Thursday 5th April 2012
Hussar - finished - nearly ! Just some grouting, granite and pointing to finish - when it stops raining/ snowing!
Now the hard part - cooking. Get a fire going over the Easter weekend.................
So end of this 'page', now to start a cooking section.
Saturday 31st March 2012
Rendered !!! Nice day for it- overcast and cooler - lets hope for no cracks !! ;-]
Tuesday 27th march 2012
Not too bad for an amateur !!!
Thursday 22nd March 2012
Vemicrete finished at last - render tomorrow hopefully, and finish arch !! Bit OTT on vermicrete, nearly 10in in places !!
Wednesday 21st March 2012
Fires getting bigger - on approx 120 deg plus all day !
Seemed a pity to waste the heat - sourdough with olive oil and mozzarella - very nice too !
Tuesday 20th March 2012
Still going - taking shape now, fire going most of day - still low temp though !!
Lots of vermicrete still to go !! Arch started.
Sunday 18th March 2012
Off to Worcester to watch cup final - Saints vs Tigers !
Saturday 17th March 2012
Raining and wall to wall rugger followed by Cancer Ball !
Oven wrapped up snug over weekend !!
Friday 16th March 2012
Fire in the hold !!
couldn't resist it - a little warmer !
Thursday 15th March 2012
vermicrete/ chicken wire - a match made in hell !! If its not 'slumping' its springing off, falling off or peeling. What a pain in the arxx ! Went for a first coat just to get something on - another 2/3 inches later !!
Leave chicken wire to the chickens.....................
Richard goes all eskimo..................
Tuesday 13th March 2012
Suddenly feeling a bit Greek - must be that blue and white !!
Only, minor, complaint so far - have to say casting wasn't done by a Swiss watchmaker !! Plenty of juggling, persuasion needed - rubber hammer got plenty of use ! Think I'm going to need more granite !!
Vermicrete on Thurs............
Problem on chimney front - too long, too big, too thick - apart from that its fine !!
Monday 12th March 2012
Start to position dome - very heavy - 50kgs per piece !
Sunday 11th march 2012
Lay out and set hearth using fireclay and sand, mortaring joints. Usual pain to get dead level across all angles. Rush - so as not to miss England game - what a result !!! Bring on the Irish !!
Saturday !0th March 2012
Vitcas delivery arrives ( CF blanket, mortar etc )
start cutting granite to some sort of shape !!
Friday 9th March 1012
Collected granite 'offcuts' for top
Monday 5th March 2012
Not a bad days work - let it all go 'off' then ready for the oven....................
Typical - a bucket short - hey ho...............
Ah, just enough room for a layer of vermicrete - this almost looks like we know what we're doing !!
I did suggest doing the floor earlier !!!
Sorry, can't afford scaffolding - jump.....
Celcon blocks going down - cuts needed - naturally !! ;-[
Note the cunning gap left between the blocks and brick height - almost planned !!!!
More on Beams...............
Unplanned 'cross' !!!..........
Corners going up.............
Block and beam goes down on extra row of blocks.....................
Saturday 3rd March 2012
Following advice from helpful guys on forum have reviewed height of oven floor, which, surprise surprise means more work !!! Need to go up 4 more courses - just hope I have enough bricks somewhere or it could get interesting. Know I said it before, but these beams weigh a bloody ton !! Could build a block of flats on here.
Concrete beams, vermiculite, chicken wire, celcon and concrete blocks !
Beams are f'in heavy... seem heavier than concrete lintels I've used - or getting older.
Delivery from Travis arrives - same day - afternoon..... its like buses !!
Oven arrives Friday 3rd March 10am
Upto December 2011 - wrong order - sorry !
The juggling brickie !
