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

[Dino_Pizza]

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

No, not at all: 12" high inner arch is perfect . A final dome height of anywhere from 19"-21" will work out fine. You made your arch with such a nice arc, it "appeared" a little lower than that. It's funny that photos can alter how things look.
You're doing fine. Your domes looking great. Keep it up. Cheers, Dino

[trockyh]

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

Thanks Dino,
The arch is 12 inches. Is that too low? My wife made the paper templet which I used to make the support. Let me know if this will work as I can change it now, before I tie the rings into it.
Thanks again,
Tom

[Dino_Pizza]

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

Good work Tom, beautiful rainbow AND arch.

So what's the height of that inner-arch you just finished? It's attractively low (not real "archy"). I like it.

Just asking so you can adjust the final height of the dome. It's best to keep the opening height at 63-65% of the dome height (using that as a max, the key is not to have an overly tall dome) so you can use that retained brick heat to cook your pizzas which will be about 19"-21" or less below it depending on your inner-arch height.

Thanks again for the mountain/rainbow pics. Us city folk who don't get out much really enjoyed it . Thanks, Dino

[trockyh]

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

Worked on the inside arch today and I think it turned out pretty good. Sure hope it holds up.
While I was setting the bricks I looked up to see a rainbow and the sunset on the mountains. Had to stop to take pictures. Enjoy! Couldn't get all of it in one shot.

Tom

[trockyh]

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

Les, thanks for pointing that out. Edit: this afternoon I went out and looked at it and I think the wide angle lens on my camera makes it look like the bricks are lined up, but the are actually staggered for the most part.

This is my first attempt at brick and mortar and I know they need to be staggered but somehow as I'm laying them I wasn't paying attention to that, just trying to get them lined up and at the right angle.

Dave thanks, we are blessed with a beautiful view of snow capped mountains and the valley below us has farms and horse ranches. It's nice to see the snow, but we rarely get any here. Had a few inches back in December that was gone the next day.

Tom

[DaveW]

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

Tom,
I love the backdrop to your photos. Absolutely gorgeous.
dave

[Les]

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

Tom - looking good. Just a heads up, try and keep your brick off bond. The general consensus is that it will help to avoid (minimize) the cracks.

Les...

[trockyh]

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

Didn't get to work on oven much the past couple days. Had other things that took priority.
But I did get the second ring mostly done and the start of the third.
Don't think I will get time tomorrow, but hopefully this week as the weather is to be nice.

Tom

[trockyh]

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

Metalmaster,
PM sent

Tom

[metalmaster]

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

I find the fire clay is hard to mix into the other ingredients as it is wet from the saw.
Tom

if your going to be in the antelope area you are welcome to a
bag of fire clay.

[trockyh]

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

Got about 3/4 of the soldiers done today. I have a little stair stepping with a few of them, hope the first ring takes care of it. Feeling better about mixing the mortar and spreading it onto the bricks.
If the weather is good tomorrow I will finish the soldiers and start cutting the first ring.

Tom

[trockyh]

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

Got home from work and mixed a small batch of mortar. I find the fire clay is hard to mix into the other ingredients as it is wet from the saw.
Only had time to mortar a few bricks as it started to rain. I need to set up a tent to work under. (Adding to my list of things to do)

Well it's dark out, time to lock up the chickens for the night.

Tom

[trockyh]

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

Dino and Dave, thank you for your input. I got all the soldiers cut and the front entry cut today. I did a little trimming on the floor and I feel better about it. I'm going with 3 bricks for the front and figuring with the mortar they will be 9 inches high.
I'm back to work tomorrow (a good thing) so not sure when I will get back to the oven, but the next step is to start with the mortar. I'm doing the home brew, wish me luck.
Dino, I'm putting them around the floor.
Tom

[DaveW]

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

Tom,
My thought was that I wanted each soldier solidly footed on the surface to support the dome.

dave

Edit: I see Dino already chimed in with an expert opinion

[Dino_Pizza]

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

Tom, I didn't mortar the bottoms of the soldiers just the sides and my soldiers sat on the white FB insulation foam that had some kinda uneven edges due to how I cut and fit them but made up for any very slight unevenness on my 1st course. I don't think a bit of mortar will hurt but don't rely on it for a straight soldier course. There will be a lot of weight on them. Since you're buttering both faces of the soldier and eventually the tops, that 1st ring of soldier bricks is VERY strong.
Your herringbone floor looks great. I'm glad you went to 24" wide at the front landing. By the time you have to cut bricks for the front arch and upper transition, you'll have had practice on the dome and inner arch so it won't be hard at all.
Great job, can't wait to see the soldiers. Are building ON the herringbone floor or AROUND the floor? Good luck, Dino