Keeping Concrete out of Cells

[jamesdifede]

Hello All:

Building First Oven here is Takoma Park Maryland. Got the cement blocks in place last weekend and filled the required "core cells" with concrete for strength. I hope to build the form for the first concrete layer this weekend.

I have no idea if this question is way off the mark, but here goes:

In pouring the intial concrete, can I expect that a bunch of it will pour through the open cells on the top of the last layer of cement blocks? It would seem like there would be a good deal of waste if much of the concrete pours through this rather wide openings.

If anyone has a trick or technique to keep this from happening, it would be much appreciated. I will be snapping some pics this weekend, and hope to post early next week,

Thanks very much in advance,

Jim

[dalucca2003]

Jim,

I know a lot of people who just stuff their empty cement bags in the cells to fill the void or being one who went overboard on the cautious side, I filled every core with cement. I believe most builders opt for filling the empty cores with the bags or other loose material.

[asudavew]

Originally Posted by jamesdifede

In pouring the intial concrete, can I expect that a bunch of it will pour through the open cells on the top of the last layer of cement blocks? It would seem like there would be a good deal of waste if much of the concrete pours through this rather wide openings.

If anyone has a trick or technique to keep this from happening, it would be much appreciated. I will be snapping some pics this weekend, and hope to post early next week,

Jim

I filled my empty cells with the empty bags from the Sacrete that I used to fill the other cells. And then a bit of sand/gravel. Not much.

You can fill em with just about anything to keep the hearth concrete from running into them.

Sand, gravel, dirt, newspaper, a time capsule.... whatever is available.

Congrats on the beginning of your oven! It's a heck of a fun project.
Remember to post pics.(We like em around here)
Good luck, and keep asking questions.

[thebadger]

Jim,

The plans recommend that you use old concrete bags to fill in the cores you don't want filled. I read there are plastic "fillers" but haven't found any yet.

Good luck
Dick

[jamesdifede]

WHoa....those responses were quick and much appreciated. I guess a little common sense goes a long way....should have thought of that myself.

Thank you for your replies. I will post as I go.

Regards,

Jim