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Post by cobblerdave on Jun 26, 2015 21:40:52 GMT
G'day phil The 63 per cent rule came from a Canadian study in the 70s of surviving ovens from the 1800s in the Toronto area. It's an average of oven mouths, some higher some lower, but they all worked. A better rule really is a little less than 2/3rd so not to scare people. If your going to cut the bricks for the arch you'll need to them twice otherwise the bottoms apear uneven. You can as an alternative cut them thinner with a strait cut. More bricks in the arch means more more Smaller mortar gapes which look better. My front arch is done with 50 mm pavers rather than 75 mm brick and if you follow the link to my build at the bottom of my post you'll see what I mean How's the shoulder coming on Regards dave
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phi1
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Post by phi1 on Jun 27, 2015 8:41:51 GMT
Thanks Dave As you can see from my earlier photos my arch is a different shape to yours (your side walls are higher) and you helped me out with advice on buttressing. I have made a timber former and have some Kingspan insulation so I am going to have a bash at dry bedding the bricks on the former and make a decision on whole bricks (end on) slips as you suggested or cut every brick ( I bought a professional brick cutter in the end from eBay) I want to put a 6" chimney on top of the tunnel, I don't think my brick laying is good enough to build the opening . What do you think about forming the opening with a hand held grinder once the tunnel is completed and dried? I can leave the former in place while cutting the hole. Thanks Phil
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Post by cobblerdave on Jun 28, 2015 3:26:50 GMT
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phi1
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Post by phi1 on Jul 3, 2015 9:52:47 GMT
This is a strange question
I have got 4 builders bags of refractory brick off cuts and two pages of refractory brick silt from the cutting machine
Before I make a couple of trips to the dump
Do they have any ?
If they do does anybody want them?
I am just outside Eastbourne in East Sussex
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Post by spider44 on Jul 3, 2015 22:35:49 GMT
Hi Phil,
I'm just about to start my dome and arch construction and I think it would be really useful to have offcuts and stuff from the cutting machine. I'm down in Sussex for a couple of days this weekend to visit friends near Chichester. If thats not too far from you and you are around then I'd be happy to save you a trip to the dump and try and recycle your off cuts. I'm also planning a cob oven and I'm sure I could put some of the material towards that if it was still available?
Best wishes
Patrick
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phi1
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Post by phi1 on Jul 4, 2015 11:06:51 GMT
Hi Phil, I'm just about to start my dome and arch construction and I think it would be really useful to have offcuts and stuff from the cutting machine. I'm down in Sussex for a couple of days this weekend to visit friends near Chichester. If thats not too far from you and you are around then I'd be happy to save you a trip to the dump and try and recycle your off cuts. I'm also planning a cob oven and I'm sure I could put some of the material towards that if it was still available? Best wishes Patrick Patrick I have PM'ed you
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phi1
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Post by phi1 on Jul 4, 2015 11:35:47 GMT
Brick work finished (two attempts at the tunnel :-( Bought a 150 mm metal pipe for the chimney, it needs to be cut down to about the size showing Laid paving blocks in tunnel, will lay porcelain tiles on top and around the oven as the finish I m going to give it a couple of days for the cement to dry
Even more questions Do put ceramic insulation and then vermiculite on the tunnel? If I do, is it ok to cover the expansion gap (8mm) between the oven and tunnel (I will be putting fire rope in the gap)? Same question re the final render (K Rend) Should I start lighting small fires now to completely dry the dome before starting on the insulation layers?Thanks Phil
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Post by oblertone on Jul 5, 2015 9:40:50 GMT
I used blanket on the arch entry then rendered over it all; not sure it was necessary but I had some to spare. I also used my bare dome for almost a year before insulating it, so I would say yes to small fires before the blanket, otherwise you'll just be trapping moisture under the insulation layer.
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lamby
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Post by lamby on Jul 5, 2015 19:10:58 GMT
Looks great Phil! Pizza's will be ready soon enough ? Can't see the benifit in insulating the arch, I guess it's a case of the final look you want in terms of to render, or not to render. My reasearch has suggested start with a very small fire and work up, maybe a disposable bbq could be useful for a second or third firing??
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phi1
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Post by phi1 on Jul 6, 2015 8:43:06 GMT
First test/curing fire, all ok, found a small hole in the mortar which I will fill tonight. Used up a pile of soft wood off cuts for the first fire will used hard wood when I get cooking
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Post by cobblerdave on Jul 6, 2015 10:52:19 GMT
G'day Phil As for your title as first time build ...well... It's pretty well done now.... As for insulating the entrance? It's up to you. Mines not got a thermal gape and it's quite fine, doesn't burn the guests. Any heat is from the reflected Fire from the oven so the outside remains cool. Gives you more time to figure out the finish.
As always keep your Drying Fires low and slow. Your oven will heat up faster as it drys rather than heats up more as you put more wood in it. As always regards dave
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phi1
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Post by phi1 on Jul 6, 2015 14:54:52 GMT
Thanks Dave Have to say I am a bit chuffed be good to put food in it though Ordering the tiles for the tunnel entrance and surround tomorrow, hopefully will get them by the weekend Then insulation layers I think I might get a professional for the final coat SWMBO has pointed out I haven't built a preparation or serving area. Another build or a table from the local superstore Decisions Decisions
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phi1
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Post by phi1 on Jul 27, 2015 18:52:47 GMT
Got the tiles and the rain, very frustrating The gazebo protecting the oven got destroyed in the high winds Decided to have a second "curing fire" but got carried away, first homemade pizza, tasted fantastic, even the paddle worked, lateral thinking. First pizza, cooked in two min's Ok it might not be the real thing but it worked. Porcelain tiles on the entrance tunnel worked a treat, hot enough to leave a cooked pizza on it while we ate half. Keeping the pizza warm Temperature check, bank on 400 C
Got to say I am really chuffed, put a couple of potato's in for a supper snack
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Post by spider44 on Jul 27, 2015 19:17:56 GMT
That's looking and working like a mighty fine oven! - congratulations and thanks for sharing your build.
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Post by cobblerdave on Jul 27, 2015 23:32:09 GMT
G'day You got to love that pizza paddle! Regards dave
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