Brick Cutting Jigs

[jrparks]

Greetings Everyone,
I've completed my hearth and am ready to start on the dome (42" Pompeii). I'm in search of ideas, techniques, methods, etc., for cutting firebrick with a 10" wet saw. I have a great new blade that cut like a hot knife thru butter.
I've studied Hendos' great technique but wonder if there are more proven ideas out there. I'm contemplating building a duel axis jig out of plate steel, hinges, and all- thread rod. All ideas welcome.
Cheers,

[Les]

Re: Brick Cutting Jigs

JR - I winged it using various sizes of wood shims. Seemed to work for me. Your approach would be more accurate, but at the end of the day - we are working with brick...

Les...

[nissanneill]

Re: Brick Cutting Jigs

JR,
I'm with Les.
Using a semi circular pattern for the inward growth of your courses, it is easy to see the angles necessary to cut your soldier brick and this is very easy to set up on your saw bed. These are the only cuts I made with the exception of those bricks around the dome arch and the final keystones.
Don't make it too complicated, time consuming and frustrating.
I finished Hendo's dome after he died, with his brickie Dallas and we cut only the last keystones for his dome.

Neill

[bbell]

Re: Brick Cutting Jigs

JR, If you catch this reply before you buy your sand and fireclay, I've got plenty left over for both you're welcome to use.

Let me know.

[MumsOven]

Re: Brick Cutting Jigs

JR - I winged it using various sizes of wood shims. Seemed to work for me. Your approach would be more accurate, but at the end of the day - we are working with brick...

Les...

I also contemplated an adjustable compound angle jig however I decided on wood shims due to the amount of time required to design & build a reliable & accurate jig - working pretty well so far.

[jcg31]

Re: Brick Cutting Jigs

Here was my adaptation of Hendo's and the many others that had a whack at this issue. I couldn't have built the oven without it.

http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f28/...heme-2985.html

Jim

[SteveP]

Re: Brick Cutting Jigs

jcg, I just read through your forum and I wish I would have read about three months ago. That jig would have been an absolute Godsend when I built mine. I can't believe how round your dome is; it is beautiful. Mine came out a little flat on top after making adjustments to avoid a teardrop shape. Your tool would have made shaping the dome nearly foolproof. If I ever build another oven, I will definately be contacting you to purchase one of your jigs.

[glennb]

Re: Brick Cutting Jigs

Here was my adaptation of Hendo's and the many others that had a whack at this issue. I couldn't have built the oven without it.

http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f28/...heme-2985.html

Jim

Wow Jim, I should have found this one earlier too, as I went with the string theory.
I'll have to make sure I use this technique for my next oven as it looks fantastic.

[jrparks]

Re: Brick Cutting Jigs

All the input has been helpful! I finally created my own design out of bits and pieces of hardware and wood. It is a collection of thing I've see in the forum. I also inlcuded glennb's pencil jig for the radius where the arch meets the dome. With one dome cours now complete I will continue to use the rare northwest winter sunshine and cut the next row. I also created a jig to cut compound angles on my wet saw.
Thanks of all the input!

http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/album.php?albumid=13

[bbell]

Re: Brick Cutting Jigs

JR,

I can see already that your build is going to be a masterpiece. Great jig and gauge. You're going to use a lot less mortar than I!

[karl]

Re: Brick Cutting Jigs

I prepared something similar (but simpler). Two wooden tools shown on the attached picture and using a circular cardboard target sheet on the oven floor (you can just see it on the picture). The pointed end of the tools were aimed at the circular targets and each brick was oriented paralell to the tool and held by the sliding support. Very easy and efficient and no need for a centre rotation support.

http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/atta...roject-009.jpg

Karl