Eric's WFO build

[Raffy]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Hi Eric,

No worries about the ledge. You are actually on the right track. Just place half-bricks next to the inner arch to create your ledge. The arch form you created is perfect for making that ledge.

Raffy

First Pic: No ledge
Second Pic: With Ledge

[eprante]

Re: Eric's WFO build

I just realized I didn't leave a ledge on the inner arch to put the bricks for the flue transition to the anchor plate. I guess I will have to create a ledge-hmmm, I will plan better with my next oven, but I can make it work.
E

[sjmeff]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Haha! Glad to hear that the pictures were helpful. Building the arches was sometimes frustrating, but for me, also one of the most satisfying parts of the build.

Can't wait to see the rest of your build take shape!

S

[eprante]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Thank you sensei. I had pictures of your arches for my guide laying next to the arch form to make sure I had it right ( and I still had to rebuild the left side because it got away from me). Now if they hold together through the curing process it will be awesome.
Eric

[sjmeff]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Eric - the arches look fantastic. Really nice brick work. Congrats!

S

[eprante]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Finished up the outer arches and flue opening this morning. Those arches are like 2 year olds, you have to watch them every second or they go their own way. Now to figure out the anchor plate chimney mount.
Eric

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Hey Eric,
Your oven is looking great !!! Love the arch form.. Hope to see more pics soon...

Cheers
Mark

[Raffy]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Well I am not going at Raffy's pace (that dude is on fire, and doing it all with an angle grinder- I am impressed. Makes me have a guilty conscience for using a HF saw) but I am on schedule for pizza on my Birthday 4/24.

Thanks for the compliment, Eric. I would have preferred to use a wet tile saw but I was limited by a small budget (I even got the grinder on sale). Your flawless arch and clean cut brick work are evidence that the tile saw is a necessary and safer (remember my foot injury with the grinder, hehehe) tool to have. Thankfully the mortar is very forgiving and conforms to help the brick fit into place, not to mention, hide any of my domes many flaws.

Glad to hear you are on schedule for your birthday! Advanced greetings to you! I was so happy to see the keystone in place. I can imagine how fulfilled you are in closing the dome.

I envy your arch. Soooo beautiful! I don't doubt the arch tool you developed will be utilized by future builders. Keep up the good work. Regards to the father-in-law and the missus.

Raffy

[eprante]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Well I am not going at Raffy's pace (that dude is on fire, and doing it all with an angle grinder- I am impressed. Makes me have a guilty conscience for using a HF saw) but I am on schedule for pizza on my Birthday 4/24. Ordered 3 rolls of FB blanket this week, and a burner to do the low and slow cure. Closed the dome yesterday afternoon. My father in law, the arch form maker extraordinaire converted the inner arch forms to exterior arch forms by adding 1X1 slats. So tomorrow I hope to finish the outer arch/ flue, and maybe the chimney transition. Dino I am going to try and copy your fancy arch flue transition ( imitation is the sincerest form of flattery), because it is slick.
My wife is in traffic school tomorrow so I have a free pass.

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Eric's WFO build

I cured without the blanket for 4 days. At the end of the cure-week, I was having trouble getting and keeping the temps high, so then I laid a couple of pieces of insulation over the dome (they are heavy, so they do stay put) and then my temps were quite easy to get up to 700 degrees. I also laid the insulation on it 4 days in because I got all the surface cracks and I bigger crack so I wanted to see if any smoke would seep out and stain the white insulation (it didn't).

I would think that if you are going to use a low temp propane heater, I would leave off the insulation to help dry the oven out for a few days. But if you find it hard to get over 500 deg, then it's time to insulate.
-Dino

[eprante]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Thanks Dino, it is about 8 inches across so too big for the keystone just yet. I think I will put in one more ring of smaller bricks after smoothing off some of the ledges I have with the grinder(I know not a true masons tool, but I am hardly a true mason). With the disk mounted on top of the Indispensible tool I can lay them in dry and figure it out, then cut the keystone. I was round until the last 2 rings, then it got away from me. Hopefully with daylight savings I can get it done this week. My father in law is finishing up the outer arch forms( he has been a ton of help) so we can get to that next weekend.

Did you cure your oven before putting the insulating blanket on or after?

Eric

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Eric, your keystone hole looks great. Really 'fancy' angle cuts, well done. OK, it's not a perfect circle, but mine was similar. I did it like kebwi says, tracing on paper for both the top and bottom. I used the angle grinder a lot until my keystone fit, dry. But, you are in your "prime" of this brick-cutting experience, so you're forced to take advantage of the skills you've built up.

Oh, if your a better cook than mason, well I can't wait to see your bread!

Good luck, Dino

[Raffy]

Re: Eric's WFO build

NOW WHAT!!!
I suspect there is going to be some judicious use of the angle grinder for the next set of bricks- just a hunch.

I am close to closing it.

Eric

Don't forget my angle grinder experience. Hehehe I don't want the same thing to happen to you.

I'm so happy that you are so close to putting in the keystone! My congratulations. Before you know it, you'll be baking bread in no time. If you have a good foccacia recipe to share, please do! Hehehe.

[kebwi]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Here's a link to a post with a photo showing how I designed the fit for my two-part keystone:

http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/21/3...html#post75474

The salient photo from that post is reattached to this post.

I pushed a piece of paper up against the inside of the hole and traced its shape from the outside (thanks dad), then held the paper over the top of the outside, leaned in and traced up through from the inside. This gave me two footprints indicating how the keystone is shaped at the top and bottom. Determine how many pieces you need by how many it takes to cover the larger of the two footprints (obviously the outer footprint, duh). Trace those footprints onto the relevant bricks and use them as guides for shaving the bricks down to the perfect fit.

I did all my cuts on the tile saw btw since they were simple straight cuts. I didn't use an angle grinder on any bricks until I needed to make a smooth concave curve around the stove pipe. The keystone is all flat straight cuts, thus easy to do on the tile saw.

[trockyh]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Hey Eric, I remember being at this point and thinking the same, but I was so close and mortar is our friend. Good job, you will be cooking soon!!

Tom