Les' Build

[dvonk]

Re: Les' Build

Les,
You have to stop to slow torture the community and have to finish your dome!!!
Please!

[SpringJim]

Re: Les' Build

Les....it's a shame you and Ken had to cover such great domes....but it makes me happy since they look more like mine now on the outside

Why is your cladding mortar cracking? What did you use? Were the dome bricks wet down first? I find that using a damp/wet brush over the mortar helps to spread the cement and minimize the cracking as well as slows down the drying to let it cure.

Looking forward to your fires!

Jim

[Ken524]

Re: Les' Build

Les,

Just amazing. The coolest thing about this is that once it's insulated, it won't matter in the least how much your mortar cracks. I think you've come close to building the perfect dome.

Thousands of years from now, archeologists will be convinced that aliens came down and lent you a hand in building this!

[james]

Re: Les' Build

Your legs are nothing compared to your brickwork. Very nice (the brickwork).
James

[Les]

Re: Les' Build

Les, I feel ya...mines still in college and all manual labor is not her......try the guilt trip and yes, we all would rather see your wife's legs . (no disrespect to your legs, of course)

RT

Dude my legs are to die for!!!

Les...

[Les]

Re: Les' Build

(copied from the gallery for the record)

Kinda ugly - my mortar at this point is about 1/8 inch thick - cracks very easy. I was trying find the perfect circle (not the band) but some of the brick started to chip - good enough. I really think I will be able to set the keystone this week - take time off for the 4th - then bring on some major fire.

Les...

[RTflorida]

Re: Les' Build

Les, I feel ya...mines still in college and all manual labor is not her......try the guilt trip and yes, we all would rather see your wife's legs . (no disrespect to your legs, of course)

RT

[Les]

Re: Les' Build

James - I think you would prefer a picture of my wife's legs sticking out

RT - my daughter just graduated from college - masonry is so not her

I may avoid the chamber altogether (and my wife) - I drew a template that may work for the inside cut - then it's just a grout bag from done. I ran 2 bricks shy of getting it done tonight. Up my brick count to 277.

Thanks guys!

Les...

[RTflorida]

Re: Les' Build

Les, daughters also work very well for that inside the oven work. Besides being small and thin (excuse me, petite), which I am not......she owes me (at least thats what I told her).....surprisingly she slid herself right in and prodeeded to do the final pointing and cleanup.

RT

[james]

Re: Les' Build

I'll take a look at it when I have to crawl in there for the keystone (ONE time only).

We need a photo of this. A good one with your legs sticking out.
James

[Les]

Re: Les' Build

I think I can avoid it altogether - I may have my wife convinced that she needs to be inside when I set the brick.

Les...

[RCLake]

Re: Les' Build

I'll take a look at it when I have to crawl in there for the keystone (ONE time only).


Les...

I agree with you, I'm not crawling in it again. My neck is still sore.

[Les]

Re: Les' Build

RC - I responded to Dutch's question (link #19). I really don't see a lot that can be done in that area other than slinging mud or hanging brick - either approach doesn't seem to me to be an improvement. I'll take a look at it when I have to crawl in there for the keystone (ONE time only).

Jim - I noticed your question about a soldier course - I didn't see a real benefit doing that and I was after the "perfect arch". I may be dead wrong after I start cooking, don't know yet.

All... thanks for the complements, appreciate it.

Les...

[RCLake]

Re: Les' Build

Super fantastic, Les! That was a lot of "using your noodle" as a friend of mine always said! How are you going to handle those little voids under that course at the door? You probably don't have to but with the attention to detail that you have shown so far I thought you might have a plan in place already!
Best
Dutch

Impressed with Les' work I went to the beginning of the thread to see the progress. When I went back to fix my crack that started at the side of the door and went up, I decided to redo my vent opening and also to reinforce this void area under that course at the door. I stopped after two supports that went in the gap (to much working upside down) and used several thin layers of refmix to fill that void.
I'll be real interested seeing responses to Dutch's question.

Les, did you appreciate the raise once college tuition was over

[Frances]

Re: Les' Build

I still think it looks like magic... either that or trick photography.

Very very beautiful!