My indispensible tool (a variation on a FB theme)

[texman]

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

Refab of my IT. The angle iron width should be no more than 2", otherwise it will interfere with adjacent bricks. Also, the throat of the clamp was too deep in the original configuration. Mounting the second angle iron corrects the problem of the clamp. I like the steel of this IT but i think a wooden IT will perform just as well now that i am laying brick. The tool does not need much strength, it is more of measuring tool than anything.

Tracy

[Gulf]

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

No problem, I can't keep up with all the info on this site either

I just set the level up in the back of the oven directly across from the arch. If it is set back far enough, the laser will shine on each side of the arch. I only had a couple of completed rows done at the time so that allowed me to set it up just out side of the dome with a clear line of sight. I used the dome guage to set a brick on each side of the arch and used that reference point to set the height of the laser level. I worked my entry in first and then came back and filled in the remainder after I had cleared the arch. I didn't have to move it around much, I just raised it up every row by adding another brick for it to set on.

Hope this helps.

[Amac]

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

Thanks for that Gulf - yes that was the one I had in mind - just lost track of it ploughing through everything in here so apologies for not attributing. I have one of those things somewhere - impulse buy, god alone knows where it is, I never found a use for it before. I'll root around and try an find it. I guess you have to move it around during the construction of a row?

[Archena]

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

Looks like a 'yes' to me...

[Gulf]

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

Only thing missing is something to set the height consistently as I have noticed many builders have had a dip around the opening arch. Someone has used a laser level. Any other ideas?

[IMG][/IMG]

It works

[Amac]

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

Hi
Weather is still foul here (maybe I've stumbled on the reason why the outdoor WFO is unknown in these parts) so I am spending an inordinate length of time on the IT. My family think I've lost it a bit. I rebuilt it to make it bit more robust and also to narrow the holding angle plate as suggested by Chipster. I also included hinged boards on three sides to help centre it. Still managed to add a clamp holder by chiselling the back of the brick holder and screwing on a slotted aluminium plate. Apart from the side boards the tool is adjustable for any size from 35" to 42" but it should be easy to add small wedges to make up for bigger ovens. This one is designed for a 39" (19.5 radius). I also added a wooden Marker/pencil holder (pictured). Sooty is not part of the tool BTW Only thing missing is something to set the height consistently as I have noticed many builders have had a dip around the opening arch. Someone has used a laser level. Any other ideas?

[Amac]

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

Thanks Chip I hadn't thought of that - I'll make another smaller replacement plate for the the narrower ones. I guess I can just use the clamp without having it physically attached or use spacers for the smaller cuts.
Aidan

[mrchipster]

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

Hi
Well at least I managed to put some version of the IT together - heavily borrowed from JCG31 except that I used a wooden (offcut from old oak floorboard) support angle plate and just screwed the plastic grip from the quick release clamp onto the back of the plate so I can slip the clamp on and off easily. The anchor end is an old castor. I can adjust it about a half and inch - this could be better with a longer threaded bolt.
Main advantage is that I was able to avoid any need for welding. I used wood as I couldn't find a suitabe metal plate - but I found that with a T-bolt on one side and nut washer for tightening on the other side made attaching the threaded bolt quite simple.
The only item I bought was the clamp. I did a quick test on one of the half bricks with the clamp attachaed and it seemed to work OK, Time will tell.
Aidan

The only thing I see that I might change on your design i is make the angled brick holder block narrower, as your chain height increases the bricks get much narrower at the inside of the oven and the wide brick holder will get in the way.

I cut mine down in width as I moved up because of this narrowing effect.

Chip

[Amac]

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

Hi
Well at least I managed to put some version of the IT together - heavily borrowed from JCG31 except that I used a wooden (offcut from old oak floorboard) support angle plate and just screwed the plastic grip from the quick release clamp onto the back of the plate so I can slip the clamp on and off easily. The anchor end is an old castor. I can adjust it about a half and inch - this could be better with a longer threaded bolt.
Main advantage is that I was able to avoid any need for welding. I used wood as I couldn't find a suitabe metal plate - but I found that with a T-bolt on one side and nut washer for tightening on the other side made attaching the threaded bolt quite simple.
The only item I bought was the clamp. I did a quick test on one of the half bricks with the clamp attachaed and it seemed to work OK, Time will tell.
Aidan

[Archena]

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

Welcome aboard!

[Amac]

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

Hi
I'm a newbie on here and this is my fourth attempt at a post - all previous attempts have just given me a message that the post is awaiting moderators approval??
I love this thread and the opportunities for ingenuity and evolution of ideas the "indispensible tool" offers.
While reading this thread and I had been poking around the garage looking for suitable items and had found some old castor wheels but had drawn a blank on how to connect anything to the wheel until I came back and a few posts later saw that tfasz had already solved the problem by cutting off the wheel - simple but brilliant!!
One small improvement if I may be so cheeky as to suggest, and perhaps it has already been done - this: the castor wheel axles are always offset from the centre by 1/4" or so. I suggest that rather than reuse the old wheel axle holes, instead new ones should be drilled which can be absolute centre. I have already started on the IT but am still awaiting delivery of a saw!

[GianniFocaccia]

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

I've seen miniature magnetic bubble levels that RV owners can stick to their range hoods. Maybe you can add one of these before you patent your MIT!

[mrchipster]

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

Interesting observation, Chip. Did the bricks on the first few brick courses tip outwards or sideways?

thanks for the complement. The bricks tipped sideways the clamp held them in line the other directions but because the IT could swivel on it's axis the bricks could tip. I was not paying close enough attention to this as I thought that tapping the bricks down on the previous chain would keep them perfectly level... I guess I was wrong.

Chip

[GianniFocaccia]

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

I used FB mortar and because it is so stiff some of the first few chains a few of bricks the bricks tipped a little because the tool could rotate

Interesting observation, Chip. Did the bricks on the first few brick courses tip outwards or sideways?

BTW, I was initially really curious to find out how your magnetic IT was gonna work out and I think you've answered that, elegantly. By far the most advanced innovation in IT design yet. It's cool to see new ideas to ancient problems.
John

[mrchipster]

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

Chip,
How did your design work out?

Jim

Nevermind, just found your build. I love the mutiple arm capability!!!

I have now removed the floor protector and am done with the IT. It worked even better than I expected except for one thing. I used FB mortar and because it is so stiff some of the first few chains a few of bricks the bricks tipped a little because the tool could rotate. I think if I used heatstop this would not have been a problem because it is much softer and the brick joints would have been smaller.

I was very happy with the ability to use two heads at a time this was a great time saver I think. And the ability to make alternate tools and interchange them in a second was a real bonus.
Chip