Building an Arch for Oven

[nick2013]

I've managed to work out how to use a plywood support with noggins for the archway, but should the arch way just be standard bricks held together with normal cement ?
I believe from another thread that using firebricks will result in heat being drawn out of the oven.
Thanks

[nixie]

I used standard bricks with standard ready mix cement for mine and its been ok so far. I'd have thought firebricks would also be fine. To prevent heat being drawn out you can place a thermal break between the arch and main oven. I used some off cuts of insulation brick for this.

[bookemdanno]

Nick, you can build your front arch from normal bricks and mortar just fine.

The thermal break idea just attempts to keep the heat where you want it...in the oven.
You can make your arch freestanding, by setting it away from the oven by half an inch, and then sealing the open joint with a heat resistant silicone, or various other methods using something to insulate the two materials from each other. There's no better insulation than open space, but it lets the water in!
For instance, if you're insulating upto and over the joint between arch and oven, you could ram some Stove rope, or ceramic blanket in the thermal break joint and then render over on the outside.

Drop in a picture, and it'll help us help you better.

[nick2013]

Thanks, I see what you mean, I'll probably stick some insulation in the gap between the oven and arch.

Have attached a photo, I'm also going to have to redo some of the clay, as I think I made it a bit too watery and it's started cracking :-(

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