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  • Possible - New idea for brick cutting table

    I think i may have come up with a very efficient and effective brick cutting table.

    This came about by studying the chart of brick cutting angles developed by JCG31 and the work done in the "Its time to go vertical" thread.

    jcg31 has a great idea for cutting 2 or more dome bricks from a single brick with minimal cuts. I just took this idea one step further.

    In his presentation he describe the use of c clamps and stops to hold the bricks while cutting and as this is very efficient from the standpoint of investing time in building a jig The clamps must be repositioned carefully each time a new chain is created.

    Here is my table design and I will have a follow up to this describing the cuts to the bricks.

    The table is simply two 2 by sixes that are attached to each other with hinges. A single larger hinge would be satisfactory.

    The 1st 2 x 6 is just a base and a way to clamp or attach the cutting jig to the sliding saw table. The 2nd 2 x 6 both supports and provides a cutting angle for the brick. As you can see from photo number 1 and referencing JCG31's chart on bevel and angle calculations all of the bricks are cut at 5? up to chain 11.

    This static angle would be true of most dome sizes even though in smaller domes the angle might be larger and in larger domes the angle smaller.

    His calculations were based on a 42 inch oven.

    When creating this jig the top board is cut long enough to support the brick on the left and the right, a groove is cut to allow the saw to cut entirely through the brick without hitting the jig, and a thin board is attached to the top at the 5? angle being used for most of the cuts.

    After attaching the board at 5? angle it is cut through so the saw can pass. By attaching a single stick screwing it down and then cutting it later this guarantees that both sides of the jig are the same angle.

    The bevel can be adjusted for every chain easily because the hinge between the 2 boards allows the angle to be propped up with shims or thin pieces of brick. I also put a long screw in the far left end of the upper board and screwed into the lower board to hold the angle constant and shims in place while cutting all the bricks in a particular chain.

    Please view the annotated photos or feel free to ask questions regarding the jig.

    Chip
    Attached Files
    Last edited by mrchipster; 04-30-2012, 09:07 AM. Reason: fixed typos
    Chip

  • #2
    Re: Possible - New idea for brick cutting table

    The cutting of the bricks then becomes very simple.

    1) Set the desired bevel angle on the jig by shimming the upper board to the desired angle. This gets rid of the inverted V's.

    2) Set the brick on the left side of the jig so as to remove enough of the right side of the brick to get a full cut on the brick. Make cut #1.

    3) Turn the brick over 180 degrees, leaving the freshly cut side on the right.

    4) Move the brick to the right to position for cut #2 and make cut #2.

    5) turn brick over 180 degrees one more time, leaving newly cut side on the right again.

    6) Move brick to the right to position for cut #3. and make the final cut.

    You now have two identical dome bricks with 3 cuts.

    Note: when cutting bricks into 3's it is advisable to cut both ends off of the brick before making the final brick section otherwise the brick section will be small and hard to hold.

    Chip
    Attached Files
    Chip

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Possible - New idea for brick cutting table

      Great idea for a jig. It looks like it works very well. As a suggestion instead of a screw and shims why not use a coarse thread bolt from the bootom up into the 2x6 through a narrow pre-drilled hole. Similar to those adjustable feet on restaurant tables. That way you could just turn the bolt to get the desired slope and it would stay fixed without a shim. If one wanted to invest a bit more time you could use an embedded nut glued into the wood as well. Do you think this might work?

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Possible - New idea for brick cutting table

        The only issue I have with the bolt is that the brick dust seems to get into everything and it might jam up after several brick cuts. even the head of the Philips screw needed flushed out before I could get a screw driver into the head. The hinges even get a little resistant to moving due to the dust.

        The advantage of the screw is that it holds the left end of the table down when the brick is weighting the right side and that is important.

        Chip
        Chip

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Possible - New idea for brick cutting table

          Awesome jig Chip! I am glad there are minds like yours on this forum. Great job!
          http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f8/p...two-21068.html

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Possible - New idea for brick cutting table

            Chip,
            Thanks for sharing the design & pics.
            Here's my version of your design.
            This worked incredibly well.
            Thanks again.

            4 black screws hold back strip in place for proper angle.
            Gold screw in left side of plywood base changes pitch of jig to cut proper bevel.

            Todd

            Link to my build - http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f21/...ast-18900.html

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Possible - New idea for brick cutting table

              Wetsaw jig, view from back.
              This low bevel cut was early-lower chain.

              Todd

              Link to my build - http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f21/...ast-18900.html

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Possible - New idea for brick cutting table

                Wetsaw jig.
                The high bevel cut was a later-higher chain.
                I removed the angle fence and now held the bricks in place along each line by hand for the correct angle.
                One cut is referenced off the front line, the next cut referenced off the back line.

                Todd

                Link to my build - http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f21/...ast-18900.html

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Possible - New idea for brick cutting table

                  Wetsaw jig.
                  The high bevel cut was a later-higher chain.
                  I removed the angle fence and now held the bricks in place along each line by hand for the correct angle.
                  One cut is referenced off the front line, the next cut referenced off the back line.
                  This half brick shows a 1st cut example referenced off the back line.

                  Todd

                  Link to my build - http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f21/...ast-18900.html

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Possible - New idea for brick cutting table

                    Wetsaw jig.
                    The high bevel cut was a later-higher chain.
                    I removed the angle fence and now held the bricks in place along each line by hand for the correct angle.
                    One cut is referenced off the front line, the next cut referenced off the back line.
                    This half brick shows a 2nd cut example referenced off the front line.

                    Todd

                    Link to my build - http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f21/...ast-18900.html

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Possible - New idea for brick cutting table

                      Each dome brick was cut w/ an angle and a bevel.
                      This ensures an almost mortar-less joint on the inside of the dome.

                      I cut 1 full brick into 2 angled & beveled bricks by making 3 cuts.
                      e)

                      I marked the bricks as 1up, 1down, 2up, 2down to keep track of each brick as I made the cuts.


                      Todd

                      Link to my build - http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f21/...ast-18900.html

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Possible - New idea for brick cutting table

                        Each dome brick was cut w/ an angle and a bevel.
                        This ensures an almost mortar-less joint on the inside of the dome.

                        I cut 1 full brick into 2 angled & beveled bricks by making 3 cuts.

                        I marked the bricks as 1up, 1down, 2up, 2down to keep track of each brick as I made the cuts.

                        Todd

                        Link to my build - http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f21/...ast-18900.html

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Possible - New idea for brick cutting table

                          I cut all my bricks with a cheap angle grinder, just a small one, with diamond blade. OK, my bricks are quite soft, but it's handy to be able to use the grinder to take off any bits that get in the way.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Possible - New idea for brick cutting table

                            Great Jigs!
                            Ive been lurking about for some time now (my better half thinks its been far too long wihtout some WFO action) as I go through the process of planning my build. 1000mm (40').
                            Can I ask please what you refer to with bevel and angle.
                            I can see why the sides of the brick need to be cut to allow the bricks along side to sit tighter together. Is this what you refer to as the bevel?
                            What then is the angle cut side and why is it needed.
                            Sorry for the newbie questions? Just tryin to make the least amount of mistakes possible.
                            Grant

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Possible - New idea for brick cutting table

                              Hi Grant,
                              Take a look at the first few entries by MrChipster, in this thread.

                              I re-posted his picture below.
                              If you follow his description (also documented in my build), you will see how 3 cuts on a full size brick result in (2) half bricks w/ the proper angle & bevel.

                              See the attached pic below.
                              See how the front face it thinner @ the top, compared to the bottom?
                              I would consider this the bevel cut.

                              Notice how the top face is thinner in the front, compared to the back.
                              I would consider this the angle cut.
                              If you did only angle cuts on the sides, the bricks would fit together perfectly when laying flat. But once you lift the back of the brick, as required for each chain, the bricks would separate again.
                              Hence the need for the bevel cut.

                              Regardless of semantics, the combination of those (2) angles allow the bricks to come in contact without there being a triangle-shaped gap between them, which would require mortar.

                              It sounds complicated.
                              But try it out w/ a couple bricks.
                              Dry fit them together and increase the angle by hand, using shims.
                              It will make sense when you see it.
                              Hope this helps.
                              Attached Files
                              Todd

                              Link to my build - http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f21/...ast-18900.html

                              Comment

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