East London pizza oven and grill

[Neil.B]

Thanks for the idea, Dave. I was thinking of adding all the broken Thermolite/breeze blocks to the corners to leave about 2" gap for the perlite.
Plastic bottles towards the top of the dome(around the edge of the blocks) would save loads of room.

[skelly27]

HI Neil. Your build looks great, I am planning a much less well done version of something similar. Silly question - what material did you use for the brick arch form? Is it just styrofoam?

[Neil.B]

HI Neil. Your build looks great, I am planning a much less well done version of something similar. Silly question - what material did you use for the brick arch form? Is it just styrofoam?

Yes, I had 2" thick polystyrene left over from the base of my swimming pool, but general sheets of 1", 2" or 4" solid Insulation will work.
I used leftover laminate flooring underlay to decide on the size of the arches then used that as a template. The polystyrene is easy to cut/shape with a serrated kitchen knife.
2"*2" (or might of been 3") timber with polystyrene either side.
I also used circular polystyrene before concreting the hearth to allow access for the smoke from the chimnea (planning on using as a smoker above).

Good luck with your build, add a link to your signature to make it easier for others to follow.

Neil

[Neil.B]

[skelly27]

Class, thank you. My head is spinnin with arch geometry, among other things so the advice is much appreciated.

[Neil.B]

Class, thank you. My head is spinnin with arch geometry, among other things so the advice is much appreciated.

I think you are over thinking the arch.
On some cardboard (or simular) decide how wide you want it and mark the middle, then use the same from the top down. Then use some string or wood the same width as from the centre to edge and draw an arc.
This is your final template.
Then decide how high do you want the arch from the floor. Cut some timber and fix to the template.
place it were the final arch will be, and stand back and next to it to visualise how it will look. I made the arch lower than the bottom of the hearth to allow some rows of bricks above.
My left arch is slightly flatter as the width is wider and the arc was to high, the bricks above would not of lined up.
The left arch starts at five bricks high, i then decided I wanted the hearth higher, so the middle and left arch is 6 bricks high.
Once you are happy transfer to a solid template.
Build your sides flat up to the bottom of your template. The final row will need a brick cut at an angle(I used 45 degrees). Remember to cut you timber slightly shorter to allow wedges underneath for easy removal of template.

If you want to be really accurate then use the following site. I will be using it when building the 8' arch above the grill.
https://www.blocklayer.com/masonry-arch.aspx

[david s]

Neil, before pouring the concrete for your supporting slab, consider casting in some weep/drain holes near the centre where the oven floor will be. This assists in drying moisture from the underfloor insulation. Some foam or polystyrene places as you pour is pretty easy to remove.

[Neil.B]

Neil, before pouring the concrete for your supporting slab, consider casting in some weep/drain holes near the centre where the oven floor will be. This assists in drying moisture from the underfloor insulation. Some foam or polystyrene places as you pour is pretty easy to remove.

Thanks Dave but I have already poured or was your comment for skelly27

[david s]

Sorry, I was replying to your post #34 and assumed that was your progress to date.

[skelly27]

I think you are over thinking the arch.
On some cardboard (or simular) decide how wide you want it and mark the middle, then use the same from the top down. Then use some string or wood the same width as from the centre to edge and draw an arc.
This is your final template.
Then decide how high do you want the arch from the floor. Cut some timber and fix to the template.
place it were the final arch will be, and stand back and next to it to visualise how it will look. I made the arch lower than the bottom of the hearth to allow some rows of bricks above.
My left arch is slightly flatter as the width is wider and the arc was to high, the bricks above would not of lined up.
The left arch starts at five bricks high, i then decided I wanted the hearth higher, so the middle and left arch is 6 bricks high.
Once you are happy transfer to a solid template.
Build your sides flat up to the bottom of your template. The final row will need a brick cut at an angle(I used 45 degrees). Remember to cut you timber slightly shorter to allow wedges underneath for easy removal of template.

If you want to be really accurate then use the following site. I will be using it when building the 8' arch above the grill.
https://www.blocklayer.com/masonry-arch.aspx

Lovely, thanks for all that. Very helpful.

[Neil.B]

Two and a half hours later I have the first row.
I made a very simple IT with bits laying around and will add some addons when I start the second row.
There's quite a bit of gap around the edge as the base wasn't perfectly circular.
The 12"x6" bricks were cut in to three, so the first row is 6" high x 4" deep.

[Neil.B]

[Neil.B]

Bit more done. Took about 2 hours to cut the first part of the arch, i think it had 4 different angled cuts.
Bricks not perfect but trying to use all the bricks. I can get 6 bricks out of one.

[Baza]

You're going for it mate!! Well done!!
I read often that the 'variances' you notice will not be noticed by others and the thing will cook a treat!
I"m REALLY counting on that too! HA!

Good on you!
Keep going!!
Barry

[Neil.B]

Thanks Barry. Good luck with your build.