rush to finish, I will pay the price somehow.

It's worth going slow. :-)

Take your time and plan on cooking a series of fun, lower heat meals. Chicken, Tuscan grill, fish, bread, focaccia -- use different pans and have fun. Just don't get tempted and keep adding that extra log and turning up the heat! I've been there.
James

[RCLake]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

Dave, I am going insane thinking about firing up now. I know if I rush to finish, I will pay the price somehow.

Robert, be patient, you'll be cooking in no time at all. I'm delayed starting the fires a couple of days because of this rain but I'm thinking what I could cook in the lower temps. I wanted the first cook to be a margherita pie, but I'm tempted to do some roasts
The oven won't be finished, right, so that won't count, right??????????

[Les]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

My 12th course has a photo of the bricks with the insane angles to make them fit. I could not believe how radical they had to be. This is for Les, and why I think he should re-evaluate going smaller and smaller to the end. You can see I overlapped some bricks when it felt safe.

As for measurements, 12 is 75 degrees with 20.75" from center.

Hi Robert - just read through your post and noticed this. Yea, I know it's going to get quite crazy - I still have the option of taking the path of least resistance. My plan is to resume work in about 4 weeks - we'll see what happens.

BTW, Nice job on your oven, and it looks like the promise to your daughter will be met - awesome. Still can't believe you went out and worked in the crappy weather we had.

Les...

[Acoma]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

Thank you everyone for the comments today. I did finish the bricks for the wall yesterday evening, and was able to get 1 brick per arch side done. I know it looks wierd, but my goal for the moment is to get bonding. I want to get through the arch faster (and safely) now. I was right about that added row on the wall, what a difference to the surface area needed for the mortar.

I will also be adding bricks to the top of the arch once completed so that I may have the chimney squared up.. Looking at Ken, Jim, etc, I noticed it being done.

Here is the photo. Input always accepted. And Ken, I will alert you to when I plan to cure via the new method. I hope you show up.

[Les]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

Robert - I love the flair on the entry (someone else went there, just don't recall who). Question; are you going to add a finish brick to the front? If so, you must be planning on off-setting them. You got me thinking in a new direction - I still am able to incorporate this (Thanks! )

Les...

[Acoma]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

Les, haven't thought about off-setting the face. What off-set idea were you thinking? I like the flair though. As for the original designer, that was JC Jim. I will have another picture this evening. I plan on getting 6 bricks on if possible. I figure 1 per side, wait 2 hours, support from below, then 1 more per side, etc... This would allow for me to finish the arch tomorrow. We'll see.

[Acoma]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

I have completed the 2nd set of arch bricks. I will wait 2 hours, then the 3rd set., etc...

[Les]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

Robert - why don't you just build a form and set them all at once? Also, I'm not seeing a lip for the top of your door to seal against - is that just the picture or by design?

Les...

[Acoma]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

Les, I messed up on the back bricks and started 1 inch low. I then decided to eliminate the lip up there. As for my form, it does not line up well with the first 2 sets so that is why I have done the whole arch so far freehand. I am going to look over the form to see if I can modify its shape to assist with rappid finish. I also get concerned about the ability to clean up the bricks if the form is in the way. I have seen mortar dried to domes with forms, and I am concerned I would have it with the oven. I am going to check it out though. I am going to take a couple hours and start cleaning up the tent area, and surrounding work area. Project transition to start very soon.

[Les]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

[QUOTE=Acoma;25641]I also get concerned about the ability to clean up the bricks if the form is in the way. I have seen mortar dried to domes with forms, and I am concerned I would have it with the oven.QUOTE]

I know what you mean - I had some issues with that on my wood storage arch - an angle grinder and muriatic acid does wonders.

Les...

[Acoma]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

Les, I did a huge clean up job to the work area, then I grabbed the form to see what I could do. Well, I am able to get it aligned so that I may do the final 5 bricks in rapid motion. Let me clarify that, I mean the back third of the final 5 have area for support. I don't have support for the flair section, but it should be fine. I will update later today.