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

[trockyh]

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

Thanks for the reply Dave, I will do that.

Tom

[DaveW]

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

I went ahead and mortared my soldiers to the surface. I figure the insulating slab is relatively weak and will allow the soldiers to thrust outward if necessary. My oven is new but I have had my dome white hot and no cracks so far. However, to be on the safe side you could probably use a fireclay/sand mix with just a bit of mortar under your soldiers.
Dave

Edit: Disregard the part about a our oven being crack free.

[trockyh]

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

I hope I don't need that many.
I first cut the entry bricks with no flair. Then I decided to
flair it from 20" to 24", that is why the tapered bricks on the sides.
I'm not sure how well the soldiers will fit. I'm thinking I will taper
some if not all. Also, I'm not sure about mortaring them to the floor.
I remember reading that they aren't mortared to the floor, just to each
other. But the insulating slab isn't smooth enough to get them level.
Any ideas?

Thanks,
Tom

[DaveW]

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

Tom,
Your floor looks great! I had to go back for bricks twice but I did a lousy job of reusing the scraps. With the extra floor bricks on edge and the double wide entry I used 300 bricks in all.

Dave

[dusty]

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

Man that sucks! Hate to see such a valueable resource come to an end. But I guess it makes some sense. Probably cheaper for them to sell a whole pallet for a bit less ( seconds included), than to pay someone to sort them so they could sell them at a premium.
I am not sure if I explained that right, but in short, it makes sense.

Keep up the good work.

dusty

[trockyh]

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

Thanks dusty, I did call and after talking with them a few times, Jeff left me a message on Tuesday saying they weren't saving the seconds anymore as they don't have the labor to sort them. So, I called around and found the best price and then asked a local home center if they would match the price and they did. Only good thing is I didn't have to drive very far. I bought two hundred and will buy more if needed.
Thank you for giving me the info, just didn't build my oven soon enough.

Tom

[dusty]

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

Very cool! Now the real fun starts.
I hope you made it to Muddox and spoke to Jeff.

dusty

[trockyh]

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

Finally got my brick and started laying it out and cutting yesterday. I was not sure how to do the entry, but after looking at Dino's and Greg Geisen's, I think it will work. It's not as perfect and pretty as their's but it should work. I hope to cut the soldiers tomorrow if it doesn't rain.


Tom

[trockyh]

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

That is good news. As soon as he has them, I will be down to pick them up.

Thanks again dusty,
Tom

[dusty]

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

Cool!
I guess the good news is that they still offer them. That's why I called in the first place.
I got to thinking that it HAS been a couple of years since I got mine - what if they don't even have seconds anymore?
But he expects to have some soon and they are still 30 cents a piece!

dusty

[trockyh]

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

dusty,
Hey, thanks for calling Jeff. I will check the price, but I'm thinking I will wait. Too good a price, besides I am back to work for a couple weeks, so really don't have much time. Oh and it snowed and it is to rain most of the week.
I will be in touch.

Thanks again,
Tom

[dusty]

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

Tom,
I just called H.C. Muddox and talked to Jeff. I wanted to make sure he had some seconds so you didn't waste a trip. He doesn't. But, he said they just did a firebrick firing and he thinks he will end up with a couple of pallets from that. Said to check back in two weeks! I know two weeks in an eternity when you are in full building-mode, but better to know now than drive all the way down here to find out.
I told him where you live and he mentioned a building supply place in Grass Valley where you could buy them at full price.
If you can't wait, maybe you could buy just a few to get started.
Anyway, sorry to get you all worked up for a two week wait.

dusty

[dusty]

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

No sweat.
I just thought you might be snowed in. Talked to a gut this morning who was snowed in at Red Halk (indian casino around Placerville) last night!

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

[dusty]

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

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

dusty