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Post by Thomobigands on Nov 29, 2017 21:24:06 GMT
Looking really good, well done. Don't worry about the non staggered joints, mine went the same way.
Keep going!
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Post by simonh on Nov 30, 2017 9:57:29 GMT
looking great!
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Post by khylen on Dec 3, 2017 19:28:45 GMT
Got round to a bit more today. Managed half of another course and the inner arch. My head was completely bashed by the inner arch transition so I just did some rough lines and got cutting. It looks ok and I'm pretty happy with it. Again a lot harder than I thought it would be! The bricks no longer hold by themselves so I've just clamped a strip of thin ply to hold it while it drys. Going to take a tad longer as I've only got 2 clamps! Not sure at what stage I will have to build a form? I though the bricks would hold for a few more courses as there is still a huge hole in the roof so would require a big form if I was to do it now! Also a bit worried about my inner arch as my first brick on the right is not sat on the arch turret. Not sure if this will be less stable and secure? The left side is sat but somehow I managed to be a bit short on the right!
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Post by slen916 on Dec 3, 2017 22:14:52 GMT
looking good khylen,your right about the arch transition..its a defo head scratcher
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Post by khylen on Dec 5, 2017 18:53:46 GMT
Cleared the arch today finally! Still haven't took the support for the arch out as want to give it a good few days drying, so hope it doesn't all fall down! Taking a long time to tapper the bricks now. Still have some triangular gaps to fill but the tapering definitely helps a lot! I'm just doing them free hand which seems to be working ok. Im now in 2 minds weather to build a form or not? I recon 2 more courses and I can plug it. Not sure how much hastle it is to build one? It is taking a long time propping up each brick however so might be quicker to just build a form now??
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Post by Thomobigands on Dec 5, 2017 21:21:24 GMT
Sheet of wood, mound of sand.
Although do you have any bricks on the back of your arch yet? Need to form a complete circle before looking to close I think. If you are struggling with the arch transition, how about cutting a notch in the brick to sit like a step on the arch? Support it whilst it sets.
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Post by khylen on Dec 5, 2017 23:16:35 GMT
Yeah think your right and a form could be the way forward! Just popped a brick on the current course and it's pretty much vertical so think a form may be it!
Yeah I completed the arch and transition yesterday. Was an absolute ball ache but I got there in the end. I managed to cut angles from each brick so I could just carry on building the courses around. Didn't look particularly pretty but it's done the job.....so far! It's now supporting 2 courses ontop of it, albeit the support is still in but going to leave that in for another week probably to let the homebrew cure as long as possible!
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Post by khylen on Dec 10, 2017 21:06:56 GMT
Dome is now closed!! Went with the car jack method seen on here. Cutting the bricks to size to close the dome was a pain but got there in the end! Going to give it a week before starting some small curing fires. Hopefully will get the chimney built in that time. Could even be pizza for Christmas!
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Post by Thomobigands on Dec 10, 2017 21:21:27 GMT
Looks really good. Well done.
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Post by khylen on Dec 12, 2017 23:25:15 GMT
Is condensation a normal thing on the bricks this time of year? Just went out to finish pointing inside the oven and on many of the cement joins inside the oven, and the cement outside the oven is a lot of water/condensation/moisture. It's not really running water off but there's a lot of moisture there! Definitely no leaks in my shelter. Can't see how I can dry the thing out if it's just going to be picking moisture back up from the air!!??
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Post by Thomobigands on Dec 13, 2017 5:54:28 GMT
Didn't notice any condensation inside my oven when I used it the other week.
Given you have only just finished though, I suspect it is to do with the water still trapped inside your bricks and mix.
Condensation forms when cold meets warm blah blah so I imagine it's just that. The temperature of your damp mortar and bricks may just be a little different to the outside temp. Or it could even just be the water coming out of the bricks still? Have you got a door on it? Maybe leave that off or open.
To combat it, I suggest you help yourself to a mince pie, a beer and a sit down, and don't worry about it.
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Post by khylen on Dec 18, 2017 19:50:24 GMT
On Christmas break now so had a few hours at the oven today. Finally finished pointing all the inside. I'm glad to have finished that as I'm sick of squeezing inside, it's rather tight to say the least! also managed to face a section of the front with red bricks. Chimney tomorrow....
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Post by khylen on Dec 19, 2017 20:10:01 GMT
Put the sides of the chimney in today, took me the best part of 3 hours! I left a small expansion gap/ heat break aswel. A bit worried that a single stack of 3 and half bricks will support the weight of the whole arch and chimney? Could it be worth trying to put more bricks or homebrew either side to build it up and support it a bit more? Is it also wise to wait until the chimney is completely done before curing? Thanks
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Post by khylen on Jan 2, 2018 19:13:01 GMT
After what seems like never ending rain, I'm still no further forward in drying my oven out. I lit a newspaper fire and could feel the heat escaping from the chimney. I don't want to go to kindling as I'm fairly confident my tent would go up in a blue flame! So I've took the plunge and started to knock together a shelter. I hadn't planned on making one but think it's probably the only way I'm going to get the oven dry anytime soon! And it should keep my dry when eventually pizza making commences!
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Post by khylen on Jan 2, 2018 19:15:56 GMT
I carried on the tree trunk rustic theme and even used the rest of my firebrick offcuts to bulk up the post footings!
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