42" build in McPherson KS

[slschoming]

To save time, instead of doing the recommended 3 costs, I only do one coat of around 15 mm thickness with the added AR fibres, and sponge finish this layer. Cover for a week to hold the moisture in this layer. Then, after several firings (if moisture is still present it can cause blistering) I then use a thinned 100% acrylic render which can be painted on. This smooths out any tooling marks and creates a waterproof finish.
There are lots of different approaches so don’t have to follow my method.

I've done two layers with no fibers added already. It is wet and covered, but the wind was so strong while I was applying it that it was drying out quickly. It developed a couple hairline cracks before I rehydrated and tarped it. At this point I think my best bet it to incorporate fibers into my finish coat. It doesn't have to be pretty, I am only going for structure and waterproofing with the stucco layer, I will be adding a brick veneer around the whole dome and applying a brick seal when the last layer of stucco dries.

[slschoming]

I just checked the weather and it's looking like my nice days are coming to a close for a few months. Are there any issues with waiting 3-5 months between the brown and finish layers? Our lows are in the 40s now, but starting Thursday it looks like they will be consistently in the 30s and below.

[slschoming]

The temperature is changing and the leaves are falling. I was hoping to find a day warm enough to finish the stucco but it's not looking promising.

[slschoming]

Made about 30 pies yesterday evening. My wife made scones this morning and I've got some bread going right now. It's incredible what you can do with just one fire.

It's also pretty awesome that while the inside of the oven walls are over 1000 F, the outside stucco layer is cool to the touch.

[mintee]

Looking awesome! Quick question, are you not concerned about the firebrick being exposed to the elements during the winter? Like, it it rains, and the fire brick drinks up all the water, then freezes, couldn't it crack a brick? (Sorry to instill fear)

[slschoming]

Looking awesome! Quick question, are you not concerned about the firebrick being exposed to the elements during the winter? Like, it it rains, and the fire brick drinks up all the water, then freezes, couldn't it crack a brick? (Sorry to instill fear)

Yeah, I think I will drape some plastic over the front face this winter, and hopefully before next winter I will have my roof built

[slschoming]

Had great weather this weekend, stayed above 42 overnight Saturday so I was able to get my last coat of stucco on and started to turn the corner on my chimney bricks... And of course we had more pizza..

[slschoming]

Wood fired Thanksgiving! My wife thought it was strange that we never even turned on the conventional oven once for our Thanksgiving meal. Though we did use the stove top for potatoes and gravy.

[Gulf]

Seth,

Great looking bird! I admire y'all that cook turkeys with open coals. I've been a little skeered to try it, though I have done chicken that way. Actually, I don't do turkey. But, I love seeing those cooks that do. I'm going to have to break down and try it some time

.....My wife thought it was strange that we never even turned on the conventional oven once for our Thanksgiving meal......

These ovens are great at taking a load off the power bill and also helping the ac to keep up. We've used ours when there was no power on the grid!

[slschoming]

Haven't posted in awhile.. coming out of hibernation...

We've been using the oven so much that progress has slowed. I haven't done much work on the actual oven in quite awhile, but have done some work to the area around the oven. Still needing to finish bricking the chimney, pour the final countertop and stucco the base.

I would like to pour a concrete countertop to look like white marble. Has anyone done this successfully? Any recommended concrete mix for countertops that you can roll pizza dough out on, cut on, place hot objects on, etc?

[BeanAnimal]

I poured countertops in my utility (bar/laundry) area and had excellent results with the forms and admix from

https://www.concretecountertopsolutions.com/

You can use white concrete and acid stain, but the result is not going to be "marble" If that is what you really want then an epoxy coating is what you need. There are plenty out there, one advertised almost nonstop on youtube. Here is another https://www.countertopepoxy.com/prem...ountertop-kit/

Lastly - If you check out Buddy Rhodes website - you may find some inspiration for something unique as well.

All of that said, for the size you are looking at, just buying a hunk of marble and sealing it well will be a lot easier and really not much more expensive.

[slschoming]

All of that said, for the size you are looking at, just buying a hunk of marble and sealing it well will be a lot easier and really not much more expensive.

I am just not sure how I would cut the marble to contour around the dome

[fhausback]

Great build Seth. Your igloo in KS convinced me to give an igloo a try in Kansas City. I figure i can always add a house over it if i can't keep the water out.

[slschoming]

Great build Seth. Your igloo in KS convinced me to give an igloo a try in Kansas City. I figure i can always add a house over it if i can't keep the water out.

Have you started yet? I would highly recommend weep holes in the hearth and a layer of foam glass under your cal sil board (if that's how you will insulate your floor). The foam glass won't let moisture get up into the cal sil board. I also put a layer of loose tiles between the hearth and the foam glass... I am not sure if that was necessary, but it was a very cheap way to get more space between my cal sil and the concrete hearth.

[fhausback]

Thanks for the advice. I'm planning on pouring the hearth slab this week. I've marked my rebar so i can drill weep holes. I think i can drill 6 holes relatively easily.

If i can source it, i'll use 2" foamglass, and calsil on top. I've been debating the tiles as well, but agree it's cheap insurance. I'll probably go ahead and do it.