Installation guide

Pompeii Oven Instructions

7.7. A keystone locks each course in place.

7.8. Six chains, with forms.

Start each chain either next to, or over the oven opening.

This will allow you to set your keystone where it cannot be

seen when you look inside the oven. The keystone is a

specially cut brick that locks each chain into place. When

you reach the end of each chain, where you cannot fit the

last full-size brick, make a paper template of the piece that

is required to finish the chain. Transfer the template to

your brick, and make your cut. The keystone should be

tight, and require that you lightly tap it into place, but not

so tight that it causes the rest of the bricks in the chain to

shift (Photo 7.7).

7.9. Closing in.

Tips and Hints

There are three ways of cutting the bricks for your dome:

you can either purchase an inexpensive tile saw, or rent

one; you can use a diamond-coated masonry blade on a

standard circular saw or grinder (see Appendix 1 for more

information); or you can score your bricks and break them.

You can either purchase pre-mixed refractory mortar, or

mix your own fireclay mortar. Read our high heat mortar

section (see Appendix 6) for more information.