How to keep your arch bricks from sliding

[Breven]

I constructed my second arch this weekend, including the chimney opening and base plate build up. As I started the second arch, I tapered all of the bricks (which came out much nicer than the first arch with untaperd bricks) in doing so, the sides of the bricks were really smooth. I was worried that with the weight of full bricks, they would want to slide out of place. I decided to use my grinder to cut smal grooves horizontally along each of the bricks. I figured that the grooves would give the mortar a channel to lock into place. It worked like a charm! I've attached a couple of photos...

Has anyone done this before? Was this genius, or a waste of time?

[karl]

Has anyone done this before? Was this genius, or a waste of time?

That's a leading question! Of course it was genius. But I guess both archs will hold up equally long.

karl

[Breven]

HA! That's funny. I thought it was genius too, but then I wondered why i never saw that on FB? Which made me think it's probably totally unessesary. Nevertheless...it worked really well. So well that after I had two of the full bricks up and was about to place the 3rd, I noticed that the second brick wasn't straight. I neglected to push in the rear half of the brick far enough. I went to pull that brick out to re-seat it and I ended up pulling both bricks out. The two bricks stayed together! That was only after 5 mins or so.

So yes..it worked and now I don't feel like an idot running around screaming "I'm a genius, it worked!" I must of looked like Doc Emmit after he got 1.21 Gigaewatts into the flux capacitor witha bolt of lightning.

[Les]

[quote=Breven;38050]So yes..it worked and now I don't feel like an idot running around screaming "I'm a genius, it worked!" QUOTE]

Actually - I cut grooves in my keystone as well. So I am definitely going with genius.

Les...