36" Pompeii Dome Chicago

[RandyJ]

You will know when you need to start with smaller bricks as they will start to not fit very well on the bottom but i would think you are getting close to that point here pretty soon. Congratulations on clearing the arch. That makes it easier from then on and speed increases. Just keep paying attention and you will be done in no time. It is looking very nice.

Randy

[Chach]

The attached picture shows it was the 2nd row before my plug when I transitioned back to half bricks. At that point the half brick was twice as wide as the tops of the bricks in the 3rd row from the top, allowing me to keep the joints staggered with the larger brick. I guess I could have kept cutting them smaller and smaller, but didn't see the need and was ready to get that part of the build done.

Thanks I really see what your talking about now.

[JRPizza]

The attached picture shows it was the 2nd row before my plug when I transitioned back to half bricks. At that point the half brick was twice as wide as the tops of the bricks in the 3rd row from the top, allowing me to keep the joints staggered with the larger brick. I guess I could have kept cutting them smaller and smaller, but didn't see the need and was ready to get that part of the build done.

[Chach]

Like I said in the post above, make the width across the bottom of a brick for a given row same as the top of the bricks in the row below. If you do this pretty soon you will be getting 3 dome bricks per full brick. Not long after that you can go back to half bricks when the width at the top of a row is a quarter brick. Does this make sense the way I'm explaining it?

kind of..I see what your saying.

[JRPizza]

Like I said in the post above, make the width across the bottom of a brick for a given row same as the top of the bricks in the row below. If you do this pretty soon you will be getting 3 dome bricks per full brick. Not long after that you can go back to half bricks when the width at the top of a row is a quarter brick. Does this make sense the way I'm explaining it?

[Chach]

When do you usually start using 1/3 size bricks instead of half bricks?

[Chach]

More progress! Getting close to the finish line! So far not that bad to build. I have a few bricks to finish for this course and the arch is cleared. I see how the droop can happen and I may have to take 1 brick off to correct it but not sure yet.

[JRPizza]

Yeah, the trick is to make the width across the bottom of a brick for a given row same as the top of the row below it if you are going for the best aesthetic. That is another thing I didn't figure out till I got up a few rows. It wastes a little more brick and I am not sure how much it matters, but it does make for good beauty shots My oven eventually cracked and when it did it split one of the bricks right down the middle, so staggering the joints is no guarantee of a crack free build.

[Chach]

Looking really good! One thing I figured out a little late in my build - I can see you have a smaller "filler" brick I can see on the 5th row in the left of the picture. It is better to keep these as close to the arch as possible, as having them out where they are visible will give you fits trying to keep your vertical joints equally spaced.

Thanks JR! I see what you mean. That brick was just cut to stop the joints from lining up because the next brick would have been right on top of the one below and the joints would have been stacked. I guess I should of trimmed all the bricks like a 1/4" and it would of served the same purpose and gave you the illusion of full bricks. Now I'll have to pay more attention.

[JRPizza]

Looking really good! One thing I figured out a little late in my build - I can see you have a smaller "filler" brick I can see on the 5th row in the left of the picture. It is better to keep these as close to the arch as possible, as having them out where they are visible will give you fits trying to keep your vertical joints equally spaced.

[Chach]

I accomplished a little more today.

[JRPizza]

One thing i wish is that the fire bricks I purchased jad 90 degree sides...

I noticed you didn't taper your arch bricks, but if you decide to taper the ones for your outer arch the non-90 degree sides can give you fits when you cut the tapers. I had to sort thru my bricks and save the "square" ones for my arches. Biggest problem I had with my floor was varying thicknesses - had to sort for that too.

[Chach]

Hey Rick make sure that you keep the gap around the edge. I used cardboard to keep a constant gap. Then just leave it be. Good luck trying to get the bricks out if you try.

Randy

Yeah that sand fireclay mix really sticks I had to pull one out becuse it interfered with my it until i finished the 2nd row. it was really stuck but omce you get one you cn get them all out. if in the future if a brick needs replacement its probably better to install a tapcon in the brick so you have something to grab on to and pull up otherwise your destroying the bricks next to it trying to pry the one out

Ricky

[Chach]

No that is there for any expansion, I was referring more to the gaps in between the hearth bricks, but having another look at it, I really don't see it as a problem but as I said if the new bricks are better it is worth a try just replacing a couple of the worst ones, now would be the time to do it as when the dome is complete it would be a lot harder to do

Thanks again Doug. I understood what you were saying I was just asking if I should do something around the perimeter...Ash will just fill in there I suppose.

Ricky

[Karangi Dude]

No that is there for any expansion, I was referring more to the gaps in between the hearth bricks, but having another look at it, I really don't see it as a problem but as I said if the new bricks are better it is worth a try just replacing a couple of the worst ones, now would be the time to do it as when the dome is complete it would be a lot harder to do