It's time to go Vertical

[gjbingham]

Re: It's time to go Vertical

George, RT,

Take a hint from somebody who has ruined many torpedo levels, angle finders, etc., etc., with mortar: these things really are waterproof. Just swish them around in a bucket of clean water from time to time to get the mortar off before it sets. Doh, wouldn't like to say how long it took for me to learn that.

Jim

Thanks Jim! A little late for my angle finder. Working into the late fall as I did, my hands would often be so cold that the end-of-day that cleanup was rarely as good as it should have been. The tool is totally encrusted with mortar. Looking at it still gives me fond memories though. It's kind of a personal trophy now.

[Ken524]

Re: It's time to go Vertical

Tried fixing the oblong part by the arch and that took some extra mortar, but I think it's getting better.

Interesting that I had the exact same problem. The arch must cause some sort of optical or mechanical illusion that is throwing us off course there? Hmmm.

You are only a few courses away from a keystone! The last few courses will go fast. Keep up the great work.

[CanuckJim]

Re: It's time to go Vertical

George, RT,

Take a hint from somebody who has ruined many torpedo levels, angle finders, etc., etc., with mortar: these things really are waterproof. Just swish them around in a bucket of clean water from time to time to get the mortar off before it sets. Doh, wouldn't like to say how long it took for me to learn that.

Jim

[RTflorida]

Re: It's time to go Vertical

RC, I used my daughter for the cleaning and pointing of the interior, she is a skinny little thing (not like dad) and slid in without issue. No, there were no child labor laws broken - she is 24. I figured she owed me a bit (much financial assistance and now nursing school). I was surprised, she obviously paid more attention over the years than I thought...excellent job with little coaching.

RT

[asudavew]

Re: It's time to go Vertical

RC,
Geeze, I miss that!

I guess i do too!

[Acoma]

Re: It's time to go Vertical

RC, how many bricks to complete 9? I would suggest finishing th e mortaring inside, cleaning up, then going to 10. Looks like all is going at a nice pace for you.

[gjbingham]

Re: It's time to go Vertical

RC,
Just wait until you get mortar all over the angle finder and you can't see the angle at all. You try to wipe it off, but it just smears, and you still can't see the angle. Then your back starts screaming...... Geeze, I miss that!

[RCLake]

Re: It's time to go Vertical

I can see by the picture I need to get in there and do some cleaning. Then see if I can get mortar into some of those inverted "V"s. At this stage, it is no more getting in from the top - I guess I'll be on my back crawling on the floor
I seem to be now working completely bent over at this stage.
Jim, I stopped by HD yesterday and got that angle finder, so far by eyeballing it I wasn't to far off your chart. I think it will come in handy from now on. It is hard enough reading if its 6 or 7 degrees, impossible for 6.6.
I can see I'll need extra bricks, probably have enough for the next two rows.

[RCLake]

Re: It's time to go Vertical

Spent some time today and did row 9, it gets quite steep at this point. Surprisingly, I didn't seem to have an issue with slippage, my guide stick is now at 20 5/8". To get there from 21", I tapered the bottom of the bricks about 1/2" and only had to lift the back up slightly. I was worried I was making a tepee versus a dome, but I think it is coming together.
Tried fixing the oblong part by the arch and that took some extra mortar, but I think it's getting better.

[sarah h]

Re: It's time to go Vertical

Wow, you're really moving along - looking good! Don't worry about the dip - I had some similar problems too but it seems that once you hit complete circle rows, as you have, you find ways to compensate and like Dusty says, they eventually even out. As for the steepness, it does slow things down a bit - a trade off against the smaller rows. That's about where I started using the exercise ball for a form (at least it got used for something that way!) ...

Sarah

[dusty]

Re: It's time to go Vertical

R.C.,
I think it looks great! I see the dip in front and I don't think it will be a deal. Mine had a little something like that, but it just sort of went away as I went up.

dusty

[RCLake]

Re: It's time to go Vertical

Well I was finally able to do a complete CIRCLE. No more arch. I have row 8 at 21" from center but as you can see from the second picture the arch area is a little lower than the rest. Oh what to do - go on to the 9th I guess

I was pleased not to have to worry about the arch tie-in but having it a little oblong will have to thought through.

I started cutting row 9 and to keep it at 21" I would have a 1" gap at the back I decided to taper the bottom and I think I can get to less than 20 3/4" with a 3/8" gap in the back.

This next level is starting to get STEEP! Patience Patience.

[RCLake]

Re: It's time to go Vertical

Ya, you could do that but I think it would drive you nuts. I used partials only when the joints were threatening to run across courses. I thought for a breif moment about cutting the bottoms to close the gap but then regained my sanity. In the end it didn't seem to matter much astetically and structually it doesn't matter at all.

Course 8 eh, tell me how it feels to blow past the arch without having to stop for tie ins.

Jim

I came to that decision as well, as least for now. I started row 8 and mixed up enough mortar for about dozen bricks ( at least at the rate till now). I used 1/2" gap in the back so figured it would take more mortar but I only got 5 bricks in. I'm still at 21" from center, so probably won't hit the 20" target, but it will still cook, I hope.

[jcg31]

Re: It's time to go Vertical

Ya, you could do that but I think it would drive you nuts. I used partials only when the joints were threatening to run across courses. I thought for a breif moment about cutting the bottoms to close the gap but then regained my sanity. In the end it didn't seem to matter much astetically and structually it doesn't matter at all.

Course 8 eh, tell me how it feels to blow past the arch without having to stop for tie ins.

Jim

[RCLake]

Re: It's time to go Vertical

Jim
I'm doing it conceptually like you but different. First I've cut the bricks in half versus the angle like you did. And you can see from the first picture I have a stop quide at 4.5" on each side. I use the c clamp for the angle cut and I have 1/4" plywood riser by each stop for the bevel cut. So I do compound cuts on each side. So far no measurement just eyeballing and checking for fit. I did the cuts for row 6 & 7 in the garage because of the weather. I had to modify the cuts for row 6 but row 7 was pretty good.
Started to cut row 8 the same (the bevel angle isn't that much difference) and the cut seems to fit nicely. The second picture just shows a brick placed on it.

HOWEVER I'm noticing much more of a gap underneath the front of the brick. Is this the place people have started going to cut the full bricks in thirds?