I didn’t want to really post anything until some real progress was made but I saw Erik’s latest blog post and couldn’t help myself.
I am starting my latest oven project today by laying out the footing!
It won’t be another brick oven….only the floor will have fire-brick. No, this time the dome will be made of clay earth. Probably the first type of material used for a WFO, they are still being built around the globe. With material cost rising as fast as the interest in brick oven cooking, I want to give it a try because I have never built one before and clay earth is one material that is everywhere around this part of the country. It’s been 2.5 years since I have left our WFO in CT and to say that I miss using it would be an understatement.
I already have most of the stone and brick needed to start this project.
Salvaged antique brick.
I will use these in the actual vault arch .
Granite from a project in New England.
All this stone will be split and cut down into arch stones for the ribs. The only exception is the large, wide stone third from the left which will be a 1 piece carved arch door for the oven.
Left over stone from a couple projects.
Split and uncut natural fieldstone which will be used in the outer arches, piers and walls.
My goal is to buy as little as possible and use what I have. The challenge is going to make something nice out of a hodge podge of different material.
But why did Erik’s blog post spur me to action?
I have been having an internal debate about how to construct the base. Besides my family, only Erik, Sean and Tim, fellow CT members and professional masons, know about my kooky plan…until now.
I am going to try my hand at building a Ribbed Vault. For the pros that may be reading this blog you know that this will be a real challenge. For everyone else I can tell you….this will be a REAL challenge! Here is a diagram of some Rib Vaults. The one on the left is what I intend to build. ( I DO NOT CLAIM ANY RIGHTS TO THE DIAGRAM BELOW. )
Having built many arches and barrel vaults, I feel like this is the next step in pushing myself to the limit. Since I haven’t built an intersecting vault, ribbed, groined or otherwise, this will be a slow process. I have a lot of stone cutting to do – making Quoins ( corner stones ) and Voussoirs ( Arch Stones ). Lay out and forms will be quite a process.
The goal is to finish before cold weather sets in around here, maybe like November. Since I am working on it part time, I think it will be pretty tight considering how technical it is and me never building one before ( did I mention that already?)
Disclaimers aside, I am beyond excited to build this. I think the base is stealing the thunder from the earth-oven, which will be my first also ( I’m repeating myself ). I don’t even have final finishes planned for it yet because the base has occupied all my head space….which is a premium because there isn’t much. The irony of all this is that the ribbed vault will hardly be visible unless you peer up in between the arched opening. I am doing this mainly for the challenge.
I am feeling like this will be a huge success or a colossal failure. I am following Erik’s example by showing you the reader how it turns out . Good or bad, either way you will see the result.
I guess we will know in a few months. Till then, stay tuned for progress updates. Hopefully I can make it through and not end up like this….
Tim Newcome says
we your reader’s are excited too…i’m definitely coming down now…..i got to see this.
Matt Sevigny says
That’s cool Tim. I got the foot print laid out a little while ago and I plan to start cutting and trimming stone tomorrow.
MzunguEriki says
This is the most my name has ever been used in print! Is that why I think this your best post. Think not. I like the:
Soil
Progressin
using what s free
Pizza
A dream
Matt Sevigny says
Too bad you aren’t in the states Erik. Then if Tim comes up here to stomp mud you could join in!
MzunguEriki says
I was at lunch and typed that and wanted to edit.
I like:
-You are using soil!
-this is a progression, arches, domes, groins! then?
-You are using what you have lying around.
-It will be used to cook food, a useful piece of art.
-You are fulfilling a dream.
-You are excited
-You are gonna show the steps even if failure.
Man am I excited on this one. I can’t wait until you start cutting the pieces to spring off the rib!!! Then all this thing i have with geometry vs physics you can explain to me.
Man i would love to stomp some mud with you and tim (and see some chisels in action).
And dude I was having a “one of those days” and was looking for a spirit pick up interaction. Your blog was it. Thank you.
Matt Sevigny says
You are welcome ERIK. I am really going to try and avoid an arch failure but hey, sometimes you have to push it.
MzunguEriki says
Shape. I believe that if the ribs of cross vault are semi-circular, the vaults are catenary arches. But I can’t prove that. Although because you are loading the vault not necessary to have catenary arches.
The rib pieces:
what shape? will the lower side be wider than the top? Maybe because you are using formwork and can load from above it wont be an issue. But this is where i had to scratch my head. Unless you do that mine would fall out while building. I am hoping when you get there we then can have some great talks. wonder what they did centuries ago. Unfortunately the jerks didn’t post on blogs. I joined CT for that reason, but to this day I don’t think CT understands what my issue was. I can’t wait.
Am I talking too much?
Matt Sevigny says
Since I am no expert vault builder I only have research material as a reference. But as to shape, it appears that you can intersect any type of arch. The thing about a semi circular is that it is not as strong as something like a pointed arch. From what I am learning though, the Roman ( semi ) will probably be the best choice for me because it will be the least difficult to layout. Also, the rib height will be the same as the keystone of each arch in the vault…another bonus. I think I need to go this route to minimize my headaches with figuring out intersecting planes.
The ribs – Yet again, going by what I am seeing and reading, the pieces won’t differ in size. I plan on making them all the same. If you know that I need to do different then let me know.
Also, I plan on using a form for everything including the ribs.
Mellissa Sevigny says
Nice to see everyone so excited on here – but nobody is more excited than me because I get to actually USE it! Hooray for wood fired pizza again!
Matt Sevigny says
Now it must be built….