Leeds Build

[spinal]

Another bit of advice I picked up from family in Italy (but haven't tried yet) is to store a bit of wood indoors. It'll be very dry after a few days, and will be perfect to light the fire...

Can't hurt to try....

[dunnes2002]

thanks for the advice, not too sure the Mrs would be too happy with the wood indoors. I have been lighting fires each night and last night i used some wood that i had put in the oven the night before when cooling. It seemed to work very well so i think ill keep doing it.
Also being very windy last night meant that all the windows around were shut ans the smoke dissipated quite well!


Next question.... full firing, how do I know when i have a "full firing"? I think the first one I'll have will be Fri/Sat as I'm out every night at the moment once the kids are in bed. The bricks got up to nearly 500 at the top and the floor was at about 350 but that was just a short burn of about 30/45mins.
Also the vermicrete didn't seem to budge from 16 degrees which is good but wont get rid of any moisture!!!


Im guessign that it will all fall into place later this week as i keep adding wood!!

[bookemdanno]

You'll see the dome start to clear of soot and turn white.

Try the upside down fire technique Dunnes. Have a look on t' YouTube!

[dunnes2002]

I'm getting to enjoy these late night's outside, just me and the crackle of a fire. Not sure what I'm going to do with all my free time when the build is complete and no more fires are required.

Managing to get the fires going nicely now, starting to go white at the top..... A little earlier than planned

[petec]

Hi
you'll know its really hot enough for pizzas when the whole dome goes clear down the sides as well as the top of the dome.

Suddenly the brickwork goes really clean.

have fun
cheers
Pete

[dunnes2002]

Nothing like sat in your garden at 10pm, in shorts and t-shirt sweating..... Think I need to move away from the fire!!!!!

Full burn tomorrow, rain Friday, pizza Saturday!!!!

[dunnes2002]

We have pizza...
Very happy with how everything went yesterday, seemed fairly easy really, got oven floor upto 475, didn't go any higher. Pizza all came out well, easy to get on and off the peel with minimal semolina flour.

Few small issues with the floor cooling fairly quickly, although a lot of water seemed to be coming out from the thermolite brick joints. Hopefully this will sort itself out after a few more firings.

Seen a few hairline cracks appearing too, not too worried about these unless they get bigger.

Kept some of the neighbours happy with a pizza, others had to go and explain why I was having so many fires recently after overhearing complaints. They generally seemed Luke a grumpy couple who complain about everything. One of his comments was "we thought about moving what with your fires and the neighbours cat". Say no more.

Might have a fire or two this week and render next weekend

[ringo]

Looking good, that's a satisfied look on your face! Is that a chair right in front of the oven? Haha, I do that too, just sit there looking into it! Although in our cases, a watched pizza always cooks!

[dunnes2002]

thanks Ringo i was very happy don't think I've stopped talking about it since!!

There is a planter in front of the oven and a chair broke the other day so i though it would make a nice addition!!! The planter will be moved shortly though so no more comfort!!!!

Onto the rendering.......
The only thing that's bothering me is do i use lime or plasticiser or both. A few posts have mentioned lime but not plasticiser and I'm not sure of which would be best to use bearing in mind that mine will not have a roof over the top.

Then I will be using some masonry paint to make nice and white, think i can just about manage that bit without asking any questions!!! unless i need to use some breathable paint?! questions questions, they will never end!!!

[bookemdanno]

Personally, i'd use Hydrated Lime within the mix AND a little splash of plaz too. Not as much as in Bricklaying Mortar, but just a bit. The Lime will serve many purposes, and someone with more experience of rendering will use just that, but a little plaz will make the mix a bit more workable for soemone with more limited experience.
If you can get a breathable masonry paint, the better.

I like the way that the tools and oven building bits and bobs are still hanging about in your enthusiasm to get cooking!

[dunnes2002]

thanks for the advice bookem, I have plenty of lime left over so I'm happy with that suggestion. Ordered far too much!! Shame they only sell plaz in 5L tubs!!

HAd a look at breathable paint too and the Sandtex stuff seems to be on offer in Homebase so I'll get some of that too.

A few tools have been left laying arouns, although some of them are used quite a bit with ash movement etc. I have a Dutch Hoe (!!!) in the background too which is fantastic for moving the logs and cleaning the floor too!!

[petec]

HI

I read up quite a bit on the Forno Bravo forum about rendering and went with base coat of 4:1:1 and top coat of 6:1:1, went on really well and i think the lime will give it some flex.

cheers
Pete

[bookemdanno]

If you only need a squirt, and see no need for a whole tub and the cost, then a bit of washing up liquid will do the job of the plaz.

[dunnes2002]

Ok big day tomorrow, rendering!! Just after some last minute advice what's the best way to render between poi ts a and b on my wonderful to scale drawing? I'm guessing it won't really want to stick but I know nothing!!!!

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[petec]

Hiya !
could you tile the sides rather than render them - might be easier ?
Then just render dome and base ?

I'm doing this on mine so that I can make the exposed thermalites watertight.

Thats if I've interpreted your drawing correctly !!!
cheers
Pete