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Post by danny on May 12, 2012 10:19:13 GMT
A little back to front but here is the most recent picture of my oven. I have had a paraffin heater in there for 24 hrs to warm the dome and remove some moisture. I have just had a brief fire to see where the smoke went. The good news is that a fair chunk of it went up the chimney! I will post some more pictures later. Attachments:
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Post by cannyfradock on May 12, 2012 10:37:40 GMT
Nice pic.....looking forward to the rest.
Don't forget. There will be a lot of moisture in your oven and all of it has to be driven out before full firing.....slowly, slowly is really important in the curing process.
Terry
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Post by turkey on May 13, 2012 11:39:11 GMT
very nice arch there, as terry says slowly slowly and if you can keep low constant heat rather than short sharp heating. Slow to heat slow to cool is best.
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Post by webbaldo on May 17, 2012 6:49:22 GMT
Hey someone local for a change!, Im in Consett. Look forward to seeing some more pics!
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Post by danny on May 24, 2012 13:34:16 GMT
Ok...finally some additional pictures. Here we have the base as constructed by the builders who did a far better and faster job of the stonework than I could have done. I cut out a half circle of material that represented the outside dimension of the dome (1100mm plust half a brick length). This was created early on as the design evolved as we went. I only found this forum after getting to the point you see here, which is a shame as I could have saved myself a great deal of time. Attachments:
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Post by danny on May 24, 2012 13:44:26 GMT
I built the floor on soft sand, using a large rubber mallet to ensure that each block was completely bedded down. This took hours as each block needed to be lifted and adjusted a number of times to ensure that there would be no settling in the future. In addition each block had to have ten ridges ground off the sides (there to create the right gap for the sand when using as block paving). I used the block upside down as the 'top' was slightly rippled where the underside was flat with a very square edge. Attachments:
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Post by cannyfradock on May 24, 2012 13:53:54 GMT
Danny
As a bricklayer/stonemason.....I love that stonework. I used the same method as yourself in getting hearth nice and flat. I always recommend people use fire-bricks for the hearth, but I know of a lot (including commercials) who have used concrete pavers with great success.
Terry
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Post by danny on May 24, 2012 14:04:14 GMT
This shot shows the start of the dome build. I built the arch first and then started with the first course of the dome. I was fooled into thinking that it all seemed straight forward. As the structure grew, it became more and more time consuming, as each brick had to trimmed in each plane to maintain the tight fit on the inner face of the dome. I used a 4" angle grinder with a diamond cutting disc, about £20 for the disc but lasted for the whole job and the diameter remained constant so no loss of depth of cut. As I was less than convinced about my mortar choice I was sure to make every piece tapered in both directions so that in theory the mortar was not holding the dome together. Attachments:
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Post by danny on May 24, 2012 14:10:47 GMT
Getting a little further up now. I intended to say earlier that I installed the slab of granite the night before laying the floor, this gave me my datum for the blocks. I bought the granite about twenty years ago for a fireplace I was building in a house of mine in Cumbria. I sold the house before it was finished, just shows you that if you keep these things long enough they come in handy! Attachments:
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Post by danny on May 24, 2012 14:15:41 GMT
Not too much room to work as the picture shows. I suspect using an angle grinder whilst holding a brick in the other hand and standing on one leg in the rain is frowned upon by most H&S folks. By this point I have put a board into the oven and then created a sand profile to follow and support the bricks. The tool to position the bricks at the correct radius (550mm for my 1100mm oven) is now useless. I drilled a hole in the very centre of the board and stood it upright as I would then see that the last brick was at the right height above the oven floor. I also made a form from MDF that allowed me to guage the outside shape of the dome. This can be seen on the right, leaning against the wall. Attachments:
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Post by danny on May 24, 2012 14:22:43 GMT
Here can be seen the sand form. Getting the board out of the oven afterwards proved to be rather more difficult than imagined! Attachments:
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Post by danny on May 24, 2012 14:25:35 GMT
The dome finished. The last bit took hours! Attachments:
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Post by cannyfradock on May 24, 2012 17:18:20 GMT
Great work Danny. I love this photo... Thanks for sharing.... Terry
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cec
WFO Team Player
Posts: 160
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Post by cec on May 24, 2012 17:38:48 GMT
You look like a cowboy ! Just waiting for the draw . Oh I love the walling , I did something a bit like that around my pond but it look pants compared to yours
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Post by rivergirl on May 24, 2012 17:59:27 GMT
That's a fantastic build, I love the wall.
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