Tom's 42' Pompeii, Penn Valley, Ca.

[cynon767]

Re: Tom's 42' Pompeii, Penn Valley, Ca.

As far as sourcing mortar, I have to second dusty... for refractory mortar, you're best ordering from FB. It was frightfully expensive in the greater Sacramento region. I got my components for the homebrew from Silverado when they had a sale, along with my bricks and blocks and everything. Even at full price, though, they're reasonable. I have an extra bag of lime if you're interested (bought 2, only needed one.)

[trockyh]

Re: Tom's 42' Pompeii, Penn Valley, Ca.

Hi Jamie,
Yes, I'm interested, where are you located?

Tom

[trockyh]

Re: Tom's 42' Pompeii, Penn Valley, Ca.

Got the slab done yesterday, turned out pretty good I think. I've worked with cement before, but nothing structural, and also not mixing my own batch. Took an hour to mix and screed.

Tom

[cynon767]

Re: Tom's 42' Pompeii, Penn Valley, Ca.

In Sacramento. I'll message you.

[trockyh]

Re: Tom's 42' Pompeii, Penn Valley, Ca.

Have the base done and now ready for bricks. I hope to pick them up early next week. We have our grandson this weekend, so we will be very busy with him.
So far this has been a fun project, hope that continues.
Has anyone else woke in the middle of the night and wonder if their oven foundation will hold up when the support is taken out? I know this isn't rocket science, but I've never built anything like this before.

Tom

[cynon767]

Re: Tom's 42' Pompeii, Penn Valley, Ca.

I cannot even count the nights I've laid awake, over every little thing imaginable. Will the arch be strong enough to hold the chimney... will there be enough insulation... did I make the chimney tall enough... should I build an igloo or an enclosure... how should I do it... and so on.

Don't worry- the slab specified in the fb plans is seriously heavy-duty. A slab that thick with that much rebar reinforcement will hold. In case world war three breaks out, duck and cover under the oven.

[DaveW]

Re: Tom's 42' Pompeii, Penn Valley, Ca.

Has anyone else woke in the middle of the night and wonder if their oven foundation will hold up when the support is taken out?
Tom

Oh yea. Just ask my wife. I waited the full 28 days to pull the forms from our support slab. I am still afraid to crawl under it.
Tomorrow I will drop the form under the oven dome. I plan on wearing my motorcycle helmet when I clean inside the oven.
Dave

[james]

Re: Tom's 42' Pompeii, Penn Valley, Ca.

This is a fond memory -- because I built the infamous hanging hearth from Bread Builders. It's pretty funky, with the hearth hanging by rebar and the vermiculite concrete stuck to the bottom of the concrete with crossing nail heads.

I was convinced it was going to fall in and I left the form in place for months! :-)
James

[trockyh]

Re: Tom's 42' Pompeii, Penn Valley, Ca.

I plan on wearing my motorcycle helmet when I clean inside the oven.
Dave

That makes me laugh Dave. 28 days huh? I don't remember reading that, but I will take your word for it and wait till next month to take them out.

Tom

[trockyh]

Re: Tom's 42' Pompeii, Penn Valley, Ca.

I was convinced it was going to fall in and I left the form in place for months! :-)
James

Oh my I don't think I would want to build bridges, I couldn't take the stress!

Tom

[DaveW]

Re: Tom's 42' Pompeii, Penn Valley, Ca.

That makes me laugh Dave. 28 days huh? I don't remember reading that, but I will take your word for it and wait till next month to take them out.

Tom

Hi Tom,
I spend too much time with google.

I don't think you have to wait a month but in theory concrete reaches most of its strength by 28 days. After three days you could probably pull the forms.
Dave

[trockyh]

Re: Tom's 42' Pompeii, Penn Valley, Ca.

Just to make everyone not in sunny Calif. feel better, here is what we woke to this morning. Not much and it won't last long, but it did stop me from working on the oven today.

Tom

[DaveW]

Re: Tom's 42' Pompeii, Penn Valley, Ca.

Just to make everyone not in sunny Calif. feel better, here is what we woke to this morning.

Tom

That does make me feel a little better.

Beautiful photo by the way.

Dave

[dusty]

Re: Tom's 42' Pompeii, Penn Valley, Ca.

Tom,
Are you snowed in or is today still brick-and-saw day?

dusty

[trockyh]

Re: Tom's 42' Pompeii, Penn Valley, Ca.

Hi Dusty,
I'm sorry I didn't call you, I'm not coming down today.
I am working in Folsom tomorrow and hope to make it down 50 to get the brick.

Tom