Texas 42

[Roadkyng]

Got the soldiers up today. Was harder than I thought as I had to reset the first 3 or so bricks over 4 times before I got them right. Using Lars' mortar recipe which was a definite plus as it doesn't set as fast as Heatstop or the FB mortar does. Gave me time to get my head right. Even so it's not perfect as I have a few bricks that are gapped back from the edge of the floor. (ie the face is not completely flush with it's neighbor brick). That was the hard part was getting the mortar compressed to ensure good adhesion while trying to line everything up.
I have to keep reminding myself this is a wood burning dome oven and not the space shuttle. Still, my Grandfather (God Rest) impressed on me the idea of craftsmanship in everything you do. Wonder if he ever laid brick....


PS - tried to upload pics but kept getting a failure msg. Anything special I need to do? - GOT IT!

[geisen]

Re: Texas 42

Click on Go Advanced.
Click on the paper clip.
Make sure your photos aren't too large.
Click Browse.
find photo
Click upload
click close window
Click Post reply

[Roadkyng]

Re: Texas 42

Thanks,
I had done all that while trying to post but your response told me the images were too big.

Click on Go Advanced.
Click on the paper clip.
Make sure your photos aren't too large.
Click Browse.
find photo
Click upload
click close window
Click Post reply

[dmun]

Re: Texas 42

Get irfanview (if you are on a pc). It's free. One click resizing.
IrfanView - Official Homepage - one of the most popular viewers worldwide

[Roadkyng]

Re: Texas 42

Thanks dmun.

I used the Windows XP powertoy ImageResize and got it fixed.

[texassourdough]

Re: Texas 42

Hi Roadkyng!

Where are you in Texas?
Jay

[Roadkyng]

Re: Texas 42

I live in Talty, a small town between Forney and Kaufman, about 45 miles east of Dallas

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Texas 42

Looks good Roadkyng. Your mortar joints look like mine in your pics. It always seems not perfect working up close but as you said, it's not the space shuttle but it will hold the dome together & your insulation will hold the heat in. Good job with the soldiers around the dome and the angle cut on top to get your dome going. Can't wait some dome rings go up.

[Roadkyng]

Re: Texas 42

Thanks a bunch Dino. Eases my mind a bit hearing that from you since I am using your oven and Lar's as my guide.

Did you use a variation of the indespensible too? I built one and have found out the angle of the first course will not line up with the tool bracket. It needs a steeper angle. I believe it is because the fulcrum is approx 1" higher than the floor due to the thickness of the plywood it is bolted too and the height of the eye bolt. I can bend the bracket to get everything lined up but am not sure if it only affects the first course or all of them. Can't see bending the bracket back and forth too many times.

[Roadkyng]

Re: Texas 42

Pics showing my angle problem with the tool. I believe it is due to the added height of the fulcrum. Not sure but was wondering in anyone else had this issue.

Pic 004 shows the tool bracket is at the correct angle if the chain brick is resting on the soldier. (Soldiers are cut at 17 degree angle)
Pics 011 and 012 shows the mismatch between the tool bracket and the chain brick, when the brick is shimmed to correct angle.

My question is will this be consistent all the way up. If so I'll bend the bracket. If not I may have to come up with another solution

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Texas 42

I did NOT use an "indispensable" tool. I see what you mean about the fulcrum location and it's effect. Someone else will have to tell you if you have to adjust the angle at each course. I used a stick on a pivot that was about 10" long. The pivot made my dome consistently round, but I just eyeballed each bricks 1" or less distance from the pivot. Since my method worked satisfactory, I think yours will be even better.
Still...your pics show a real tight and accurate build. I can appreciate your attention to detail: it will make the final oven quite nice, even with minor adjustments along the way.
-Dino

[geisen]

Re: Texas 42

I used the indispensable tool with great success. My pivot was probably an inch lower than yours.

suggestion: trust the tool but cheat.

Stand the tool straight up.
measure the height from the plywood to the bracket and add a half inch for the plywood.
This is how high high your dome will be if you follow the tool as is.
since your radius is 21 and your pivot is about an 1 1/2 inches off the floor your probably looking at approx 22 1/2 inches.

count the threads per inch on you tool. assuming you want about a 21 inch dome height, you want to shorten the toll by 1 1/2 inches by your last course.

Since you have about 10 courses to go. Multiple the number of threads per inch, by 1 1/2 and divide by 10. probably about 2.

So each course shorten your tool by 2 turns and it will slowly bring each course in.

I did something similar cuz I just wanted a shorter dome height.

regards
greg

[Roadkyng]

Re: Texas 42

Thanks Greg. Gotta dust off the geometry skills....

[Roadkyng]

Re: Texas 42

Got the 1'st chain done today. Really interesting watching the firebricks fiz when you first put them in the soaking bucket. I really like the homebrew mortar. Easy to work with and sets well. I do have a bag of Heatstop 50 I will switch to when I get to the upper chains. I figure it will be nice to have something that sets quick for the bricks that need held in place until they set.

[Roadkyng]

Re: Texas 42

Spent the day on the saw. I have discovered that most of the time building one of these things involves hours on a brick saw getting covered in a fine mist of water and brick dust. Cut several bricks up for chains then moved to the inside arch. Dry fitting everything first then will have a 'mortar day'.