Hello fellow Aussies, My 1st build

[oasiscdm]

Hi Paul

I have sourced water proof calsil for my new build. Have tested Calsil from my first build and it just soaks up water like a sponge, this new stuff does not absorb moisture or water at all.

Also if you check my first build i sealed around the outer shell to the edge of base and never had an issue with water getting into oven. I also made a door for the outer arch so rain could not get in.

You could also put a thin screeded layer of fine sand the bricks will bed in like pavers and should then be level.

[Paul W]

Hi Paul

I have sourced water proof calsil for my new build. Have tested Calsil from my first build and it just soaks up water like a sponge, this new stuff does not absorb moisture or water at all.

Also if you check my first build i sealed around the outer shell to the edge never had an issue with water getting into oven. I also made a door for the outer arch so rain could not get in.

You could also put a thin screeded layer of fine sand the bricks will bed in like pavers and should then be level.

Hi Colin,
I didn't know you could get waterproof board, too late now, I will check out how your build and expect I will end up doing the same.

[Paul W]

I took on the advice from you guys, so today I went to bunnings for work supplies and thought I would get some tiles whilst I was there, lifted my floor bricks and cal sil board, drilled 4 weep holes, then used my grinder to make grooves to direct any water toward weep holes, put on tiles, then board, finished floor bricks and used a belt sander to take off a couple of edges, they were small and I could have probably left them but thought why not get rid of them.

[oasiscdm]

Hi Paul gee i thought i was using a lot of insulation layers, but you've used 1 more than i intend to. although my table top is hebel so a little insulation, not concrete, so i guess i am using 3 layers too. i managed to source 600x300x75 heath firebrick tiles and also 600x300x75 insulation tiles. the bloody Firebrick tiles way 26kg each.

[Paul W]

Hi Paul gee i thought i was using a lot of insulation layers, but you've used 1 more than i intend to. although my table top is hebel so a little insulation, not concrete, so i guess i am using 3 layers. i managed to source 600x300x75 heath firebrick tiles and also 600x300x75 insulation tiles. the bloody Firebrick tiles way 26kg each.

Hi Colin,
I didn't plan on using that many layers, just getting it up to a better working height after advice on here and from my concreter. I did a bit of searching for my firebricks and never found ones that big, 26kg is crazy, makes my back sore thinking about them .

[oasiscdm]

Hi Paul

No you have to be in the right place at the right time, I go too Melbourne Firebricks and Refractory in Sunshine West, Mark often gets one offs. The tiles I had shipped down from Sydney care of Mark on one of his shipments from A refractory store in Sydney he also organised a much better price and i'm talking 60% cheaper.

Are you laying your dome bricks on the hearth?

[Paul W]

Hi Paul


Are you laying your dome bricks on the hearth?

I am laying the dome bricks onto the top of my firebrick floor, I was just going through your 1st build looking at the arch as I'm about to make my template, I see a lot of builds with opening having 3 or 4 bricks up sides before arch and some that start arch from floor and I still don't understand the droop, I looked at your plastic template showing the dome arch and how you were going to cut the bricks to suit, I thought that should work fine, then reading further into your post I read that it didn't work and you got droop... atm I'm just wondering how far back to set my 1st arch brick intersecting with 1st course, fair bit involved with a wood fired oven but at least I'm enjoying it, most the house and garden tasks have been boring like retaining walls, plastering and painting.

[oasiscdm]

HI Paul

I just layed my last base panel and guess what started raining arrrrgh.
My hearth and dome were separate with about 10mm gap around the edge of the hearth. I just didn't want the two joined as such.
As for the droop, it happens as you work up the sides dome opening, hard to describe, but the bricks seem to reach. I actually forget what I did to prevent it back then but ended up with no droop to speak of. I have been thinking of making a circular straight edge to sit on each course. That arch brick that intercepts the first course and all arch bricks I kept as close to the full size brick as possible.

The other thing, was i used arch bricks of different sizes to form the dome, this way I didnt need any fire clay mortar top bottom of bricks. I also cut the bricks for a side to side fit. in fours years of use never had one crack.

Anyhow, looking forward to following your build. i followed GianniFococcia's and UtahBeehiver's and Karangi Dude's builds. At one point Gianni and I swapped emails as we were building our outer tapered arch [wider than the inner oven arch] together. Reason i did this was i did a lot of cooking in the oven entry so it gives more space. I actually screwed mine up and had to pull it down when half finished.

[JRPizza]

Paul, arch shape is a preference thing. I built a full hemispherical arch and in addition to looking better (my opinion) the stresses are distributed better and you don't need to buttress the arch.

[Paul W]

Need help with my mortar, I found a post on here about the same type I bought, but it never got answered, when I got my bricks I also got some calcium aluminate cement A600, the firebrick place told me that all I need to do is mix it with sand and water, 1cement to 5 orange brickies sand, said not to add anything else, I made 1/3 bucket today to see how I would go, It didn't stick well at all, bricks I had soaked or ones that were dry, wouldn't stick to my trowel either, not sure if I made it too dry or too wet or it just isn't sticky..... I have to use it as it cost a bit and I can't go out in lockdown, thoughts anyone?

[Paul W]

I managed to get more info on using that cement, 1 cement to 2-3 brickies sand, and so I started yesterday and laid a few bricks, the easy ones I'm guessing.

[cobblerdave]

G’day
Dampen your firebrick but dumping them in a bucket of water before using the mortar on them. The firebrick suck the moisture out of it he mortar if they are dry that why it fails to stick to the surface.
regards Dave

[Paul W]

G’day
Dampen your firebrick but dumping them in a bucket of water before using the mortar on them. The firebrick suck the moisture out of it he mortar if they are dry that why it fails to stick to the surface.
regards Dave

Hi Dave,
I did end up soaking them, helped a great deal.

I have done a little bit more, hoping the back of the arch works out... see what happens

[Paul W]

Been busy last few days, come to a halt as I can't get red bricks, few more pics......

[terratree]

Looking Good Paul and Geez you've knocked this up pretty quick ! Not much else to do down that way, at the moment I guess.

As you have gone against a full spherical inner arch, have you worked out what buttressing will be required ? Plenty of experienced builders on here that can help with that.