Finally Starting My 42" Manteca

[BarryKeith]

Bought the materials about 13 months ago and finally getting started. My wife got breast cancer and she's at a place now where I can get started again. I cut and placed the base last week and am starting the soldier row with full bricks, cut at an angle on the top. It was so high that I am going to build the arch before I start the next row. Very excited.

[Tapir Force]

Barry,

First, let me offer you my fervent hopes for a complete recovery for your wife. I know that it is hard to do anything in your life when your side kick is in peril. Let the oven be a distraction and savor every moment of the task. There is something very Zen about this pursuit.

Good luck with this oven. Make sure you share a lot. Take pictures and post as many large ones as you can. The people on this forum will look at them and catch your mistakes or help you find different solutions to perplexing problems that are sure to arise. Do not be afraid to make mistakes, we all do and there is no place where you can come and find interested people to help you.

I will be watching as will literally hundreds of others. It is addictive.

Robert

[BarryKeith]

Thank you. I actually finished my arch and part of my soldier row tonight with the hour of sunlight I had. I just want to get a majority of it done before the heat comes. I'm in central CA and it gets hot! I'll post some pics next time.

[BriggsARNP]

All the best to you and your wife. I look forward to following your progress. I hope to follow in your footsteps soon.
Bevan

[Cheesesteak]

Hey Barry -

I'm right up the road in Folsom - and I'll be down in Manteca over Memorial Day weekend for my boy's baseball tournament - and the Field of Dreams in Manteca.

I'm with you in trying to get done before summer sets in. We've been a bit spoiled with the weather - especially today. We know the 100's are on their way - it's just a question of when.

Anyway - let's see some pics of the build!

[BarryKeith]

Here are some pics of my start with the arch done first. Mistake? Maybe, I'll let you know.

[Mike D]

Hey Barrykeith, nice start. You better get going if your going to beat the heat. I'm not far from you, just over in the bay area in Berkeley.
-It seems to take a lot longer than you think. I would say don't push it, take your time, enjoy the process. Put up a canopy and bring out the beer cooler.

Mike

[BarryKeith]

Put soldier row in and used up about 3/4 of a bag of the refactory mortar. Don't know if that is too much. I love going out after work and just putting on the tunes and working for a couple of hours. Best project I've ever done that allows my own pace.
Mike D went to school in Berkeley, have a slice of Zachery's pizza for me.
Cheesesteak, I would love to have you come by but we'll be out of town that weekend. Big League Dreams is laaaagit. We play old man softball out there and it is way cool.

[Mike D]

Bring on the pics. We want to see them. Yes it does seem like the first few rows take up a lot of mortar. It gets better as you go up.

-I love Zack's but it's a totally different pizza than what we will be doing in the oven.

Mike

[BarryKeith]

I love Zach's pizza but I can only eat one or two peices. Plus it would take longer than 2 minutes to cook one in the oven.