It's okay to premix large homebrew batches, right?

[kebwi]

This is probably a ridiculous question, but, it's fine to premix Portland, lime, sand, and fireclay in large batches and then make "wet" mixes in smaller batches as needed, right?

...as opposed to mixing everything in small batches every time I want to do some work.

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Re: It's okay to premix large homebrew batches, right?

Sounds like a good idea,, Then you would have a good consistency from batch to batch..

and only have to add water as needed

Good Idea,,,

Cheers
Mark

[larrya1049]

Re: It's okay to premix large homebrew batches, right?

That's what I just did and it worked real well.
Larry

[Tscarborough]

Re: It's okay to premix large homebrew batches, right?

As long as you are using oven dried (bagged) sand it is fine. Normal pit sand has enough moisture to cause a set.

[Lars]

Re: It's okay to premix large homebrew batches, right?

That's what I did too.

Actually, I started my oven with a couple of high test buckets ( with just what was left in the bottom) of kiln pre-mix --- which does not work at all for a WFO, by the way. From basically the beginning, I used those buckets to premix my 3:2:1:0.5 mix and the rubber gasket kept it perfectly dry.

I usually mixed up everything in a hod, then transferred to buckets. Worked great.

Lars

ps. Made 4 loaves of sourdough this afternoon, pizza last weekend.

[cecilB]

Re: It's okay to premix large homebrew batches, right?

I use 5 gallon buckets from wheat storage - I mix small dry batches of Lars's dry mix, dump 'em into the five gallon bucket until it's full of the dry mix, and use a little at a time to lay bricks. Hopefully today will be an oven working day!

Lars, how's the sourdough going? I cannot wait to get to the cooking point!

Cecelia

[Lars]

Re: It's okay to premix large homebrew batches, right?

Cecilia,
I have been talking about the sourdough exploits in the thread below.

I am eating some right now. ( four loaves, white sourdough, yesterday afternoon) The 'sourness' and the 'loftiness' are much better. I let the sponge sit out overnight, then baked them then next afternoon. As usual, I could have used more heat.

The smoke really flavors the bread. I know I could have gotten it hotter, then taken out the fire before baking, but... oh well.

L.


http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/11/s...html#post69128

[nissanneill]

Re: It's okay to premix large homebrew batches, right?

Cecelia

I mix small dry batches of Lars's dry mix, dump 'em into the five gallon bucket until it's full of the dry mix, and use a little at a time to lay bricks.

This is probably what I should have done when building mine, but as usual, I mixed a builders wheelbarrow of mortar up (as I would normally do, expecting to use it all up quite quickly), and found that I not only laid the full soldier course, but almost 3 chords before I used it all.
Next morning I cut and laid the hearth and made a slightly smaller mix to complete the dome. All done in 2 days! A very quick way to get your oven built! Luckily it was quite cool and raining and the mortar didn't set off qickly on me, but then I would have to work even faster as I don't like to add water to keep the mix workable.

Neill

[kebwi]

Re: It's okay to premix large homebrew batches, right?

Wait, you built your oven from foundation board to keystone in two days?

[nissanneill]

Re: It's okay to premix large homebrew batches, right?

Yep, that's right, don't sound so surprised. They could be done in less time than that even.
Check out my build and look at the dates of the postings which were done on the day the pictures were taken of the day's work.
I poured the foundation and topped vermiculite on 22 and 23 May 07, built the front arch, chimney void and oven entrance on 26 May07 and built the complete dome on 2 and 3 June 07. I also cut and put in the hearth bricks on the Sunday morning, 3 June 07. Not a problem. It was even raining so I set up a tarp and light and worked into the night until around 9pm. That was when my back was killing me, but it was fun.
All the detail and pictures on my thread. Check it out.
It can be done and I would build my next Pompeii dome in a single but long day.

Neill

NB,
the Saturday 2 June was only a half day as I worked in the morning elsewhere!

[kebwi]

Re: It's okay to premix large homebrew batches, right?

If I can get my foundation board cut to shape, get the floor bricks cut to the foot print, build my envisioned variant on the indispensable tool (design and photos forthcoming), and heal my darn ripped lat (cause unknown, but hefting 100lb bags of cement and sand seems highly suspect), I might just start this damn thing.

I would have LOVED to finish it for Thanksgiving, but that really doesn't seem like a viable option anymore, unless cutting and laying bricks turns out to be a task that can be picked at on weekday evenings instead of only on weekends.

Otherwise, maybe in time for Christmanukkah.

Here's to hoping...

[Lars]

Re: It's okay to premix large homebrew batches, right?

Hey Keith,
Great to see you are making a lot of progress! Had a look at your 'thread' just now. How did I miss that you had started!

L.

[kebwi]

Re: It's okay to premix large homebrew batches, right?

I'm venturing off-topic of this thread by replying, but thank you very much Lars. I want to post a detailed description of my latest dome model. You'd be proud; I intend to incorporate your assymetrical trapezoids into the "soldier" course, a phrase I put in quotes because a multi-layered horizontally laid soldier course is not really a soldier course at all by any conventional definition...but anyway...

I need to post the model and explain my design. Maybe today.

Cheers!

[cecilB]

Re: It's okay to premix large homebrew batches, right?

Yes, well, I had hoped to get my dome done by the middle of October - or a little before - in time for a few birthdays in the fam. I am resigned to the fact that it won't even be done by Thanksgiving...which doesn't matter, anyway, since we must be out of town for that entire Thanksgiving vacation. I think we're expecting nicer weather tomorrow, so hopefully I'll get to work on it a little.

Cecelia

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Re: It's okay to premix large homebrew batches, right?

unless cutting and laying bricks turns out to be a task that can be picked at on weekday evenings instead of only on weekends.

hey keb... I did that... when I got home from work I would lay one ring, then another ring the next night... etc,,,,