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Post by cannyfradock on Feb 19, 2012 10:55:27 GMT
....nice to see the old thread transferred.
How's the build going?....any updates....or pics?
Terry
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Post by bookemdanno on Feb 20, 2012 13:18:50 GMT
Hi Terry, nothing much happening right now. Just been cleaning down the bricks i've accumulated, and keeping warm through the cold spell.
Whilst spending all this time indoors though, she who should be obeyed has shoehorned a new job in, so the downstairs bathroom has been stripped completely out and a new bathroom suite sits in the dining room! Pressure is on to get the re-fit done before the weather gets better and i'm pining to be outside building my oven once more!
Do any of you guys on here have experience of freezing pipes to avoid drain downs of central heating systems? I need to replace a Thermostatic Valve in the bathroom and this is a method i've been thinking of, but never yet added to my repertoire.
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Post by faz on Feb 20, 2012 22:12:42 GMT
If you're going to freeze the pipe you need to make sure that there is no flow in the pipe, as it will stop the ice from forming properly. Make sure you have all the parts you need, including tools, available and laid out ready to use. Although the ice will last a decent amount of time you don't want to waste time messing around. And depending how competent a plumber you are I would consider getting a second can of spray just in case you need extra time - you can always take it back for a refund when you're done. Oh and make sure that the valve on the other end of the rad is properly turned off too, unless you're freezing that end as well Enjoy the plumbing!
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Post by bookemdanno on Feb 21, 2012 13:17:15 GMT
Thanks Faz! I've done a fair bit in my time but not frozen a pipe before. It seems the best method. Turn off the TRV and Lockshield, drain down the Rad. Tools out and freeze away for 5 minutes or so. Freeze again and get cracking! Oh yeah, turn off the CH first! thanks all.
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Post by bookemdanno on May 29, 2012 12:45:09 GMT
Did the Radiator thanks Faz, and there's a story to tell on that! Was going fine, the pipe froze nicely, lockshield was off...
The wife turned on the Central Heating whilst i was up the garage, forgetting that i'd left specific instructions.... Came back, carried on working.... Thermostat decided to tell the boiler to fire up....
Frozen plug did all it could to withstand the rising tempeature and building pressure in the pipe before giving way and a spout of brown hot water rose 5 feet up the wall soaking me and creating the panic!
Drained the system down after that!
Bathroom almost finished...it's been the longest bathroom project in existence i think! It feels like as long as it was to rebuild the kitchen!
I now have Bricks, Chimney, Thermocouple, Limes, Sands, Dome Arch former and I-tool made and Insulation has just arrived. Just need to free up the time to put it all together!
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Post by bookemdanno on Jun 11, 2012 12:30:40 GMT
All i'd managed to do since last year was clean all my bricks... And roughly mark out my base... I'd been worried about moisture getting into the base, so i spread out some old Synthaprufe that was clogging up the garage... But this weekend (Sunday) i've finally got going again!!!!! Next step, was to lay out the Heater Bricks and Quarry tiles for cuts... Set out the Thermolites as per one of Terrys fabulous design ideas, but i'd also grabbed a handful of Kiln Insualtion Bricks off of the ol Freecycle, which i incorporated into the insulating layer bedded down on a plain mortar with an integral waterproofer, again, just my worry about rising damp...Mr Grimsdale!!!!! I thought they'd do well under the main area of the oven, and it avoided the need to spend more on Thermolites. I used 75mm Shield blocks, to get my levels right and match the Kiln Bricks. This layer is to be covered, so i didn't waste to much time making it pretty...just level. Then back on with the Heater Blocks, which do cut really easily. I was surprised, but the dust!!! Never known anything like it. I bedded these on nothing more than a slurry to keep them in place, as i'd taken the time on ensuring the Thermolite layer was bang on by dressing it with a rub brick so i kept the mortar layer here to a minimum. And with Spain v Italy fast approaching, i called it a day.
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Post by faz on Jun 11, 2012 12:52:55 GMT
Have you turned purple from the brick dust yet? It is so fine it almost appears oily. I was glad I was wearing a dust mask when cutting mine.
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Post by turkey on Jun 11, 2012 15:16:50 GMT
"all" you had managed to do, looks like you have enough there to also build a cottage to go with the oven! Looks like you have all the base ready for the fun part, the actual build
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Post by bookemdanno on Jun 18, 2012 21:58:58 GMT
A bit more got done this weekend too! Thermocouple wire set. I blagged this from work. I've tested it to 500 degrees, and thought i'd bung a couple in. If they pack up or don't work i'll get an IR Thermometer. I then ripped down a Thermolite Block to the thickness of a heater brick to build up the Vent floor, and act as a thermal break. Then it was set all those Quarry Tiles onto the heater bricks. They didn't go back as i'd originally set them out for cuts, but a little bit of jiggling and they didn't end up too bad. They were a mix of reclaimed Metric and Imperial sizes, but i was after a "pre-used" rustic/aged effect to me oven! Honestly! All laid with a homebrew mix of 2 parts Kiln Dried Sand to 1 of NHL2 Hydraulic Lime. The kiln dried sand was to get a fine aggregate to allow a thin bed and be able to use a notched trowel. After that, get that first course set out too. I used my tred old Tile Cutter to trim up the bricks before snapping clean with a bolster. Seemed to work well, but i had to take off the guard, so i ended up looking well Tangoed! Get the arch laid out. I initially kept to full half bricks, but i didn't like the large mortar joints, so a bit more Angle Grinder fun, left me with some nice voissoirs! I cut these bricks to 5", to give a little more "land" to bare the chimney later on. I couldn't wait to mix up my first batch of mortar! This time, 2 parts soft sand, 1 part sharp sand to 1 part NHL2. My personal aim for this oven is for it to have a traditional feel using old and recycled materials as much as possible, and have the whole thing in a "pre-aged" style. Rustic? Rough? And that was end of play for saturday! Orange, sunburnt, dry as ghandis flopflips and gagging for a beer! Sunday... Now the tricky bit. Well... for me! Got my itool out, and set. Then got cracking! It took a little while to get the relationship with the itool sorted out, but eventually it seemed to work out okay. I only set the bricks on a half bed, with a wedge of quarry tile at the outer edge, which i removed after the mortar set up. To fill the larger joints on the outside of the oven after each course, i made up a new mix of 3 parts Sharp sand to 1 part NHL2, for a stronger mortar, to stave off cracks, and ease of backfill. I got a little further on, but ran out of time to take photos, so they will follow on.
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Post by cannyfradock on Jun 18, 2012 23:25:06 GMT
Danno
Nice progress. Normally the top 6 or 8 bricks of the arch are squint bricks......or the back edge is cut off at an angle to take the the dome bricks which make the transition. Even if you don't cut the arch bricks, try to enclose the dome into the arch ......even if you have to go slightly "off" perfect circle and end up slightly with a pear shape. It might mean a couple of awkward cuts later but will make for a better job.
Terry
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Post by bookemdanno on Jun 19, 2012 12:16:39 GMT
Thanks Terry! I think i get what you mean... The bricks do cut easily, so i was half thinking of cutting the angle into the arch "in situ", using the itool as a guide. I'll have a look back over some archive domes, to be sure, to be sure. The other half was to cut a "vee" into the ring bricks as they hit the arch. Not sure which way to go. It'll all work itself out. This is where i'm at as of 19th June...
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Post by bookemdanno on Jun 26, 2012 12:41:31 GMT
Good ol British weather! Been dodging the showers...erm...biblical downpours this weekend. Contemplated a gazebo, but the wind would have made a sail out of it, an i'm sure we'll get a decent run of good weather soon. Finall got my head around the arch to dome upper transition point, Thanks Terry! Managed a few more bricks to take me to a point where the itool was a bit slow going, so i spent some time in the garage with my jigsaw. I also thought i'd get a bit more landscapey around the oven area, so i dug out and set some foundation for a couple of raised beds, the weather lightened up, so i laid a few old blocks too. These will all be faced with brick, eventually too. ]
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Post by turkey on Jun 26, 2012 13:47:48 GMT
I spy a shark in our midst.... dab hand with the bricks and then all of a sudden a chippie to.... Looks amazing even with the form the last few rings will be complicated, just make sure its easy to lower and get through the door, or plan to burn it as part of the curing process lol. Thoes bricks really do look too good to cover with insulation, but needs must I suppose. Will you face round the oven base with the bricks also?
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Post by bookemdanno on Jun 27, 2012 12:14:22 GMT
Why, thank you Turkey, you're not so bad yourself you know!!! There is a fag paper to spare when that form comes out through the door! I hope that the ply doesn't take up too much water, or it will be having a firey end. I have a selection of old reds left, along with some Ibstock sort of old enough looking modern bricks, from a mates old garden wall, that'll be used to face up the base, raised beds and create a bbq area in an "L" off of the Oven base. I'll have to get that bit done soon so that i can finish the oven entrance and chimney section. I'm hoping to get the oven dome finished, so it can cure naturally for a week or two, then start some drying fires. My son Joseph wants a Pizza party for his birthday in August, so even if just the dome is ready at least that can happen. I cut a load of bricks last night which will hopefully see me almost closing the dome this weekend, weather permitting. I touch my forelock once again to all those who use firebricks and go for minimal joints and four tapers per brick. I'm sick of chopping up soft old reds!!!
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Post by bookemdanno on Jun 28, 2012 21:42:44 GMT
The school hit us with a "PD" day...whatever that is, so i had to use a days holiday to look after Joseph. Oh dear... We had a nice morning, then it was decided to hit the oven. Got George back in place, mixed up a batch, shirt off and went for it! I couldn't believe how much quicker it was, but i didn't like the fact that i couldn't see the inside with George in the way. Before i knew it, i was needing more cuts as i was at the last chain. Still a bit aprehensive as to how the inside was... A bit more grinding Here i was, standing at the edge. In just one afternoon!!! How do i finish? Then looking up i saw the house across the road and its Victorian gauged brick lintels. So i sort of copied the idea...roughly... I'd used this method ages ago to create some doglegged bricks for a job, so i cut, rubbed and mixed up some putty. Stuck two bricks together, and marked and shaped them up into a cone sort of shape. The beauty of old red bricks! You could possibly do the same fine jointing with firebricks, but it'd take longer to form them up, i shink. A few trial fits, a little grind here, a little grind there and it was in. Some mortar, and wedges of brick from the last chain cuts and it all was solid. But in my excitement of closing the dome, i just covered it all up and smoothed some left over mortar over without a picture! So...its complete. So far. I've now gotta wait until tomorrow afternoon i reckon before removing George and having a look at whats inside. Plenty more to do tomorrow elsewhere, to hopefully keep my mind off it!
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