Entry arch form work Getting Started Discuss Entry arch form work in the Pizza Oven Design and Installation forums; Hi. Laid the bricks for the entry arch today. How long should I wait before I remove the form work? ...

[pizzahead]

Hi. Laid the bricks for the entry arch today. How long should I wait before I remove the form work?

Also what is the best method to clean the bricks once they are laid?

Cheers
Jase

[dmun]

Also what is the best method to clean the bricks once they are laid?

If at all possible, clean the excess mortar off with water and a sponge about six hours after the days build. Getting mortar off once it's set gets more difficult.

[nissanneill]

Jase,
if you mixed your mortar correctly and not too wet and you wet your bricks prior to laying (they then don't suck excess moisture from your mortar), then I would remove the formwork within at least a couple of hours of laying. The bricks should be self supporting and provided you have sufficient buffering on the sides, then they should be self supporting as soon as the mortar stiffens up, even before it sets properly.
This as Dmun says, makes cleaning the bricks much easier.
You can always wash the finished bricks with a brick wash (which is diluted hydrochloric or pool acid, but use with extreme care as it bites! It also allows you to rake or roll your joints better.

Neill

[pizzahead]

Thanks Neill. The mortar was like a sticky thick toothpaste, is that about right? and I did soak the bricks prior to laying them.

It reminded me of the clay I used to use in when I was doing pottery at high school so many years ago.

Cheers
Jase

[nissanneill]

Sounds just about ideal, stiff but sticky!
You did the right thing by wetting your bricks so they don't absorb too much water from the mortar which weakens it or mainly the bond a little.

Neill