Another Picture of the Dome

Just wanted to show off the dome again, so here is a better perspective on it. Also I wanted to explain the amount of additional work that is needed before I can start cooking.

First of all that area on the right side (in front of the dome) is where the vent and chimney are going. That section needs to be topped off with a concrete vent and then a brick chimney goes on top of the vent. Fabrication of the vent will happen over the next week.

Secondly, after the vent is done, an insulating blanket will go over the dome and part of the vent. This will help hold in the heat and ensure the oven reaches the higher temperatures needed for pizza.

Finally, another layer of concrete goes over the insulation and the vent. This is pretty much cosmetic, but as you can see, the dome doesn't look very nice. I am going to attempt a stucco style finish on the igloo that will cover the dome. The insulation and finishing steps will happen the week following.

So, hopefully all goes well. These final stages means venturing into new territory again for me. Pouring the concrete vent and laying the concrete with stucco finishing are things I have never done before.

The Dome Is Done!

I finished the dome today! A week behind schedule, because of the rain last Sunday, but I was able to close the dome. I really pushed things along to get it done today and it got more exciting as I got down to the last brick. This last brick is called the keystone and had to be cut to fit the hole. A snug fit locks all the other bricks in place and makes it structurally sound.

The laying of the keystone was a major event and I made sure to have full photo coverage, thanks to my son Rafael.

This is the keystone just before it gets put in.



This is the spot where the keystone goes in.



Putting the keystone into place.



Applying the mortar to secure the keystone.



Today is a major milestone for me and it feels great to have finally made it this far. Over the next few weeks I will finish the vent and chimney, put the insulation and finish the housing (got to make it look presentable!)

Then its time to fire it up! Still looking good for first week of December for RFP!

Almost there . . .

From this view it looks like the dome is done, but I still have a few more chains to go. Chains is brick layer speak for a row or line of bricks.



From the top view, you get a clearer idea of how much more there is to go. It really is about 10 to 15 more bricks that need to be mortared in place. But the going is really slow.



The actual brick laying is quite tedious now, since the only way to do it is to stand over the dome. This means bending over, putting each brick down and adding mortar to hold it in place. Its quite tiring since I am stooped over for extended periods. And I also have to climb down from the stand to get more material (bricks and mortar) then climb back up. A decent work out actually.



But what slows down things most is the constant cutting and shaping of the bricks to fit snugly. As I get closer to the top of the dome, the curve is sharper and the straight bricks don't really fit well. Most of the previous chains were built on half-bricks, but now as I get to the top, I use quarter-bricks as well to get a better fit. I've also had to cut wedge shaped bricks for a better fit. More detailed pictures next time.

I had hoped to close the dome this weekend, but Sunday afternoon was a bust. I made good progress on Saturday and on Sunday morning. But it rained all afternoon. It would have been better if it was just a sudden downpour, but it was a slow steady drizzle that never let up.

I'm seriously thinking about working in the evenings now just to make up for lost time. If only the mosquitoes would cooperate . . .