Way to go Oventhusiast

[james]

Now that is some great brickwork! Wow, she just looks like she is jumping at the thought of cooking.

Take care in curing -- you are so close, I can taste it.
James

[asudavew]

I agree!!

Just awesome, and great pictures too.

Congrats!

[oventhusiast]

Thanks guys, for the kind words! They are much appreciated!
I'm currently misting the dome 2 or 3 times daily to get the refractory mortar as hard as possible before the curing fires (in a week or two)get underway.
I'm a bit concerned about the vermiculite pad under the oven. It's still very firm but with all the building, misting, and rainy weather we've been having here in Boston Ma., the pad is soaking wet. Is this something I should be worried about or will it dry out with the fires? I'm planning to 'doghouse' over the oven and I want to make sure everything is bone dry before I insulate everything and cover it up.
Thanks again,
Best to all,
Rick

[dmun]

It will dry out fine. The process of hardening concrete is called "hydration" for a reason.

[christo]

Wonderful!!!!

I can't wait to see a picture of your keystone and some soot in that baby!!!

Christo

[oventhusiast]

Hey Dmun,
I hope you're right. I'm getting a little worried about the mortar
getting hard. I stopped wetting it down because it seems a little weak at the bottom (the mortar). I covered it with a tarp because it's getting very rainy over here. I've got to 'just walk away' for now because I start to worry about things like that and then I start to loose sleep over it!
And Christo,
As far as the keystone goes, it's not that impressive. I was kind of rushing to get it done and it looks a bit like a crooked mosaic!! I will, however, post ALL of the photos at some point if I can figure out how to do a bunch of them at once without posting 900 pictures of Rina (see avatar pic) by accident! And thanks much for the compliments!
Rick

[Ken524]

The two-toned firebrick in the dome is the coolest! I love that.

[fullback66]

Oventhusiast,
Where are these pictures everyone is talking about. I would like to see your oven.

fb66

[oventhusiast]

Hi Fullback,
Go to the photo gallery. The pics are under the letter 'O' for oventhusiast.
Thanks for asking.
Rick

[fullback66]

thanks,
I will check it out.
fb66