Brick Saw Wanted

[BothellOven]

We are getting to the stage where we need to support the bricks more than the last row. What's the best way to go about this part of the build to close in the dome?

[BothellOven]

Forgot to attach picture. Attached is the picture showing where we are currently with the build.

[mrchipster]

Originally Posted by BothellOven

We are getting to the stage where we need to support the bricks more than the last row. What's the best way to go about this part of the build to close in the dome?

For the vertical brick I have seen all kinds of techniques

Custom length sticks angled from the floor
Exercise balls blown up inside the dome.
Thin wood lath made into arches (I think people soak them in water to make them easier to bend)
Styrofoam arches
Sand domes
Multiple Coat hangar wires bent over bricks in "U" shape to hold brick to previous chain
Grooves on the sides and bottoms of the bricks to give them grip.
etc...
Twelve people gives you 24 hands to hold bricks -- OK this one is a joke.

Check out the photo Gallery for other ideas.
PhotoPlog - Dome and Floor
PhotoPlog - Dome and Floor
PhotoPlog - Dome and Floor
PhotoPlog - Dome and Floor
PhotoPlog - Dome and Floor

[BothellOven]

Thanks for the advice...especially the 24 hands! We got her enclosed. See attached.

[mrchipster]

Originally Posted by BothellOven

Thanks for the advice...especially the 24 hands! We got her enclosed. See attached.

What method did you end up using?

Looks really nice. Is the door Glass? If it is glass how did you make it and where did you get the glass?

Chip

[BothellOven]

Ended up using the stick method when necessary...but towards the top they were cut real close and tight.

The door is from an old wood stove.

[Gmcollins]

I've been reading this thread with interest. I just got hold of 210 bricks for free that were salvaged from a fireplace demolition. They are off white, 8" x 5" x 3 11/16". They weight 9lbs each. I'm wondering if they are firebricks or not. They certainly look like firebricks but the colour and size has me confused. Perhaps the size is different here in Canada??

Any ideas how I can test to be certain! I do have a fireplace at home where I could fire one up for a couple of hours and see how it does.

[BothellOven]

They sound like fire bricks...Do you have a picture?

[Ken524]

If they came from the firebox of the fireplace that was demolished, good bet they are firebricks. Bricks come in all sorts of strange sizes, I wouldn't worry about that.

Sounds to me like you made a NICE score!

[dconnolly]

I cut everything I need (cement, firebrick) wiht a circular saw and two different type of blades. The Cement was cut using a diamond blade (about $15 @ Home Depot) and the fire brick with a $3 balde made of grit materials advertised for cutting cement. The grit blade went through fire brick without clogging up, while th ediamond blade would seem to clog up after a few cuts. I have but did not use a wet tile saw. That I did use for cutting the natural stone veneer to mortar onto th exterior.