Dome forms,styrofoam,plywood,cardboard???

[Masako Morishita]

Free forming the dome is what i keep seeing but no forms to close the top
of the dome, I had posted a similar question before but it went unanswered,
am I drowning in a glass of water? Is there a thread that i have missed where
this question was answered?
In the meantime i will continue digging for pics that show more on how others
have done it!
Thanks , fellow builders!

[dbhansen]

Re: Dome forms,styrofoam,plywood,cardboard???

Are you asking about forms to hold the top of the dome in place? There are several options: a sand form, a ball, a wood form, styrofoam, etc. Here are some examples:
Umbrella
Sticks
Ball
Plywood
Plywood

[Masako Morishita]

Re: Dome forms,styrofoam,plywood,cardboard???

Yes,yes!!!!!!
Thanks, Hansen san!
Arigato!

[dbhansen]

Re: Dome forms,styrofoam,plywood,cardboard???

No problem! Here's a styrofoam form. It appears the pieces are just sitting there, unattached to each other.

[Breven]

Re: Dome forms,styrofoam,plywood,cardboard???

Masako...

I had every intention of using styroform forms, until I got started. The mortar mix I made was pretty sticky- and with the pie shaped wood form to guide me- I ended up just free forming it. It was pretty easy. Best of all, you have complete access to the inside of the dome to keep the joints clean. You may end up with the same experience. But, as they say better to have and not need than to need an not have.

[Masako Morishita]

Re: Dome forms,styrofoam,plywood,cardboard???

Thanks, Breven san!
I wish I had that much space to build, your oven looks great!!!!
For some of us only seeing is believing! specially when our masonry skills
are still in diapers.
Arigato.

[carioca]

Re: Dome forms,styrofoam,plywood,cardboard???

Free forming the dome is what i keep seeing but no forms to close the top
of the dome, I had posted a similar question before but it went unanswered,
am I drowning in a glass of water? Is there a thread that i have missed where
this question was answered?
In the meantime i will continue digging for pics that show more on how others
have done it!
Thanks , fellow builders!

well mate, I used an inflatable exercise ball to good effect - have a browse thru my construction diary at Picasa Web Albums - carioca - Forno_del_gallo ...

It's somewhere in the last third of the thing, look for a blue bit of rubber sticking out of the top of the dome in the approximate shape - which was further 'conditioned' by the weight and positioning of the bricks.

Cheers,

LMH

[Masako Morishita]

Re: Dome forms,styrofoam,plywood,cardboard???

Thanks,Carioca!
Your oven,looks great!, The jig you made to cut the bricks inspire me because
the price of a wet saw ,around here is astronomical!!!! Great idea.
Arigato from Kobe.

[Frances]

Re: Dome forms,styrofoam,plywood,cardboard???

the price of a wet saw ,around here is astronomical!!!!

It was the same here: the price for a wet saw would have been 100 USD... for rent per day!! Which is why I went for e dinky little angel grinder instead.

Whatever you can get and whatever works... I'm sure you'll build a great oven anyway!

[carioca]

Re: Dome forms,styrofoam,plywood,cardboard???

<snip>

Which is why I went for e dinky little angel grinder instead.

<snip>

Hi Frances! I know it's likely just a spelling error - but jeez, it sure sounds gruesome...

Thanks for the compliment, honorable Japanese builder. Most of my tricks I picked up on this forum, and so will you I expect! Good luck.

LMH

[Frances]

Re: Dome forms,styrofoam,plywood,cardboard???

oooops

I assure you, no angels were hurt in the construction of my dome!

[egalecki]

Re: Dome forms,styrofoam,plywood,cardboard???

I used no forms, but I did hold up the last couple of rows of bricks with a combination of L-shaped brackets attached to string, tied to a spare brick and then hung over the outside edge of the dome. Then, at the last I used small diameter bamboo sticks to prop the bricks up for a few minutes. That was all it took to get them to stay with the mortar I used. If you mix it sticky and wet your bricks right, it's pretty easy to get them to stay.