Hi from the Lakes

[burnard]

Hi
I'm so glad to have found this forum.

I'm just about to embark on building an oven and I want to blend it into the existing materials which is stone. So whereas most people appear to either brick or render the outer casing, I want to use some of the exisiting stone so that should be a little different. Other than that "below the bonnet" will no doubt follow similar patterns to everyone else.

I'm just trying to get my head around the dome.
I'm OK on the construction technique, but not sure where to get the slabs for the base, the proper bricks and the mortar from.
Also is it just a case of cutting the bricks in half or do people tend to shape them in a tapered form as well? So what is the best size bricks to buy?
Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

I'm sure that I'll be able to contribute to all aspects of this forum as time goes on.

Anyway, thanks for having me.

Paul

[chas]

Apr 6, 2017 11:06:16 GMT burnard said:

Hi
I'm so glad to have found this forum...
Paul

And welcome Paul,

if your tapered brick question relates to a base ring, then yes, to reduce joints on full size brick, 'wedging'  is a good idea. If you mean the halves generally used in dome construction then less so - but you'll probably find you'll whittle a few or select pieces for a good fit as you go.
Types of suitable brick vary, I went for reds as a) I had some and  b) that's what I used on the oven-building course I attended. Similarly, I stuck the dome together with potters' clay - easy to work with - and for bricklaying used lime putty mortar... but others will have other valid methods.

Enjoy your build.

Chas

[oblertone]

What is a 'proper' brick is very subjective as just about any fired building brick will do; the basics remain the same, avoid any with holes all the way through however indents are acceptable. Old solid bricks are best but increasingly hard to find; however a reclamation yard may do a deal on half bricks or damaged ones, and you'll be cutting them in half anyway.

As to mortar, use 'homebrew' (sand/cement/clay/lime in the ratio 3-1-1-1) it's cheap, easy to work and very forgiving. Fire cement is meant for higher temp than your WFO will ever attain and is therefore an expensive mistake.

Stone cladding has been done very successfully, just remember to leave room to insulate over the dome before cladding or the exterior will get very hot.

[downunderdave]

Apr 7, 2017 23:57:32 GMT oblertone said:

What is a 'proper' brick is very subjective as just about any fired building brick will do; the basics remain the same, avoid any with holes all the way through however indents are acceptable. Old solid bricks are best but increasingly hard to find; however a reclamation yard may do a deal on half bricks or damaged ones, and you'll be cutting them in half anyway.

Solid reds should be ok for the dome, although it is impossible to ascertain the thermal shock characteristics of a clay body just by looking or striking a brick with a hammer . They have been designed for the walls of buildings, not for an application involving direct flame impingement. They are less likely to be suitable for the floor however, because bricks in this position take far more of a beating. It is worth the extra money to accessi firebrick for the floor IMO as solid reds used here are far more likely to spall.