Arch opening reveal construction

[jmargush]

I am sure this has been covered multiple times but with the site having some links not active thought it would be easier to ask again.

I am getting ready to start laying courses for the dome and want to have a good idea of what I need to do on the opening arch.


Should arch be built as I lay courses or build it first and run the courses into it?

Is the reveal typically cut into the bricks that make the opening arch or is it created by building a second arch a 1/2" - 1" larger?

Should I build the opening arch from half bricks or full bricks?

Is it better to have the arch move back to meet the dome as you build up? or have the bottom of the arch stick into the dome ( come straight down from the top of the arch on the inside of the dome)?

[RandyJ]

You can do it eather way for building the arch but if you build it first you will end up with a miss shaped dome unless you are a geometry expert. I did mine first but had a tear drop in my dome. As for the reveal you do that by building your vent arch bigger than the oven opening. So you then have a place for your door to seat.

Randy

[Pompeii Nate]

What I would recommend if you haven't already is to study Gianni Foccacia's build thread "Octoforno" and follow it as closely as possible. His is a masterpiece and if you get even close to his quality you will do great. John (and I) built the arch up as he went up with the layers but after getting up most of the way he finished the arch and just built into it the last few courses. I did not have the luck John did since my calculations or my cutting was off at the top of my arch and it sticks into the oven about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch. But because it is on the inside nobody will ever see it unless they literally climb into my oven with a flashlight and look for it.

As for the reveal on the inner arch, I actually went bigger than most others and I don't regret it one bit. Instead of doing just a one inch reveal mine is closer to 3 1/2 to 4 inches and it gives me a very good area to work in. You might be able to see it in my little avatar if it is working or you can find it in my build thread. I will try to attach some links but since I haven't tried this yet on the new site I don't know how it will work out. Good luck with the build.

http://www.fornobravo.com/community/...etch?id=307614
http://www.fornobravo.com/community/...etch?id=307622
http://www.fornobravo.com/community/...etch?id=307659

Nate

[jmargush]

The pictures help a lot.

Thanks

[Novaslo]

Pay particular attention to the way you build your flu cavity as well. when the smoke comes out of the oven, it needs a nice cavity to enter as it begins to enter the chimney pipe. The mistake I made was not creating a large enough entry for the smoke and ended up having smoke comeing out the front with Black soot on the front of the brick. So keep that in mind, it is a tricky section of the build and if you do it right ALL of your smoke and soot will float up and out rather than out the front of your oven.

[RandyJ]

Good point. I am still trying to decide if I did that part right.

Randy