Eric's WFO build

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Eric, your inner arch looks super! It looks much better than what the 3/4" center keystone would have been. Just a little bit of mortar and the right cuts seemed to have have given you a solid looking arch.
Are you moving on to the 1st dome rings next? Can't wait to see it.

[eprante]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Thanks Keith,
It was my father in laws idea. He is the manager of all things square, level and true for my project. He is always there with a quiet comment,"Eric, why don't you look at that from over here". Sure enough I have put something in at some odd angle. It is great he is retired and nearly always available to help when I can work on the oven.
Eric

[kebwi]

Re: Eric's WFO build

I love that. It's exactly like the indispensible tool, except for arches instead of domes. As this forum steadily archives these ideas, future oven builders will have an easier and easier challenge.

[eprante]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Inner arch completed.
After a dismal failure on the first attempt, the second try was successful. The first time I didn't pay close attention to the size of the gaps and hadn't marked the form so when we got to the top there was only room for a 3/4" keystone. The addition of the radial arm ( my father in laws idea) to keep everything lined up as we went and it went together easy-breezy. That feels good!!
Eric

[eprante]

Re: Eric's WFO build

After a couple of glasses of wine I'm thinking I can live with it. It is the inside arch, and the outer arch cuts can be made in one pass. Nobody except the people on this blog are going to see the inner arch unless they stick their heads in the oven opening( not likely according to sjmeff).

I'll see how I feel about it this week. Thanks for the encouragement.
\
Eric

[kebwi]

Re: Eric's WFO build

You can live with it. Charge forward, never look back, fix all mistakes with mortar!

[eprante]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Soldier course mortared together and first attempt at cutting arch bricks. The two passes necessary to cut the bricks makes it difficult to get good clean straight cuts. I 'll sleep on it and look at again to see if I can live with it.
Eric

[eprante]

Re: Eric's WFO build

John,
I think you are asking if my landing and exterior arch will flare outward. NO- the arch itself is intimidating enough to me, without having to increase its radius as I move toward the opening. Nice job on your oven.
Eric

[John K]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Hi Eric

I also mortared in the first coarse only that my first coarse sat on the insulation rather than the firebrick floor.

Have you put much thought as to whether you will cut a splay off your soldier coarse or leave it square?

Looking forward to your build

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Now it is on to a new skill to learn-mortaring bricks. Just about the time I get it down I will be done with it.

I had to learn too.... It was a lot of fun and I truly enjoyed it,,, and this summer I will already know how to lay brick when i build my outdoor fireplace or fire pit... havent decided yet but I'm leaning towards the fireplace
Cheers
Mark

[eprante]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Thanks for the feedback Mark. I think I will mortar the base of the arch but probably not the bottom of the soldiers. Now it is on to a new skill to learn-mortaring bricks. Just about the time I get it down I will be done with it. I am loving this project.
Eric

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Re: Eric's WFO build

eprante,
I did mortar my arch base down, I can tell you I havent had any problems.. I also mortared my soldier course down.. Didnt have any problems with that either in over a year... IMHO either way is probably fine and its a matter of choice and what you feel more comfortable with..

Mark

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Re: your question on mortaring or not the base of the inner arch:
I looked at sjmeff pics too, my guess is, he did not but it's hard to tell. Since your arch is a semi-circle does it not attach to the dome for the 1st 8"-9" like those of us who have a 3-4 brick vertical rise before the arch-over? Keith (kebwi) I think did a semi circle, I wonder what he did?

On straight sided arch walls, there's lots of spots for mortar connecting it to the dome and I did not mortar to the base. Others did and it seems to no detriment (ie: " don't mortar to the floor so it can heat-expand easier"). Since you are arching right away, maybe it should be mortared .

I guess I'm just not sure, we'll what others recommend. Cheers, Dino

[kebwi]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Yes there is 5 inches of perlite/portland mixed at 6:1 ratio. I formed a 4 inch well when I poured the structural layer then poured the sides up to 8 inches.
Eric

Phew! I was worried for a second from your first photo.

[kebwi]

Re: Eric's WFO build

Interesting build concept - is that bar in the middle a guide for the bricks?

Search the forums for "indispensible tool".

[Self-plug: check my own thread for a version of this tool, but lots of other people have created similar devices].