Transition brick. Newbie Forum Discuss Transition brick. in the Good Background Information forums; I am having trouble trying to get a good fit with the first brick of course 3 meting the arch. ...

[Rodneyf]

I am having trouble trying to get a good fit with the first brick of course 3 meting the arch. I have included a couple of pics of the brick I have cut sitting in place and would love some comments or advise from the experts out there.

[brickie in oz]

Hi Rod.

The first pic looks like you have cut too much out of the brick.
Have you a pic with just a bat there that is not cut?

[Rodneyf]

What do you mean by a bat?

[jrparks]

I think that first brick will work fine. Those are challenging cuts. Do the same for the other side and lay the third course. Small irregularities will not effect the performance of the oven.
Cheers,

[dbhansen]

Looks good to me too. That's a better fit than many.

[brickie in oz]

Originally Posted by Rodneyf

What do you mean by a bat?

A half brick.

[Rastys]

Rodney,
I would cut the brick to fit the vertical arch sides and not worry about the opening until it was mortared in place and set. A diamond blade on a small grinder will soon take care of your other angles much easier and if you are concerned, neater.
I would then cut the top back corners off the arch bricks for your next chain so that your dome bricks have a better than vertical surface to adhere to. I would expect a crack to develop between your course and the arch bricks if you don't. This will be in your oven and allow heat and smoke to escape into your insulating layers.

Rastys

[Rodneyf]

I knew I would get the right help. I will cut the top of the arch bricks and the continue with the fourth course. I see what you mean about only having a vertical surface to adhere to and cutting them will help for sure. I was really only concerned about the look.

[Rastys]

Rodney,
where abouts in this wonderful country do you call home?
Don't get too worried about the looks, yes on the outside it sure is a consideration, but make your dome as strong and crack resistant as possible.
If you wanted to be a little creative with your diamond disc when cutting the back mitre off your arch bricks, you could even cut a widish groove in them so that your dome chain bricks (with a corresponding lip cut into the common surface) can clip and be cemented in to make them so much stronger. It might take a few minutes longer but adds much more interlocking strength.

Rastys

[Rodneyf]

I like the way you think with the idea of a little lip for grip and I was thinking about something like that already. I come from Sydney and the suburb is Padstow in the south west. I have changed the brick now and have used a 3/4 length brick put in length ways to give me enough brick to cut the angle and still have enough to start the course. I have 2 courses nwo against the arch and will start to cut the angle off the arch for the courses from here on. I will also sart to cut out a lip on the transition bricks from the next course as well. I am really happy with the way it is coming together so far and I don't Know what I would do without this forum for advise.