Sunday Service

Hi All,
Well so much for not working on Sunday. I felt the itch and it could only be scratched by going into the Surge this morning and having a go at building my first ever brick arch.


To begin with I had to calculate the critical height of the mouth of the door, which is 63% of the internal height of the oven, anything less and I risk the fire choking due to a lack of vital oxygen.


After this I took plywood and laid out my proposed arch using the bricks kindly donated by Julian at Jewsons in Watton I marked out and cut one arch and using this as a template, cut a matching arch.


The form needs to fully support a series of house bricks so had to be the right depth. I cut and measured four batons and nailed them to the two arch templates.


Finally a basic handle to aid in retrieval of the form, as well as a pair of 1/2" shims. The shims, when removed, allow for easy removal of the form.


Taking my bricks I arranged them carefully to follow the curve of the form, using small stones and chips of brick to maintain contact between the inside edges of the bricks. This is critical for a good quality arch.


At this point I took brick 13 and, using a 3" brick bolster and hammer, shaped the vital keystone for the top of the arch.
After securing the keystone with pebbles I nervously teased out the two 1/2" shims.


The shims slid out easily and as the form dropped 1/2 and inch the bricks cinched up tight on the keystone and held a beautiful arch. 


Once I was happy with the arch, I took it down and stowed all of the numbered bricks and form carefully ready for tomorrows work.


I can't wait to start the form and first layer tomorrow morning. Stay tuned for more photos and details.

Keep on cobbing.