Acoma 42" Tuscan

[Acoma]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

Thanks Jim and Les. Perfect information. This will go very slow. I am attempting to pick up material today to make a template, then to mark the dome, entry, and floor shape. Then to cut the floor bricks and the insulation board. Lots to do before going vertical. Also, because of winter, I will need to create some space in the garage for this work. Of course there will be progress shown. Lastly, my IQ went up, I can now do thumbnails.

[asudavew]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

Of course there will be progress shown. Lastly, my IQ went up, I can now do thumbnails.

Congrats!!!

It's great watching your progress.
Keep up the good work!
Your stand looks great.

Dave

[Acoma]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

Ken, I am going to build a wood stand too for my wet saw.
In order of priority:
1st: Build Stand for wet saw and get set up..
2nd: Best bricks for floor and entry, shaped and cleaned.
3rd: Template for floor area
4th: Cut floor bricks
5th: Template for dome and arch
6th: Cut solder and arch bricks

Once done with list above, I will start the vertical. If you feel a step should be done inbetween, let me know.

[Ken524]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

Sounds like a plan!
Oh... put bigger wheels on your saw stand than I did. The casters I used are too small and it's a pain to move it around.

[jcg31]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

Not a pretty solution but one great addition to my wet saw when the weather forced me inside, was a beachtowel draped over a 5 foot pole and front of the saw (and clamped with a small clamps at all points). The back of the towel is "V"ed to place it in a plastic storage container (2'x3'). This completely contained the annoying mist from the cars and my lungs and placed it in the container , which I periodically emptied back into the tray of the saw to keep the pump running.

I tried other materials, including a plastic tarp, and the aformentioned storage container, but nothing seemed to stop the mist completely like the towel

Jim

[Acoma]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

Ken, I will get bigger wheels as you suggested.
Jim, the towel idea is good, I was thinking about that too.
I will apply these ideas as well.

[Acoma]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

I have cut 40 bricks and have 40 more to do for the evening. These are for the floor, entry, arch area. I have cut clean edges to all four sides, being that these are 2nd's. My goal is to have all 150 w/ clean edges by end of weekend.
My insulation board arrived today, and the board will stay in the box until template and bricks are cut to shape. No need to damage anything by rushing to the finish line.

[dusty]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

Robert,
Cleaning every edge of every brick may be overkill since: A: the outside edge of the dome bricks doesn't matter - it is on the outside. And B: the edges that do matter will have to have an angle cut on them anyway. In other words, you will be throwing lots of little wedges with perfectly trimmed edges into the scrap bucket. Good idea trimming the floor bricks though. Just be sure they are all the same size when done.

dusty

[asudavew]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

Robert,
Good idea trimming the floor bricks though. Just be sure they are all the same size when done.
dusty

I second what Dusty said.

Be careful cutting floor bricks to square them up. It may cause more problems then it solves.


My 2 cents

Dave

[Acoma]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

Well, all floor brick edges are done. As for overkill, I am going to take it step by step, adjusting the game plan as needed for the overall benefit. I will work on the template and herringbone design tomorrow, all pieces to be flush. Any bricks not flush will be for the solder, realizing that I have 85 pieces of brick and 60 are in excellant form. Once the herringbone design is done (pre-cut) I will take a photo to display the tightness. Trust me, overkill is not my gameplan.
As for the additional ones that I have not touched yet, I will only clean the sides, shaping them as needed.

[gjbingham]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

You keep trucking along at warp speed and you'll have this thing knocked out in no time. Great diligence! The floor doesn't take that long once you get started on it. Suddenly, after all that hard work on the base, stand and floor, you're going vertical. That is an awesome feeling. It becomes hard not to go outside and just sit there and stare at it between your work sessions.

Enjoy the ride!
George

[Acoma]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

Thank you George. I was a little nervous about the four sides cleaned up after several replys. I looked at them this morning and they look great. I will verify complete match ups when the floor design is done. Again, The dome pieces will get cuts as needed, and another 150 will be picked up this month, weather permitting.
Ken and Jim, I modified your wet saw idea and it works great in the garage. Photo to come.

[james]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

I was thinking about the construction term "factory edge in." Basically you get to use the clean edge anywhere it shows, and then face the part that you cut outward. That's true for wood, bricks, drywall, hardibaker, and probably some other things.

I think this definitely applies to cutting bricks. The cut side never gets seem.

In fact, I've been told by professional oven builders that they score and break the dome bricks, with the rough side out -- because they don't want to pay the cost of burning through blades.

Rough can be good.
James

[Les]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

Robert,

You may have to resort to sanding the floor as many of us had to do. These bricks are cut with a wire so they are far from identical.

Les...

[dusty]

Re: Acoma 42" Tuscan

I think that carefully trimming the floor bricks and then cutting a curved floor is an excellent start as it gives you a feel for the saw. Soon, if you are anything like me, you will be finishing a cut with the brick in your hand. Or, you will be holding it up to the blade and polishing the last little imperfection off of it as if the blade were a grinding wheel.
You have made amazing progress so far Robert. At the rate you're going, I wouldn't be suprized if you need more bricks by xmas!

dusty