new build in werribee

[oasiscdm]

Re: new build in werribee

ok - will do

a year hmmmmm shit where did the time go. Actually only started the dome 1 April I don't count the stand but guess you are right.

[david s]

Re: new build in werribee

I don't know what kind of cement is in Shiralite, but if it's Portland you should let the stuff cure before adding any heat as you only finished the layer yesterday.k If it uses calcium aluminate cement then it only requires 24 hrs. Either way all that water is still there and it's easier to allow the sun and wind do some of the work in removing it rather than internal heat. Don't rush it now, you've been at it for over year. If the water in the Shiralite turns suddenly to steam it will expand and you'll get cracks in it.

[oasiscdm]

Re: new build in werribee

Hi Colin,

Out of interest how much water did you have to add to the Shiralite to get a good workable mix?

Half bucket of each. Although I i'm not completely sure as I mixed half a bag a time in a wheel barrow but a bloody lot of water. If it was too runny 3 handfuls of shiralite stiffened it up.

I pretty much used a flat square finishing trowel as a hawk and small brickies trowel to apply, sped it up subsantially. Ended up being able to apply a whole bag in less than 15 minutes.

Only problem I kept running out of the stuff. I used 125mw [medium weight]. It is really solid stuff. Curing has begun.

[david s]

Re: new build in werribee

Hi Colin,

Out of interest how much water did you have to add to the Shiralite to get a good workable mix?

[oasiscdm]

Re: new build in werribee

Hi Colin
I copied this from Harriotts build thread so we don't hijack his build.


Anthony

my confusion was around the refractory mortar and HE cement. Is the Refractory mortar actually fire clay? because in the description of your mix there was no fire clay just 2 lots of cement.

I thought about mortaring the floor in place but having spoken to a number of forno experts went the floating route as most others have. Be interested how yours goes over time.

Colin
Not sure of composition of refactory mortar (grey in colour), it was supplied with kit and homebrew mortar is Ben's recipe. The HE cement is a off white portland cement I have been using for my stand brickwork, it is finer ground and hydrates quicker to give a (H) High (E) Early strength.
I keep you posted on floor movements.

Anthony [Liteceeper]

Found this in my emails when talking with Ben "
The refractory mortar that we sell is what’s called ‘Airset Refractory Mortar’, it is a combination of powdered fireclay and sodium silicate, designed for use in furnaces and kilns. As such we don’t use it by itself, we combine it with GP cement, lime and fine washed sand in a similar mixture to that used by Forno Bravo – we use different ratios after significant experimentation. The alternative to this would be using our refractory castable as mortar, which you can quite easily do as the castable we sell has a very fine grain structure which allows for tight mortar joints. "

Gulf

If your out there and see this I need to build big draws would love to know more about the construction of yours.

[oasiscdm]

Re: new build in werribee

And guess what --------- I RAN OUT.... 1 bag short.

Guess I'll be seeing you again Mark.......

I did the same at the top as Liteceeper 2 short pieces of 40mm pipe except I just sat them there moving them around as required,, worked ok.

Fired up the curing device and am finding the Hebel panel to be a great temp door, 65c on inside and ambient temperature 14c on the outside seems to be a great insulator might make a temp door from it and follow cobblerdave lead.

Will crank up the curing temps tomorrow, getting it too 150 ish then 200 ish Friday. Shiralite should dry quick as it is next to the dome. I shouldn't have the water issues doing it this way - as others have reported - at all. I'm guessing the curing will go more quickly. Will put plastic on, on Friday night to check for condensation.

Weekend get the blanket on 4 layers of 25mm, then crank it up.

Make a temp door, maybe some tools. Keep it fired throughout next week, Then some wood fires and maybe Pizza by end of next week or earlier if there is no water before that.

[oasiscdm]

Re: new build in werribee

Got some more Shiralite on this afternoon having got some from the supplier.

[oasiscdm]

Re: new build in werribee

Also finished the top half of the keystone and fixed it to oven. SO dome complete was just sick of cutting bricks 2 weeks ago so left it.

Damn ran out of Shiralite.

[oasiscdm]

Re: new build in werribee

Weekend work photo's part 2. and curing device.] and quick paella device.

[oasiscdm]

Re: new build in werribee

Ok weekend work photo's. Began the shiralite laying 40mm using Liteceeper's method. Works a treat......

[Liteceeper]

Re: new build in werribee

Hi Colin
I copied this from Harriotts build thread so we don't hijack his build.


Anthony

my confusion was around the refractory mortar and HE cement. Is the Refractory mortar actually fire clay? because in the description of your mix there was no fire clay just 2 lots of cement.

I thought about mortaring the floor in place but having spoken to a number of forno experts went the floating route as most others have. Be interested how yours goes over time.

Colin
Not sure of composition of refactory mortar (grey in colour), it was supplied with kit and homebrew mortar is Ben's recipe. The HE cement is a off white portland cement I have been using for my stand brickwork, it is finer ground and hydrates quicker to give a (H) High (E) Early strength.
I keep you posted on floor movements.

[david s]

Re: new build in werribee

Test it with the plastic sheet.

[oasiscdm]

Re: new build in werribee

Can we assume its dry, walls are 115mm thick.
Just wanting an idea

[david s]

Re: new build in werribee

How much wood does it take to clear the dome?

Colin,
that all depends on how dry your oven is and how much mass is in your walls and floor. At an estimate it takes about three times more wood to get there if the oven is wet.

[oasiscdm]

Re: new build in werribee

HI all

I have only half the shiralite on the dome.

Fired up the curing device tonight 5 hours with centre and ring 3 going inside surface temps around 100c on the walls top middle and bottom, sides and back, top of dome is 165c.

Thought I would take readings on the outside of dome above the shiralite temps around 58c and the outside of the shiralite just below [180mm] dome bricks was 24c shiralite on the landing arch and at the bottom of the dome near the hearth at ambient temp of 16c.

Found the readings interesting. Shut curing device down put some Hebel in front of the door. about an hour or so later temps throughout very similar. Will do this each night this week while I complete the Shiralite and then once shiralite layer completed [thursday] will crank it up a little to get rid of the water hopefully for 2 nights at least at a higher temp.

This weekend will get the blanket on, will then crank the curing device up while doing this running device for most of the weekend.

Thinking I will give it 10 days of solid curing this way. Not going to use the Heat Beads now the curing device provides plenty of options and appears will get temps right up there. Will actually be interested in how hot the curing device can get the oven with all 4 rings going.

Will start with fires middle of next week depending on above, time and condensation with the plastic. Arrrghhhhhh going away weekend before Xmas so time is of the essence.

How much wood does it take to clear the dome?