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Post by neilos83 on Sept 13, 2015 7:42:11 GMT
Brilliant stuff, thanks. I may even have a go at the arch later If the sun keeps up.
A good friend of mine has given me a nice terracotta chimney to use. I was going to use a flue liner inside this and pack the gap between the two with vermiculite.
With regard to the base of my chimney/flue on top of my arch, I've seen people cast a base with a hole in it. Is this the ordinary home brew mix or will I need to add some aggregate of some kind?
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Post by neilos83 on Sept 28, 2015 16:48:45 GMT
Guys, I've got regarding my smoke box. My arch is 1 and a half bricks deep, and I intend to render the outside of the arch and smoke box leaving only the bricks on the front of the archway exposed. Will I need to lay insulation on to the arch or can I just render to the brickwork? I though this may cause issues with cracking. Second question, can I position my smoke box very close to the back of my arch, leaving me more room in front to render? I'm thinking about 2" from the back. I will then have a 4" cut out Which is 4 bricks wide to gather the smoke into a smoke box of say 5" square. On top of this will be my 6" flue. My issue then will be that the back of the smoke box will be on top of my dome. The chimney pot that I am going to use is 11"outside diameter. I hope this makes sense. Cheers. Neil.
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Post by oblertone on Sept 28, 2015 17:29:27 GMT
The beauty of self building is that there are no 'right' answers; of course some schemes will work better than others such as the oven/arch ratio but ovens without this work perfectly well, the same is true of your smoke box so build it as you see fit. As to insulating the arch, I did because it gave me a more even platform for my desired finish, others don't because technically you don't need retained heat in this area; will it crack your render ? Possibly, but only the test of time will tell. i do like your idea of creating your own twin-wall, loose vermiculite is a wonderful insulator and should stop the clay pot cracking.
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Post by cobblerdave on Sept 28, 2015 22:35:45 GMT
G'day Very true, there is no hard and fast rules. But generally the wider the better, I believe that the smoke chamber above the entrance should be at least 1/2 the width of the arch to catch the smoke. Your arch is 5 1/2 bricks wide. Your plan of 4 1/2 bricks gape will have that covered. 4 in or 1/2 brick in depth is all mine is and it's good. From my armchair view you should be good. Im interested to in seeing your insulated ceramic chimney Regards dave
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Post by neilos83 on Sept 30, 2015 19:13:27 GMT
Well, I had a go. I gave the blocks a quick wash off before putting the tarpaulin over for the night. Fingers crossed the archway stays up when I pull the former out tomorrow! It's on with the chimney and smoke chamber then. I'm going all out to get as much do e before winter sets in as I can, much to the annoyance of swmbo! Any advice on a mix for concrete for the bottom of my chimney? If not, I will just have to chop some bricks up to sit my flue on. My aim is pizzas on new years eve. Neil.
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Post by neilos83 on Sept 30, 2015 21:46:12 GMT
Also, many thanks for all your help and advice guys. I'm really enjoying this project.
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Post by neilos83 on Oct 1, 2015 16:01:02 GMT
Disaster! I took my former away tonight, and all the bricks from the arch fell down! I think my mix yesterday may have been a bit dry, it was quite stiff to work with.I've rebuild the arch with slightly wetter mix. Let's hope this one stays up!
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Post by albacore on Oct 1, 2015 21:22:25 GMT
Unless the side pillars of the arch are tied in or buttressed, the front arch will always be prone to collapse. I know - I found out the hard way!
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Post by neilos83 on Oct 2, 2015 17:14:17 GMT
It stayed up his time. I think I will take your advice though albacore and put some buttresses either side.
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Post by chas on Oct 3, 2015 8:25:08 GMT
It stayed up his time. I think I will take your advice though albacore and put some buttresses either side. Not only required support Neil - they provide more beershelf! Chas
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Post by cobblerdave on Oct 3, 2015 9:49:20 GMT
G'day Chas is spot on. It's the safest place to put my beer around my oven! Every were I've ever put a beer it' always seemed to get knocked over. Regards dave
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Post by neilos83 on Oct 3, 2015 10:21:54 GMT
Good point. I should really have thought of a beer shelf.
Is it just a case of laying more bricks up each side of my arch or do I need to make the base of the buttress as far out as possible? I really want to keep my igloo shape as much as possible, but I could hide the buttress in the insulation I suppose.
I was thinking of making a steel brace from angle iron to the profile of the outside of my arch and putting some fire blanket or wide rope between the steel and the brick to allow for expansion.
I was thinking this may help the arch hold its shape.
Any thoughts? Neil
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Post by cobblerdave on Oct 3, 2015 11:10:24 GMT
G'day I retrofitted buttressing to mine. A simple extra wall of brick alongside the original. Your entrance is not a large structure like a house wall and needs a simple solutions. Regards dave
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Post by chas on Oct 3, 2015 11:16:57 GMT
Good point. I should really have thought of a beer shelf. Is it just a case of laying more bricks up each side of my arch or do I need to make the base of the buttress as far out as possible? I really want to keep my igloo shape as much as possible, but I could hide the buttress in the insulation I suppose. I was thinking of making a steel brace from angle iron to the profile of the outside of my arch and putting some fire blanket or wide rope between the steel and the brick to allow for expansion. I was thinking this may help the arch hold its shape. Any thoughts? Neil Dave's right, the igloo exists for all time, nestled behind the entrance 'facade'... you don't lose it, and the insulation can run up to the buttresses - you don't have to insulate over them. To avoid a straight vertical joint (or rather, to avoid the look of a straight vertical joint, never good) you could bring the buttresses forward a tad. As you've missed the opportunity to bond into the existing sides, and if you have the room, make them chunky - say 9x9. Cap with a floor tile or something to help shed rainwater - naked flat brickwork will soak it up. Personally, if I could brace it with brickwork I wouldn't wrap iron around it, but it depends on your blacksmithing skills! Chas
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Post by neilos83 on Oct 3, 2015 15:35:37 GMT
Thanks for your help. I've mocked some brickwork up today, hope to get a mix on tomorrow, weather and wife depending. What do you think? I've gone as wide as I can on the bottom and kept it back from the face of the arch so it won't be seen under my insulation and render. I also cut some bricks for the base of my chimney. Neil.
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