My indispensible tool (a variation on a FB theme)

[kebwi]

Re: My indispensible tool (a variation on a FB theme)

All brick-placement tools are "poor-man's" tools. It's not like you can pick one up at Lowe's with a name-brand stamped on it. Mine was wood too. The really cool ones on FB are welded. Would that I could...

[altamont]

Re: My indispensible tool (a variation on a FB theme)

I used a 'poor-mans' version of the universal tool. It consisted of two items:
- A wooden stick with a notch at one end. The distance from the deep
end of the notch to the other end was equal to the inside radius of my
oven (21 inches giving me a 42 inch inside diameter)
- An old 1/4 inch drill bit. I already had a masonry bit on hand that made
1/4 inch holes. I located the center of my hearch and drilled a hole about
1 1/2 inches deep. I stuck the drill bit in, leaving the rest of it sticking out.

I then seated the notch end of the wood stick around the drill bit. I used this as a gauge while setting each brick. Easy for the lower courses. I used Sairset for most of my hot-face bedding mortar - Sairset takes a good hard set in just a minute or so and brick did not slip. I didn't have to provide any support until by last 4 - 5 rings - and I just used whatever sticks were available.
I used part of a ripped bag of some refractory castable to cap the dome, using a plastic garbage can lid as a form inside (pressed up from below with a number of sticks).

[jcg31]

Re: My indispensible tool (a variation on a FB theme)

I have relocated to temporary housing in California and left my oven and all my tools behind for the time being. I also am not getting to my Private Messages on a routine basis so for those who have waited for a reply, my apologies. I will remake the offer to create tools for those who would like them once I am settled.

Thanks,
Jim

[cnicholson]

Re: My indispensible tool (a variation on a FB theme)

This may be too good to be true...after hours of searching, drawing up sketches and putting together a parts list would it be possible to be next in line for the "indispensable" kit floating around SD? I'm in Carlsbad and have gotten the base up and have actually switched my design from a barrel vault type to a dome type oven...many thanks and I think this site could be used for addiction therapy...although none addiction would be traded for another...

[kebwi]

Re: My indispensible tool (a variation on a FB theme)

Off topic, but regards to the skiing weather out here: Isn't it supposed to warm up tomorrow? I guess we're all used to hitting the slopes in the rain, but still a little of a disappointment after so much good snow. I guess we should be thankful to have the slopes open at all...

I don't know. My T-weekend 'boarding will be at Whistler. I'm not sure if the weather up there is different than here.

[papavino]

Re: My indispensible tool (a variation on a FB theme)

Off topic, but regards to the skiing weather out here: Isn't it supposed to warm up tomorrow? I guess we're all used to hitting the slopes in the rain, but still a little of a disappointment after so much good snow. I guess we should be thankful to have the slopes open at all...

[kebwi]

Re: My indispensible tool (a variation on a FB theme)

Gosh, we're all in Seattle! I'm building, rain or no rain. I have a fairly large tarp suspended over my work area so when it isn't windy (and that isn't always) I can work in a light drizzle.

I know what you mean about ski season. I'll miss virtually all of Thanksgiving weekend snowboarding. The only oven work I'll do is Thursday morning.

[tfasz]

Re: My indispensible tool (a variation on a FB theme)

Yes - what @papavino said.

In reading others comments it seemed like the clamp was not a necessity. I'm hoping that the brick/mortar below will hold it vertically while the tool is mostly for keeping it from sliding off the brick below it and into the oven.

I'll let you know how it works out in a few months ... ;-) (I've been prepping in the garage and hope to get going outside once our Seattle rains die down and ski season is over).

[kebwi]

Re: My indispensible tool (a variation on a FB theme)

I've only set one course so far, so I'm not an expert. My experience was that the clamp helped prevent the brick from sinking if, say, the mortar under it was of either insufficient volume or density. In the former case, I could easily pack more mortar in after lowing the brick and discovering the cavity but it helped to have the brick held at proper position so I could use both hands to add additional mortar. In the latter case (probably a symptom of slightly too wet mortar), a few minutes with the clamp would let the mortar set up so the brick wouldn't sink when I finally released it.

I found it helpful. I'm not saying anyone else is required to do it that way.

Cheers!

[papavino]

Re: My indispensible tool (a variation on a FB theme)

Do you really need to clamp the brick to the bracket? My bricks were set in place quickly enough by hand to not really need a bracket of any sort. I just used string and a digital level. It seems that tfasz's wooden indispensible tool will work just fine sans clamp.

[kebwi]

Re: My indispensible tool (a variation on a FB theme)

@tfasz:

How are you going to clamp the brick to the bracket? Do you have a long enough bar clamp? I'm guessing you would need a 12"-18" bar clamp for that...which certainly exists. I'm just saying...

More power to wood-builders. I thought I was the only one scared off from welding.

Cheers!

[tfasz]

Re: My indispensible tool (a variation on a FB theme)

Having a guide for building the dome was such a great idea that I wanted to figure out how to build one out of wood and commonly available parts from the hardware store. This was the result of my trip to Lowes and about 30 minutes of work.

I grabbed a swiveling wheel ($1.50), cut out the wheel's axle with a hacksaw, cut a piece of strong scrap hardwood (cherry) to just fit inside the base. Then I drilled holes in the top and bottom wood piece to fit the threaded rod ($2.00). I then drilled a hole through the bottom and threaded a screw and nut through the base ($0.50). Because the wood fits snugly in the base it holds itself in the air quite easily. I then screwed the wheel base onto the 3/4" plywood sitting on the oven floor.

The threaded rod works great as I can extend/shorten the length of the tool. I'm thinking this will be useful as the dome gets higher. If I had it to do over again I would probably go with a slightly thicker rod - probably 1/2" instead of the 3/8" I got. I'm not too concerned about it supporting a brick or two, but it seems like I can bend it with my hands a bit too easily.

Can't wait to put this to work!

[kebwi]

Re: My indispensible tool (a variation on a FB theme)

Since this seems to be the central thread for this issue, I thought I would repost my photos and description here.

My brick-placement tool is adjustable so as to permit a dome of any curvature while maintaining alignment of the upper edge of one course with the lower edge of the next course up. To do this with arbitrary curvature requires adjustment of two independent parameters: the distance from the center of the floor to the point of intersection between the floor and the brick's radial axis, and the distance along the radial axis from the floor to the inner face of the brick.

However, since I have no welding confidence (or tools or experience), I built my tool out of wood instead of relying on the common (and far more elegant and perhaps precise) FB technique of using metal. C'est la vie.

I've only set one course so far, but the tool worked nicely. I don't anticipate any problems on the subsequent courses...assuming the upper and lower edges of the adjacent courses align as intended.

Cheers!

[geisen]

Re: My indispensible tool (a variation on a FB theme)

Brillant addition to a brilliant idea. Having built a WFO with it, I would keep the clamp on the end. It makes keeping all the angles easy.
regards
greg

[backinoz]

Re: My indispensible tool (a variation on a FB theme)

Thought I would share my variation of the indispensable tool with what I think is the next step in innovation.
For the universal joint I have used a magnetic door stop from the local hardware store. The shaft is made from some dowel and it all screws together. The advantages for this design is

• Able to be constructed with no welding
• Allows infinite accurate movement in all directions without sticking or catching that you would get with hinges or wire
• The end has a spring so if clearance is required the spring will allow ~2-3mm clearance
• Can be removed easily at the end of the day or to attach a pen etc. Can be removed without getting into the oven.

The base just screws to the plywood in the oven. (more pictures when I start)