[nissanneill]

What a day. It started out with beautiful fine sunny weather and when I was ready to mix the mortar, it rained and continued for the rest of the day. I commenced by putting in the sand dome in for the top chains. It went in well and compacted to the point where I decided not to mix cement in the top inch or so. I made a pattern out of some high impact styrene, which was lying around and got it all ready to brick in to closure after lunch.
As the chains got higher, I had to cut bricks so as not to have larger mortar joints. Even with great care, there is always those bricks which do not want to line up, The inside of the dome shows that once I put in the final 2 key bricks and immediately removed the sand dome. I then climbed inside to remove the trapped mortar and see what sort of a mess I had ended up with.
It wasn’t so bad, didn’t have to do any serious modifications, rather leave it than interfere with the setting mortar and disturbing the bricks. I don’t even need to use the angle grinder with a diamond blade on any bad or protruding bricks.
Cleaned up inside the oven and called it a day.
Next week I will put on the insulating blanket, the chicken wire and a good thick layer of cement/vermiculite. All that remains then is the vent/chimney, the tiling of the vent and the cast iron doors. I will get into them during the week and get them cast once the patterns are done. Guess I can start my first fires in it next week to commence the drying out. Not in a hurry to get cooking, so will take my time, but everyone who sees it has invited themselves over for the inaugural feast.
I will post the next pics when something new has happened.

Neill