cobblerdaves build

[cobblerdave]

Re: cobblerdaves build

Gudday
Sorry must have to much cement on my fingers the I phone is not uploading
Regards dave

[oasiscdm]

Re: cobblerdaves build

HI Dave

I was in Info Tech from 1980 - 2006 and hate anything Apple with a vengeance. It appears that Iphone [proprietry not open] doesn't rotate photos. . No matter I saved it and rotated it for you.

I like that.... looks great Dave what color mortar will you use? I'd almost go with white cement/grout. Woops didn't see the buttress with grey mortar.

[Bec1208]

Re: cobblerdaves build

Dave, looks good. What are you using to set the brick veneer? Bruce

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: cobblerdaves build

CD,

That brick veneers is going to look very nice, amazing how a flat brick can curve . I have been quite enjoying watch the Aussie and New Zealand builds and how creative you guys are with procurring materials and dealing with such high material cost.

[cobblerdave]

Re: cobblerdaves build

Gudday

Let me introduce to you 2 things that have helped me in building my oven. I have to explain I am actually "masonry impaired".
The first is a pointing trowel it's 1/2 the size of a proper trowel. We're only laying 1/2 bricks so its perfect. The other good thing is the round end is just made for picking up a small piece of mortar to poke into the gape you have missed.
The secound is ordinary vinegar ... Yep the stuff you can steal out of the wife's pantry. An old Italian bricklayer use to say "fingers are for picking noses not playing with the mortar". You and I both know that doesn't happen. I don't pick my nose! But I have been known to get mortar on my hands. And it stings... Pour the vinegar over your lime stung hands and it takes that sting away( sorry still as rough as sandpaper)
Regards dave

[BOOMERS WFO]

Re: cobblerdaves build

Dave,

2 great ideas. I wish I new about the vinegar. Didn't seem to matter whether wearing rubber gloves, leather or no gloves, your skin still seems to get affected by the mortar. The number of times my skin peeled during the build - and I still don't have soft and supple skin To think women pay a fortune for having layers of skin removed!!!

Cheers

Craig

[brickie in oz]

Re: cobblerdaves build

Dave, I must say you have staminia, build started in 2010 and you are still going....

[stonecutter]

Re: cobblerdaves build

CB, I am not saying this with the intent to correct you, but that trowel you have is called a gauging trowel....normally used for plaster. I'm sure you will find the rounded tip helpful when working out a bucket.

[cobblerdave]

Re: cobblerdaves build

CB, I am not saying this with the intent to correct you, but that trowel you have is called a gauging trowel....normally used for plaster. I'm sure you will find the rounded tip helpful when working out a bucket.

Gudday
No problems.....I learned something ......that's always a good thing
Regards Dave

[Greenman]

Re: cobblerdaves build

Similarly to you Dave I found one of those round nose trowels and found it to be a very good thing. Fell upon it by accident in the best tradition of the novice.

It worked very well for me for getting mortar mixed in a rectangular dish and pushing mortar into joints. The learning curve about how well mortar wears out fingertips was very steep as well, no nose picking involved. Material for Sticky No 1?

[RichC]

Re: cobblerdaves build

Excellent looking Dave, I'm starting to feel really eager to get mine moving

[cobblerdave]

Re: cobblerdaves build

Gudday

A bit more progress I'm getting to like the effect more and more. I'm getting to the top of the dome now and the tighter circle has me using alternate 1/2 and 1/4s . Going to have to start cutting some angles on the brick though those gapes are getting bigger. Was a bit worried that the vent plug would not end up in the middle but whichever luck or good management it seem to be true enough. I cannot remember how I actually centred it when I fitted it.
Well back to the tools ..... You can't beat a Brisbane autumn day
Regards dave

[Gulf]

Re: cobblerdaves build

Looks great! Dave'

This might help some. I stayed with halves as long as I could. I used a little "catch up" bat ever so often to help stay on bond. A young brick layer friend of mine laughed about this when he saw me use it on a straight run of a house. I was using different sized old brick. I told him that it will seem right to him when he started thinking of old brick, not as brick, but as stone .

But if you look just above and to the left you'll see where I quit worrying about the bond .
You are right about tapering the top courses. There doesn't seem to be much way around it.

[cobblerdave]

Re: cobblerdaves build

Gudday
Bricks layed Yes! Really happy with the result but did I boost that everything was straight and going to meet in the middle Da!

Check out just left of middle at the bottom .... See the wedge piece the dome wasn't perfect and I have to fill this in to get back to level. I know its there but I don't have many 7 ft tall guests so Hopefully I'm off the hook?
As for having the mortar joints not lining up .... Today I just wanted it finished so I just let them fall where they did . One thing I did notice I'm bloody sore I forgot what it was like hoping up and down that ladder for two days the back of my legs and my butt hurts.
Well not quite finish .... Three years or so and still counting.. Let that mortar set . Scrub with vinegar and remove the lime scale ... Seal with brick seal , tile.
Bugger ! Still cooks regardless

Regards dave

[Gulf]

Re: cobblerdaves build

Congratulations! Dave, You now have a brick oven .
That same teardrop formed on mine high and next to the chimney. You are right about it being hard to see. And if they do see it, they will think it was meant to be there. I know you are glad to have that done. I like most all oven finishes, but I am partial to brick. It looks great!