Pompeii oven covering

[Gulf]

I didn't know you took that pic?...... That's not my best side .

[UtahBeehiver]

I knew Gulf was old but I found a picture that I took of him when I visited him a while back.......LOL

[Gulf]

I may watch the History Channel too much. The ancient builders had a lot of techniques that failed to get handed down. The dome gauge may have been one of them.

[rwiegand]

Just to add a little forum history about the IT. It is the name that has evolved for Hendo's Dome Gauge. Hendo's basic idea revolutonized dome building. It really is an "indespensable" tool .

I would have guessed that the Etruscans invented it some 3000 years ago, if not someone way before them. Is it really of modern origin? In which case I am truly impressed!

[SableSprings]

Welcome Bobby! I don't know if you are set on having the outside facade as a dome, but I did something like (I think) you are contemplating. I built my dome, put on perlcrete insulation, did my cure, and then cut slices of brick as a outside facade making my dome look like the vault (half-barrel) style. (The link to my build thread is at the bottom of this post by my signature line).

Currently, there are several manufacturers who make "thin brick" as a veneer. I just did a search on the Internet for "Brick veneer" and got lots of options. Here's a link to one of them just so you can see if that would work for you.

http://www.beldenbrick.com/thin-brick/

As noted (again, by Russell above), you can certainly build an oven using the brick hammer & chisel method, but if you have a friend or someone you can borrow a wet brick saw from...I would highly recommend it if you can't find a good deal on a used one through Craigslist. If you can borrow a wet saw, then you can also make your own thin brick slices as well as using some of the recommended angle cuts of a dome oven and front arches.

As Russell and Gulf noted/illustrated above, the IT (indispensible tool) is basically a support post for holding bricks in place as mortar sets. The post swivels and helps keep your dome remain a half-sphere. There are several more designs on the IT documented in the forum. Here's several more links that illustrate them in use during a build.

https://community.fornobravo.com/for...b-theme?t=2985

https://community.fornobravo.com/for...571#post217571

https://community.fornobravo.com/for...772#post174772

In addition to the plans from Forno Bravo, spending some time looking at the builds highlighted in the following thread are well worth your time.

https://community.fornobravo.com/for...n-the-archives

Lots of help available here...and don't be afraid to ask questions. Do take your time reading and developing a plan for your build...it's much easier (and much cheaper all around ) to make changes on paper rather than with a sledge hammer

[Gulf]

Just to add a little forum history about the IT. It is the name that has evolved for Hendo's Dome Gauge. Hendo's basic idea revolutonized dome building. It really is an "indespensable" tool .

[UtahBeehiver]

[UtahBeehiver]

An IT is a pivoting arm placed on the floor of the firebrick the sets the dome brick at a perpendicular angle to the center of the dome. It ensures that the dome is round and the bricks are at the correct angle. There are several different versions out on the forum website. But they can be made very inexpensively, some welded, some of wood, ect. There are a couple key factors required to make a IT correctly so when you get to that point ask the forum. I have seen some decent builds done on the forum with a hammer and brick chisel. You just have to be aware that some of the specialized concepts such as heat breaks, tapered inner arches, tapered and bevel cuts will be difficult to accomplish with hammer and brick chisel. If you keep your eyes open on your local classifieds or Craigslist, you might find a good used wet saw for $100 or so. Now that you have the eplans, go through in detail and most of your questions we be answered. It is a little dated and there have been a lot of innovations since the original publication but it is a good baseline.

[bolensboneyard]

Makes sense! First of all, what is an IT (indispensable) tool? The strips you mention in your build that were cut to make the veneer; is this something I can get from a brick supply? I do not have a brick/tile saw. I am old school and on SS so I have been using a brick hammer to build chimney's and steps. I expect to do the veneer in a cost effective way will require a saw. I have just started studying this process and certainly like the look. I hope you 'all don't get tired of answering my questions as it certainly looks like the knowledge is here on this forum. I did get a book by the way. Thanks Joe. Bobby

[Gulf]

.........Is it as simple as doing the same thing over again? ............... I would also like to use half brick as opposed to veneer............

Obvously, it can't be done with an indispensable tool (IT). You could guage the face brick, but that would mean getting an almost perfect fit for the insulation. And. possibly having to smooth on a stucco layer to have something from which to gauge that is firm. You could use a variation of the swinging arm template like Russell and I used for our vcrete layers. (You will have to picture in your mind replacing the vcrete with brick) Each course level could be marked on it as you go up to keep them uniform and also to maintain a uniform curve.

One of the draw backs to using a thick outer shell of face brick on the dome is the mortar joints. As you progress up the dome, the bed and head joints get extremely large unless the brick are tapered to keep them uniform. A stucco layer and brick veneer are much easier with which to get a great looking job imo.

[bolensboneyard]

Thanks a bunch Russell. I will check them out.

[UtahBeehiver]

The FB plans are technically free but they suggest $3 to cover admin. cost. Here is the link

https://www.fornobravo.com/store/pom...book-v2-0-pdf/

There are details on how to download what is called a "PDF" file. If you are not familiar with this you will need to have a PDF reader on your computer to see the file. There are several free PDF readers available on line, ADOBE DC is one of the most popular and there is a free version on their website.

Gulf's Picassa Album

https://get.google.com/albumarchive/...CPP5z4nqgsGFNg

[bolensboneyard]

When you say around the firebrick do you mean over the oven insulation or directly on the firebrick? These ovens need to be insulated in order to work efficiently. Look at Gulf's build, he did a brick veneer over his oven by cutting slices from full size bricks. You will need a solid substructure for the decorative bricks.

I will have a solid foundation and had planned to insulate. I have been having problems trying to figure out how to download the free plans for the Pompeii oven? I would also like to use half brick as opposed to veneer. Tried to search Golf's build and just got your response in reply. I apologize for my ignorance with computers as I am a senior citizen who is good with his hands but slow on the navigation of websites! Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Thanks Bobby

[UtahBeehiver]

When you say around the firebrick do you mean over the oven insulation or directly on the firebrick? These ovens need to be insulated in order to work efficiently. Look at Gulf's build, he did a brick veneer over his oven by cutting slices from full size bricks. You will need a solid substructure for the decorative bricks.

[bolensboneyard]

how can I put another decorative (red) layer of brick around the firebrick on a Pompeii oven? Is it as simple as doing the same thing over again? Should the door opening be done first? Any other suggestions? Thanks for the information