How many fire bricks do I buy?

[maburton]

I am going to the store tomorrow to purchase my fire bricks. does anyone have a calculator for how many fire bricks I should buy for a 42" diameter oven with 21" dome?

Inaddition, someone posted a calculator for cutting bricks. Is there a place on this site where these calculators are stored for downloading?

[Dutchoven]

Have you downloaded the Pompeii plans from the FB store. I don't recall specifically the number of bricks...if you have it you could check for the 40 inch pompeii and probably increase the amount by 10 to 20 percent
I don't recall a downloader for brick cutting other than the one about the "Angle-ize" product. I purchased one from a website called Dewalt power and cordless tools - Porter cable tools - Dewalt...it is listed as "the Angle-izer"...will cost about $25 shipping and all...comes with a CD rom that will do all kinds of calculations and tips for you with regard to cutting brick and tile
Best
Dutch

[gjbingham]

No calculator that I know of. Start with 250 if the vendor is close by. You should be able to return any unused brick. You might end up using 300 by the time you are done. Every build is different.

[beaglestorm]

I was able to buy a full pallet (300 bricks) at a discount and get it delivered to my house. It may be worth asking your dealer. Also, remember if you are going to be cutting each brick to fit tight you wil need alot more brick.

The only calculator I remember was an excel spreadsheet that helped you lay out your floor and showed you how may bricks you would need for it. Never seen one for the dome.

[maburton]

thanks for the info, I will start with 250.
I have a print out of the pompeii plans in my notebook. I re-read it last night and did not find a reference to how many bricks to purchase. I thought I had read somewhere in the past that I need 200 bricks.

thanks forthe help.

[dmun]

I did a brick count for the 36, but for the 42 someone else will have to answer.

http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f8/3...ayout-171.html (36 inch pompeii cad layout)

[Ken524]

Originally Posted by maburton

I am going to the store tomorrow to purchase my fire bricks. does anyone have a calculator for how many fire bricks I should buy for a 42" diameter oven with 21" dome?

Inaddition, someone posted a calculator for cutting bricks. Is there a place on this site where these calculators are stored for downloading?

I used about 290 bricks for my 42". All bricks were cut in half, then trimmed on 3 sides. If you plan on custom cutting the bricks to fit, 250 would be a safe bet. That will get you close enough to estimate how many remaining bricks you will need to buy on your second trip to the brickyard.

If you are not going to custom cut the bricks (as per the Forno Bravo plans) the estimate in the plans should be pretty accurate.

[maburton]

what degree of angle did you cut on each brick? all I have is the small tile saw. was it too complicated to custom fit all the bricks with 3 way cuts? did you think it helped or did you do it just because you wanted to?

[Ken524]

Originally Posted by maburton

what degree of angle did you cut on each brick?

Each course had different angles .

was it too complicated to custom fit all the bricks with 3 way cuts? did you think it helped or did you do it just because you wanted to?

It really isn't that complicated. Take a look at my "Old Kentucky Dome" thread (linked below). I have all the photos and descriptions in there on how I did it.

I'm going to guess that 49% of the builders custom cut bricks and 49% use plain half bricks.

did you think it helped

I don't think the oven cares one way or the other. For me it was economics. I live in an area where HeatStop mortar is $80/bag and bricks are only $1.25 each. By cutting the bricks to fit I used a lot more (cheap) bricks and a fraction of the (high priced) mortar I would have needed otherwise.

If you are lucky enough to find inexpensive mortar or make your own, you may save $$ by using untrimmed half bricks.

[gjbingham]

BS Ken! You just loved the precision element involved in building that awesome dome! Expensive mortar was just an excuse to tighten up the specs.

Funnin' ya - of course!