[cvdukes]

Right now the wire armature is still occupying space in the garage. I got it covered with the chicken wire ...one layer on the inside and two layers on the outside. Went out to shoot some pics of it, but the batteries were dead in the camera...
Now I'm having to tie the layers together to make the thickness less than an inch. Using some galvinized electric fence wire for the ties... a little too stiff to do easily, but the stuff is too hard to use around the yard so its either use it here or toss it completely.
I'm about half through with the tying step...haven't been working on much as I would like because the wife's insisting that I help weed all the flower beds I put in years ago, then she's going turn me loose in the veggie plot too (side note: she's doesn't like the idea of me just being R&D and her being O&M...figures that if I create something, I'm supposed to take responsibility for the upkeep )
So far cost is $21.00 for the chicken wire. The hog wire for the armature was picked up off a neighbor's trash pile, so nothing there. Probably 10 hours invested so far. Right now its 7 feet tall (height of the garage door)...once I get in place, I'll need another small roll of the chiken wire to extend the chimney another 4-5 feet.
Kid coming home for spring break tomorrow. Don't know his plans for next week, but if he can be drafted for a day, I may try to get it mortered. It'll be a lot easier if I can have him on the inside as I push the mortar in from the outside. Of course, also have to replace the pool liner so I'll to figure which job I could best use him on....chance of getting him to work on both is not too high.