[dusty]

Well... I'm off and running. Finally started building my oven. I ended up ordering refmix from our beloved FB on Monday. Took off of work a bit early that day, went home, and started laying out the soldier course. One thing led to another, and I ended up cutting a wedge off of every-other soldier brick. This so to cut in half the number of motar wedges I would have to make (and cut in half the amount of motar that I would use). My Refmix was on the porch the next day - yesterday! I started yesterday by glueing (with the sticky mortar) each wedge shaped soldier to the half brick soldier with a minimum of refmix - maybe 1/16". First photo.
So, today, I had to set 22 big fat bricks instead of 44 skinny bricks. Twice as fast to level and set. These pics are at the half way point today. I ended up completeing the first course about 4:30. In the photos, you can see that I had a wedged shaped joint at every-other brick.
I suppose I'm rambling, but the first four inches are done! Woo Hooo!

dusty