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Post by sel0975 on May 3, 2013 17:55:31 GMT
Hi Everyone Eventually I've managed to start my pompeli build in Glasgow - I've got the base sorted and now need to start the hearth. i've got a few questions and i know there will be plenty of support/advice via this forum. i'm also looking into how to post pictures - so going to have a go at it. I look forward to keeping in contact throughout my build. cheers Sel
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Post by sel0975 on May 3, 2013 18:40:22 GMT
Now for some of the questions I've got some insulation left over from a home extension - chip board and insulation that was used in the walls of our house - see photos below. I was wondering if this could be used within the hearth along with a vermiculite cement mix? I know that the question has been asked a few times but I'm stuck between using storage heater bricks or red bricks that came from an old glasgow tenament (photo below). I'm a bit concerned the red bricks may break up. I've got loads of both the red and the storage heater bricks. Any thoughts/advice would be really welcome before i embark on the next stages. Cheers
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Post by rivergirl on May 3, 2013 21:39:02 GMT
Good luck with the build, I love seeing each oven being built, they ar all so unique
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Post by cannyfradock on May 4, 2013 12:51:11 GMT
Sel
I would opt for storage heater fire-bricks over clay bricks. I don't think the chip board would be any good apart from used for shuttering. I've often thought of using celotex insulation bats (like you have) under the under hearth insulation......but I'm not sure sure of their compression strength. Personally I would buy celcon or insulation blocks for the under hearth insulation...for piece of mind.....they're just over a quid each and you will need about a dozen.....and can be cut with a normal hand saw.
Nice bit of steel in your slab....shame as the wrought iron work on that steel looks quite nice. If you have any bits of steel or re-bar, try to overhang the steel so it lies also above the supporting walls.....this will give extra strength.
Terry
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Post by sel on May 5, 2013 23:22:31 GMT
thanks terry, ur advice is much appreciated. Ive decided to go with the storage heater bricks. I'll not bother using the insulation board as I too was worried if it would take the weight.the iron in the slab is from an old decking which I had lying around, as u say they were nice but I thought they would do the job instead of rebar. Thanks also Rivergirl
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Post by sel0975 on Jun 8, 2013 22:59:15 GMT
Loads of work to do in landscaping my garden after getting an extension completed last year so the progress on my oven has been slow. Ive now competed the hearth, I bought a dozen celcon blocks as suggested by Terry. Ive laided these and covered with 2" of vermicullite/cement mix. Although it has harden I'm a bit concerned that maybe I didn't add enough cement or water as it aeems a bit 'flakey/crumbley - is this norm? I thinking of removing it and doing it again. Cheers Sel
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Post by faz on Jun 9, 2013 7:24:43 GMT
Vermicrete is always a bit crumbly but seems to have plenty of compressive strength to take the weight of the oven built over it. You just need to protect the edges from being bashed while you're building as it is quite brittle.
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Post by cannyfradock on Jun 9, 2013 11:35:25 GMT
Sel
It is funny old stuff and looks like it won't take any weight...but as Faz says..it will. Without seeing it, it's difficult to say if you haven't quite got the mix right.
If you have any doubt and want "piece of mind" then re-do it. Myself I lay the fire-brick hearth directly on the insulation blocks.
Terry
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Post by sel on Jun 9, 2013 22:43:01 GMT
Thanks Fax & Terry. I hope to get a photo of it posted but my laptop is playing up at the moment. Ive followed many of the builds on the forum and one common message was to ensure u had plenty of insulation under the hearth hence the reason for the vermiculite/cement as well as the blocks but if my brain was working I would have put the verm. layer under the celcon blocks. Next steps (after I decide whether to redo the verm.) is to lay the oven floor. I'm going to use heater bricks for both the floor and dome
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Post by sel on Jun 9, 2013 22:46:47 GMT
# faz not fax
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Post by sel0975 on Jul 27, 2013 23:22:00 GMT
Hi Everyone Just a quick update with progress on my build - as you'll hopefully see from the photos i've got the first few layers sorted along with the opening arch. I'm hoping to sort a sand based form tomorrow to enable me to do a few more layers over the coming days. i'm hoping the arch will stay in place or its back to the drawing board with that.
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Post by sel0975 on Jul 28, 2013 21:27:43 GMT
I managed to get a sand form sorted today - the arch is also still standing which is good news I'm now thinking about the dreaded transition and trying to get it into my head how it will work. I'm asuming that none of the other bricks in the layers should rest on top the arch? looking forward to getting the rest of the dome completed although i think i might run out of heater bricks so may need to finish with a layer of two of fire bricks unless i can source more storage heater bricks.
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Post by bookemdanno on Jul 29, 2013 12:31:15 GMT
Looking Good Sel.
I'd be inclined to search for more storage heaters, from Freecycle, Gumtree or Ebay, as mixing materials could lead to expansion problems when heated fully.
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Post by cannyfradock on Jul 29, 2013 14:10:51 GMT
Sel The dome rings need to meet your arch at this transition. I usually used 1" fire bricks for this. This pic will give you a better idea on how I do the fiddly transition bit... You can also cut some bricks for this stage. It usually takes 2 rings to clear the transition and you have to go slightly out of you perfect circle to do this. As Danno mentioned it's always better to use the same brick for the whole dome, but if you are short it may be a tall order to get storage heater or fire-bricks at short notice. If you can't wait (we are all impatient at this stage to build our first oven), then Travis Perkins sell "blue's"...as they call them. They are a solid Staffordshire blue brick. Another alternative would be re-claimed old red clay bricks (the type used on old victorian houses at the turn of 1900's.) Failing that a dense clay brick would be the next best thing.....don't use a concrete brick. Terry
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Post by sel0975 on Jul 29, 2013 21:41:41 GMT
thanks for the photos and advice terry - I'm going to tackle the transition tomorrow. got the saw to hand so should hopefully manage to get the bricks cut to the right shape. My arch is sloping inwards towards the oven floor so hopefully that may make it slightly easier - photos will hopefully follow. i've also picked up a stainless steel chimney and flue for a tenner but was wondering if it was too big (in diameter rather than height - it comes in sections so i dont have to use it all). i'll hopefully get a photo of that added as well.
Danno - I agree about trying to use the same bricks throughout the build, I've been keeping an eye on gumtree etc but no luck so far. I'm might just have enough but it will be touch and go. Ive contacted Stevo in Edinburgh who is selling 15 firebricks (on the forum) he has left over so although not ideal it might come to my rescue.
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