My Geodesic refractory dome oven

[bankermason]

I would like to start by saying thank you. This site has inspired me every step of my oven obsessed path. I am on my second build. The first was a pompeii brick oven ( i built from the plans) which works beautifully...but I have a client that wants one so....

Oven #2 - a geodesic refractory dome. I only just discovered the other geodesic builds today. This afternoon when I was dry fitting my pieces I was starting to get somewhat discouraged that I may have just wasted a lot of time and material - but hopefully now I can go back and make this work. I started this design mainly because I am in Canada and I need to make assembly on site in the spring easier. I chose castable refractory because I would like this oven to heat up faster. I spent my masonry apprenticeship cutting architectural cut stone so I am convinced I need to make the face stone pretty. I have a 2" slab of black granite I plan to polish up that I hope will accent the limestone...
I have lots of work to do on it still, but any feedback is appreciated. thnks

[Lburou]

The face stone certainly is pretty....Not another one like it

Looks like you have things well in hand. Good luck when Spring comes

[mn8tr]

Looks like you have thing well in hand. Keep posting photos, I have not seen many of these during the build and I am curious about them.

COME ON SPRING !!!

[bankermason]

Thank you for the kind words...I hope the darn thing works! I am posting pics of my forms - ok yes funny -but they are functional and if this one works I will build bigger and better forms for the next one(s). I use a template of my inner pentagon & triangle to control the angle.
I am on my second vent/door design and hope to have that done before the new year...

[Lburou]

Intersting form design...Shows a lot of thought to keep them reusable.

Better lock them up a night, if they work they'll be valuable beyond your widlest expectation

[mn8tr]

Were you able to find a refractory product that will absorb the heat rather than reflect?

[Tman1]

I've got a couple of questions...
1. Why did you choose to build a geodesic dome? While very interesting, it wouldn't be a time saver.
2. That's quite an arch piece. Did you find it somewhere, or did you cast that too?

PS- I may be in Minnesota now, but I grew up just down the QEW in St Catharines. =]

[bankermason]

Of course. I did the same research to know which type duty brick to use for the pompeii oven. And which refractory mortars are compatible for each application. I first found my supplier(s) and then set up a meeting with each sales rep. We brainstormed my idea and i was able to decide on the best possible combination of materials for my ovens. Oh and it really helped that three of my fellow masons all worked in refractory so i had a general idea where to start. If you need more info...i'd be happy to share.

One mason friend used to mold garden gnomhs (sp) before bricklaying....lol. But i bet he could show me how to make better molds!

[bankermason]

My shop is just 10 mins from the Qew in hamilton. Greetings!
1. The time saving would come with multiple pours and installing on site in the spring. I could assemble these ovens in half a day where the pompeii would take me much longer.

2. The panel and brackets are not cast. I cut and carved each piece from natural limestone. Check out my web www.harttstone.com

[mn8tr]

The panel and brackets are not cast. I cut and carved each piece from natural limestone. Check out my web www.harttstone.com

That is an amazing skill, wow! You sir are a craftsman.