Jake's In Mass (Started July 3, 2011)

[jatsrt]

So, here I go. I started excavation this weekend and am ready for cement pour next weekend. I am doing a 42" oven on a 6'x 6'8" base. I have designed everything ahead of time in SketchUp, but we will see how long that model holds true.

I am also putting in a 10'x12' patio to go along with the oven.

Seems I can only post one picture per message right now, I'll try to follow up with more pictures.

[jatsrt]

Ahh, the images are too big, well here they are full size. Just a random set of day one pictures. I am going to try to take many pictures during this process.

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[lwood]

That pic is huge, dimension-ally. Make it smaller.

[Lburou]

Literally built on a rock

I laud your including the start date in your subject line -pure genius

If you upload your pictures, the software will reduce the size of your pictures. If not, you can google a free re-sizer easy enough and then include the actual picture in your posts.

Another way to do it is to go to your user control panel and start your own album there. You will have to downsizey our pictures there too.

Looks good so far.

[jatsrt]

No problem downsizing the pictures, I'll do that a little later. I tend to rely on the browser downsizing to a viewable size. I'm going to keep the full size ones around too, I always look at the pictures and want to see some small detail that I cannot make out in a small picture.

I'll also post my SketchUp of my design as I go along. Modeling the oven in 3d definitely helps you work out silly detail that could be a major problem if discovered during the build.

[jatsrt]

Here they are smaller

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[jatsrt]

Adding a couple in the thread for those just browsing

[Neil2]

One suggestion.

If I was doing it I would do the two pours separately. I would even complete the build of the oven and leave the patio till later. Just put the gravel layer down and pull the form work for now. This will allow you the option of altering the patio once you have seen the final oven shape. It will also give you a good working area for mortar mixing, insulation mixing, cutting, etc without having to worry about marking or damaging your patio finish.

[jatsrt]

Neil, thanks, I should clarify. The patio is going to just be pavers, no concrete. The reason it is framed out is that I currently have landscapers working around the area and I wanted them to know what to work around. No reason to sod an area that is going to get ripped up anyway.

You are completely right though, that will be my work area and when the oven is done, I'll finish that part off.

I also used pressure treated for the form, I plan on just leaving i there when I am done and let it rot out over the many coming years.

[jatsrt]

33 Bags of cement mix today to do my slab. Pictures will be posted later. This was mu brother's and my first time working with cement. I think all things considered it came out pretty darn well. We will see after it sets up for a few days though.