On December 3, our new mini-group worked on the bread oven all day long. We are making a lot of progess and I feel fortunate to have worked on several different aspects of this project--from laying horizontal bricks, setting up a "soldier course", applying the "springer course" and now helping to install the vault frame.
A bread oven is a brick structure where a fire is built and then dragged out once the bricks have absorbed the heat. The plan for the Farm School is to put this oven into full-time production mode--ok, not full-time but be able to make the bread needed (kneaded?) for all the programs. It is just outside the kitchen door at Sentinel Elm farm and close to the sugar shack and across the farm yard from the dairy barn. Hmm, can you imagine warm bread topping with melting butter and a dab of maple syrup? It'll be all lined up soon.
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| The vault form, practice version |
Ok, back to the building. We arrived to see the beginnings of the vault form but it needed more supports or ribs. So we pulled it out and Justin cut and installed the new ribs while Sophia and her friend Linnea ground down the "springer course" to get the proper angle for the curve. The springer course are angled-bricks--see below.
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| Sophia, in the oven... |
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| Justin adding more ribs |
As the ribs were set into place and then installed in the oven, Rebekah and I worked on a couple different projects. First, we smoothed out an insulated tarp and "quilted" it so the foam sheets inside wouldn't slip around. Then we measured the threaded rods for the steel girdle and cut them with an angle grinder. It was startling to have sparks flying at us but we got the work done.
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| Rebekah, checking the threaded rod |
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Here is the steel rail that Sophia and Linnea cut.
Our threaded rod runs through it. |
Rebekah and I also made the supports for this girdle which will counteract the downward and outward push of the bricks in the vault.
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| Feet with Shim... |
Once the vault frame was in place and the girdle around the outside, it was time to start installing the vault of the oven. The next group will continue with the vault as well as begin work on the chimney and the door.
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| Sophia starting the first course |
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| Our progress by the end of the day |
Steel rail with threaded rods? Wouldn't flying buttresses have been cooler?!?
ReplyDeleteI wanted to do flying buttresses but they don't offer enough insulation. Once we finish the vault, we are going to cover the whole thing with a "glass insulation blanket" and then more stuff--I think it is concrete or flag stone or concrete and flagstone. Stay tuned for future progress.
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