Cracked Arch - dang...

[Jed]

Hey Gang,

Today was the first coat of stucco, and keep a 500 degree F curing fire going...

Stucco installed, and the fire was going for several hours.. (bumped up against 600 degree's once that I noticed)

And my first crack in the masonry - Dang!...

Will see if the crack is smaller in the morning with a cooler oven... Still planning on pizza next weekend even with a new beauty crack...

JED

[gjbingham]

It will probably close once cool. Give it a couple more hot fires. If the bricks stay put, move on. No worries! Now is the time to fix boo boos. If a brick falls out, fix it!

[Frances]

Join the club...!

I think you'll be fine though. I've got two little cracks like that in the outer arch that open up every time I heat the oven and close again afterwards. You won't even notice it after a while.

[asudavew]

Originally Posted by gjbingham

If a brick falls out, fix it!

Yes! I lost a brick in my inner arch. I shimmed with the hardened mortar that fell out. ( I had a nice tight fit)

Bad Bad Bad

Three fell out yesterday.

Plan B

[Ken524]

Originally Posted by asudavew

Three fell out yesterday.
Plan B

Jed, Dave:

Ouch! Sorry to hear about those cracks and loose bricks.

Early this spring, I had two loose arch bricks from last fall's adventure. I used the stuff pictured below for the repairs and was surprised at how well it worked. Purchased at Lowe's or Home Depot.

Sorry for the bad picture. Camera phones really stink. The product is:
Imperial Stove & Fireplace Cement & Mortar (Black).

It's gooey stuff that you can put on with a trowel or with your fingers. For my hairline cracks, I smeared it on and worked it in with my fingers. It smooshes in easily. After a couple of days it is hard as a rock. I suspect that a few firings hardens it even more.

So far my repairs have held nicely.

Good luck!!

[asudavew]

Originally Posted by Ken524

Jed, Dave:

Ouch! Sorry to hear about those cracks and loose bricks.

Early this spring, I had two loose arch bricks from last fall's adventure. I used the stuff pictured below for the repairs and was surprised at how well it worked. Purchased at Lowe's or Home Depot.

Sorry for the bad picture. Camera phones really stink. The product is:
Imperial Stove & Fireplace Cement & Mortar (Black).

It's gooey stuff that you can put on with a trowel or with your fingers. For my hairline cracks, I smeared it on and worked it in with my fingers. It smooshes in easily. After a couple of days it is hard as a rock. I suspect that a few firings hardens it even more.

So far my repairs have held nicely.

Good luck!!

Thanks Ken!!
I was thinking of bending a piece of angel iron in an arch shape and installing it.....

I tried some of the high heat caulk on other parts of my oven.. but it seemed to melt.

Is this stuff sticky when setting bricks?

[Ken524]

Yeah, it's pretty sticky. Might be worth a try, I don't think the tub was more than $3 or $4. It was in the section where the fireplace stuff is (which is now the spring garden section at our Home Depot). Might be in the furnace/heating area.

[gjbingham]

Sorry to hear about your bricks Dave. Surprising too. Were they in the arch I hope?

[asudavew]

Originally Posted by gjbingham

Sorry to hear about your bricks Dave. Surprising too. Were they in the arch I hope?

Dead center of the inner arch.

I had one fall out some time ago... so I tried to temporarily stick it back up... I couldn't decide whether to try and repair it or just tear the entry out and redo it all...then 2 more fell out.
I should have taken care of it sooner.... I just knew it would shut down my cooking! And I have been cooking just about every weekend... Dang procrastinator in me too ... I suppose

I think I will try Ken's solution and if that doesn't work.. I guess a rebuild.


How is your WFO holding up?

BTW - Thanks Ken! I'm gonna give that stuff a try.
Maybe tomorrow... then fire this weekend.