Dry stone wall advice

[Adios Pantalones]

I have a good amount of head+ sized field stone. Little is flat, but it aint round neither. I want to build a 3 1/2' pedestal for a wood fired pizza oven. I assume that I could lay this up dry as people built house foundations like that.

Is this reasonable for a newb stonemason? (I have made stuff out of dry-laid brick, and have decent wood stacking skills... so I figure I could get it done)

Any advice that I will wish I had after the fact?

 

[Jags]

Any advice that I will wish I had after the fact?

Yeah - don't do it while drunk.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

I think the crushed finger will hurt less after a belt or 2 of the Basil hayden's

 

[Jack Straw]

How hot will the rocks be getting? I have seen quite a few explode at bond fires. Since this is the base it might not be a problem.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

How hot will the rocks be getting? I have seen quite a few explode at bond fires. Since this is the base it might not be a problem.

There will be an insulating layer between the firebrick and the rocks

 

[Jack Straw]

Pics asap

 

[lukem]

Not that I'm saying it can't be done dry, but what is your aversion to using a little mortar? You can keep the mortar to the "inside" and it will look a lot like / same as dry-fitted with a lot of added strength and stability.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Not that I'm saying it can't be done dry, but what is your aversion to using a little mortar? You can keep the mortar to the "inside" and it will look a lot like / same as dry-fitted with a lot of added strength and stability.

Just the idea of the challenge I guess, but if it will help a lot, I suppose I'll throw in some concrete

 

[Jags]

Just the idea of the challenge I guess, but if it will help a lot, I suppose I'll throw in some concrete

If that is the case, then you can do it drunk.

 

[lukem]

Just the idea of the challenge I guess, but if it will help a lot, I suppose I'll throw in some concrete

Oh, thought it was an aesthetic aversion.

If you are simply trying to demonstrate your stacking mastery then have at it. Stack the rocks dry...kick it....jump on it....take a nap on it, if/when it falls down, throw some mud on it before you put it back.

 

[Retired Guy]

Just mix the mortar to "damp sand" state and use just enough to stabilize the stones.

 

[semipro]

I usually refer to this article at Mother Earth News. http://www.motherearthnews.com/do-it-yourself/how-to-build-a-dry-stone-wall.aspx

The main thing to keep in mind is that its gravity and the interference fit between stones that keeps things together. Lower rocks should be set so that gravity pulls the rocks above towards the center of the structure.

You have to go through a lot of rocks to find the ones that work. It takes time and good eye.

 

[fishingpol]

I just finished up my oven. I used Pa. flat field stones with concrete blocks up the middle to save on stones as I only ordered a 1/2 pallet. I did use mortar mix to give it a dry laid look. I found that field stones are a little too rounded to set up dry, and I don't want the darn thing falling. There is a ton of weight in this whole oven. Between the firebrick, sand for dome formation, clay and sand/clay mix, I had close to 400lbs sitting on my stone base. It will also help reduce cracking if there is less movement below. The stone needs a wash of muriatic acid to remove the haze from the mortar. I'll try to find something a little more environmentally friendly than the acid.

I built a wood swing jig that revolves on rebar to set the edge of the stones to make a cylinder. I have a ton of pics. I'll start a thread after the cure process is done. The clay worked out well. Again, thank you very much.

Had to put the Yuengling pic in there(not a fan of them) since it was given to me from my neighbor and I was using Pa. stone.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

I just finished up my oven.

Cool! Pics of the finished dome?

 

[fishingpol]

Ta da. I'm building a P.T. frame with white cedar shingle roof over it now. All the tools will hang under it and maybe even incorporate a limestone shelf to set the hot goods on when they are taken out. Can't fire it for about 2 more weeks as the firebrick is still wet, as the initial small fire just smoldered out. There shall be more pics. The white stones around the arch are just beach rocks the kiddos picked up. I put so much thought into the construction, I didn't even plan out the finish of the final sand/clay layer. I was thinking an old timey bee hive look.

I hooked up a 12 volt dc on a 3" pvc pipe fan to a small solar panel to dry out the middle of the sand form. The vinyl edging is now removed as well as the wood arch form.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Wow- you did a fantastic job on that!! It looks great

 

[fishingpol]

Thanks man. I am looking forward to getting this thing fired. I'll be happy when the roof is done. I have an outlet right behind it for accent lighting for evening pizza parties.

 

[gpcollen1]

I have done most of my yard with dry stacked walls. wish I could keep the kids off them when we have people over. They don't realize that they move when jumping on or off of them...

- It may be obvious, but staggering joints is a must
- you will need many more small and medium stones than you think to facilitate stacking the larger ones. You will probably need more large stones than you think too...
- if you want to fill gaps or stabilize with something other than mortar, try stone dust. i just began using it as leaves get stuck in the walls and are a pain to get out. Pouring some stone dust in cracks/gaps has helped. When I build some more, I will use some stone dust from the start just to make stacking and stabilization that much easier. When you use small rocks, they move occasionally while adjusting the large stones..where stone dust wont really...
-

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Thanks gpcollen- that sounds like a great compromise. I had wondered about smaller stones- I'll have to source some. I also have a huge amount of seconds pottery that could be turned into fill material of any size I'd like

 

[gpcollen1]

Thanks gpcollen- that sounds like a great compromise. I had wondered about smaller stones- I'll have to source some. I also have a huge amount of seconds pottery that could be turned into fill material of any size I'd like

After my first run at a wall, I started saving/piling up every small stone I found. Instead of raking them up with junk and dumping, i saved them. After about 2 or 3 years now, I have enough to do the rest of my walls.

 

[Morgan]

Yeah - don't do it while drunk.

Haha! Words to live by right here!

 

[gpcollen1]

Oh yeah, and PATIENCE...

Here are some photos of my dry stacked walls and misc stone piles. Some walls are more for looks and some are rougher/living walls with ferns planted in...

PS...I live on 'Hillside' Drive so doing my landscaping in tiers was kind of a must...

 

[gpcollen1]

 

[gpcollen1]

 

[gpcollen1]