Ready for the concrete!

Re: Ready for the concrete!

Looking good cant wait to see the pics

[cobblerdave]

Re: Ready for the concrete!

Gudday
Firebricks are expensive shits to be sure, they are your best option. I have them in my oven. But am at the moment helping a mate build a WFO and due to price we are using pressed clay pavers as they are a lot more avaliable than commons. We have looked at secound hand bricks but the quality is not good enough. Brick pavers are more commonly avaliable than commons. Housebricks.... the bricks with the holes in them are useless don't even think about using them.
Easy way to make a form for your arch is to cut the shape out of 12mm ply chip board even. Screw a pr of 25 mm battens to it then screw a secound form to those battens. Cut the forms in 1/2 leaving the battens intact and holding the forms together. Lay your brick over the form let cure then you can unscrew the parts and remove the form without disturbing the arch.

Regards
Dave

[Lburou]

Re: Ready for the concrete!

Yes, a nice looking situation you have there. I like the simplicity.

[Fish Whisperer]

Re: Ready for the concrete!

here is a pic looking at the oven from the (still in construction!) pool end.

That is a really nice looking build !! Congrats !!

[Chaz Aus]

Re: Ready for the concrete!

Hi All

Has been a while since i last posted an update. getting to understand how to get the best out of my oven. its keeping pretty good temps. i have also found the oven takes less time to get to the right temp - assume it comes from the oven being less damp with more use?

we have also just finished the paving around the pool so its pretty much complete except for a few finishing touches. have attached some photos.

till next time!

[Chaz Aus]

Re: Ready for the concrete!

Thanks Damon

Hopefully it will all work out Ok. Eventually will look at having a verandah/pergola over the oven for shelter from the rain and sun.

[Bacterium]

Re: Ready for the concrete!

Nice having it near the pool.

[Chaz Aus]

Re: Ready for the concrete!

here is a pic looking at the oven from the (still in construction!) pool end.

[Chaz Aus]

Re: Ready for the concrete!

Hi all

time for another update.

have pretty much finished the oven and yesterday finished the timber panel at the rear and last week finished the door although will likley put a thermometer in and some sort of heat seal.

i have posted some pics.

with the door i used some steel plate cut to size and a flat bar that i welded together (if you can call it welding but it all held together!). inside the door i have two layers of the ceramic insulation. as the door is metal there will still be heat getting through but hopefully it will work OK.

would like to put in a thermometer in the front and also some type of seal around the edge to assist with keeping the heat in. the handles are a bit square edgy so may do some cosmetic work on them and also look at getting some thicker timber for the handles.



thanks again to all

[Bacterium]

Re: Ready for the concrete!

Yeah I'm hoping to get my top slab poured.......but I'd rather be drinking a slab and eating pizza.

A trick with the pork ribs, for the last half of cooking if you have the right size skillet stand them ribs upwards with skin poking up and if you get it right you can get them to crisp, like crackling.

[Chaz Aus]

Re: Ready for the concrete!

Thanks Damon

It's definitely a great time when you get to this point in the build. You are actually cooking but also at the same time learning about how the oven works so every time its a bit different.

Even how to best light a fire. Have tried a few methods and definitely the top down approach has worked the best. Takes a little while to get going but once it does it's pretty much on its own.

Thanks again and look forward to sharing more experiences - good and bad.

Will definitely try the ribs on the weekend with a few beers. The weather in Adelaide is supposed to be good over the weekend.


Regards

Chaz

[Bacterium]

Re: Ready for the concrete!

Looks good Chas, your at the point where a whole new level of fun begins.

Couple easy things for early days:
pork spare ribs, get decent one from butcher marinated and cook in cast iron skillet
Greek style meatballs with a cube of halloumi cheese inside
....if oven is too hot just cook them forward under the inner arch

Karangi has a great breakfast for next day using pizza dough, refer to his what's cooking thread.

[Chaz Aus]

Re: Ready for the concrete!

Hi All

had a go at my first pizza (pic attached)!! not perfect but very happy for my first pizza.

also attached some pics of the rendered oven. hope to paint this weekend.

bought myself a digital thermometer. Insulation is obviously working well. with inside temp around 350-400 plus the outside of the oven was around 25-30 degrees C. also under the slab temp was around 20-25c.

havent got a door made up yet so will be interested in how long the oven can keep temp once i can close it off.

slowly getting more comfortable with getting the fire going and seeing how the oven heats up.

[mrchipster]

Re: Ready for the concrete!

Didn't take to long to cook. Had to chuck the first one out as it got extra toasty!

that happens quite often for the first food in the oven. keep a close eye when you are cooking the first thing in for the day, be it pizza, bread or something else.

Nice build and great progress in short bursts.

Chip

[Chaz Aus]

Re: Ready for the concrete!

Finished the bench tiling this weekend and covered the dome with a final layer of acrylic render. In the next couple of weeks will paint the dome to match the colour request from the one that must he obeyed!

Will also finish the rendering of the besser blocks next week. Tried one small side today to see how I go. Did it on the side facing the boundary fence and not really visible - just in case. Finished it off to match the dome with a sponge that I just lightly wiped the surface. Created a nice finish.

Things still to do to finish oven:

1. Render of besser blocks
2. Paint both dome and stand
3. Construct door

Re curing things have been going reasonably well. It's amazing the difference the insulation makes. Even without a door the bricks keep quite warm for some time.

Oh also made my first edible thing in the oven today. Toasted cheese sandwich. While I had the oven on this morning thought i would make use of the heat. Didn't take to long to cook. Had to chuck the first one out as it got extra toasty!

Till next time