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  • Australia - What Mortar to use?

    Australia
    I am designing and building a backyard masonary oven for bread, pizza, roasts ... for family and friend to enjoy.
    I have done plenty of research on various sites and discovered Forno Bravo offers the best information.
    I have decided to use new Boral Longreach solid bricks ( Red Clay)( 35x90x76mm ) @ 93cents ea. for the arch and floor ( 2 layers ) Arch front to back with straight sides, front chimney. Different !
    What I need to know is what is the best or correct mortar to use?

    Any suggestions?

  • #2
    Re: Australia - What Mortar to use?

    Hi,
    Mortar I use consists of

    1 part fireclay
    1 part lime
    1 part cement
    4 parts sand

    good to work with and you have plenty of time to work with it.

    Cheers

    Craig
    "All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy"

    Spike Milligan

    "It is only impossible if you stop and think about it"
    The Pirate Captain

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Australia - What Mortar to use?

      Go with Craig's suggestion, the "poor man's mortar". I used it on my 40" Pompeii and does not have a crack in the oven, only in the covering render which is over 2" of superwool and vermiculite insulation. It is cheap but great, I haven't heard/read one problem experienced from people who have chosen it. Stick accurately to the formula and use fireclay, even if hard to find, it makes it stickier!

      Cheers

      Neill
      Prevention is better than cure, - do it right the first time!

      The more I learn, the more I realise how little I know


      Neill’s Pompeiii #1
      http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f8/n...-1-a-2005.html
      Neill’s kitchen underway
      http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f35/...rway-4591.html

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Australia - What Mortar to use?

        Hi All

        Another Aust. thread said:

        "1 part Portland cement
        3 parts sand
        1 part lime
        1 part fireclay"

        I would think the 1:1:1:3 would make a harder joint?

        Regards
        Steve

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Australia - What Mortar to use?

          Originally posted by bicheno View Post
          for the arch and floor ( 2 layers )
          Why two layers?

          Have you included insulation in your plans?
          The English language was invented by people who couldnt spell.

          My Build.

          Books.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Australia - What Mortar to use?

            35x90x76mm is a very small brick. Are you sure your measurements are correct? You'd go nuts cutting and laying bricks that small. Is this why you want to do two layers of them? 35mm would be too thin on its own.
            Kindled with zeal and fired with passion.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Australia - What Mortar to use?

              I'm confused. Went to Bunnings and they don't have sand. Only bags of mortar already mixed with sand and cement. Where do i get this sand from? Is it the same as bedding sand? I imagine its finer than that.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Australia - What Mortar to use?

                Gudday
                I used Bagged sand ( Cleaned and graded)for the mortar mix from Bunnings
                Check out the Plant section you'll find it with the potting mixes etc.
                Didn't bother ordering bulk because of the small amount req.
                A suggestion, only mix small amouts at a time to save waste I used a plastic tupperware container to measure into a 20 ltre plastic drum and mixed with a paint stirrer on an electric drill.

                Regards Dave
                Measure twice
                Cut once
                Fit in position with largest hammer

                My Build
                http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f51/...ild-14444.html
                My Door
                http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f28/...ock-17190.html

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Australia - What Mortar to use?

                  Don't worry about going to Bunnings, they're too expensive and most in here don't know or understand the specifics.
                  Go to your local sand and metal merchant, they have all types of materials needed except for the fireclay and for a fraction of the cost.
                  I mixed up a builders barrow of mortar which allowed me to complete half the dome in a single hit, then cut in the floor. Next day, I put in a snd dome on plywood shelf and cut, mortared in the top rows and capped them off with the keystones. All done in one weekend, the way to go.

                  Neill
                  Prevention is better than cure, - do it right the first time!

                  The more I learn, the more I realise how little I know


                  Neill’s Pompeiii #1
                  http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f8/n...-1-a-2005.html
                  Neill’s kitchen underway
                  http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f35/...rway-4591.html

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Australia - What Mortar to use?

                    Originally posted by nissanneill View Post
                    Don't worry about going to Bunnings, they're too expensive and most in here don't know or understand the specifics.
                    Go to your local sand and metal merchant, they have all types of materials needed except for the fireclay and for a fraction of the cost

                    Neill
                    just out of interest, does anyone know why some aggregate is confusingly known as blue metal when it is actually a mineral?
                    Kindled with zeal and fired with passion.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Australia - What Mortar to use?

                      Originally posted by wotavidone
                      Metal because that's the archaic historical term for gravel used in road building, blue because its made from the granite/basalt rocks i.e. they are bluish, as compared to sandstone, brownish?
                      Thanks,
                      That seems logical. reminds me now of the story when graphite was found in England around 1500 they thought it was lead (metal instead of mineral) hence the misnomer "lead pencil".
                      Kindled with zeal and fired with passion.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Australia - What Mortar to use?

                        Folks

                        would one use brickie or sharp sand??

                        Cheers Alex
                        Fail to Prepare...Prepare to Fail!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Australia - What Mortar to use?

                          It probably doesn't matter much, but I'd guess sharp sand because the grains are sharper and therefore should have more holding power. Brickie sand tends to contain more clay, but you are adding plenty of clay so there is no advantage there. I use silica sand.
                          Kindled with zeal and fired with passion.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Australia - What Mortar to use?

                            Bert,
                            stick with the brickie sand as it is 'fattier' and holds/sticks together better than the 'sharp' concrete sand. You must however use fireclay in your home brew.

                            Neill
                            Prevention is better than cure, - do it right the first time!

                            The more I learn, the more I realise how little I know


                            Neill’s Pompeiii #1
                            http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f8/n...-1-a-2005.html
                            Neill’s kitchen underway
                            http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f35/...rway-4591.html

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Australia - What Mortar to use?

                              Hey guys!
                              Can someone please tell me where to find fireclay? I can't find it anywhere!

                              Thanks

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