dmun's 36" geodesic oven

[dmun]

The only thing that would be of concern to me would be the fine points of the cuts.In firework we never have any cuts to small or fine to a sharp point as they can be very suseptable to thermal shock and crumbling or breaking off.

Your point is well taken. It happens that the points on the ends of the triangles have not deteriorated at all: all the cracking was between the preassembled polygons.

The key fault with my design was it's thinness. If you could make a geodesic oven with the standard 4 1/2 inch thickness, I'm sure it would be much more stable.

[Giantpanda4]

This thread is fantastic.
I am a dome guy and a WFO enthusiast... goes great together!
I m thinking if you make the dome (freq 3, as you have) out of just hexagons and pentagons, you could potentially make an entire dome from only 4 molds. Make it 20% larger - for shrinkage, and if the shrinkage varies so what? All parts will shrink the same!
Anothe feature would to create a spherical surface on the inside of the polygons. Then when built, the dome would have a specific focus and not a series of planes like a dome.

[edschmidt]

I cast mine from 2 triangle molds. If your using a castable refractory there wouldnt be shrinkage to compensate for. If you are making it from clay obviously there would be shrinkage from the clay drying. The reason I used the triangles to make the pentagons and hexagons was I thought the smaller pieces would be less likely to experience a heat differential within the piece. Also I tapered mine so that I could build without mortar to further isolate each piece from heat differential and cracking. I also did make some newer molds from silicone with the domed interior which you are talking about and it does make for a beautiful finish inside.

[Giantpanda4]

That sounds really cool!

Any pics??

[Mark63]

edschmidt,
I read where you built your oven in april of 2007. Have you had any problems with your design? I am going to start my oven project and it looks to me like you have the best design. There are a couple of question about the construction that I am unclear on. I would like to make mine in the igloo style, no enclosure.Was the slip layer a piece of paper that was put down on the dome than concrete was appied over the paper? Next the 4" of concrete was it regular portland type with wire mesh for reinforcement? Im worried about leaving it concrete on the outside. I like the rustic look but I think I will have a moisture problem with it being outside in the elements. it does not freeze here. Did the concrete get hot when firing? if not then maybe a coat of paint would do for waterproofing.

[Mark63]

edschmidt,
Do you have the 2 form deminsions?

[Kdub]

Doesn't look like edschmidt has visited the forum in awhile...
I'm a newbie looking to build my first WFO and am really interested in this design too.