My Wood fired Redux

[stonecutter]

Re: My Wood fired Redux

I had a little extra material so I made this little panel to see how it would hold up. Out of the four ovens built, only one has a block surround...the rest have a wood framed enclosure. After insulating, I encase the oven with durock as an extra precaution...9 years and no issues with the 3 ovens. So I got to thinking about making my own panels out of perlcrete. This sample was compacted in lifts, so it is pretty solid. I don't care about insulation r-value too much, since it is not the primary insulation on the oven. The next sample will be around 1 1/2" thick...this one is 2.75". I'm not sure what I will settle on dimensionally just yet...probably something like 1.5' x 2'. I am going to add a polymer to the water to help bind the perlite particles a little more, and go richer on the mix...something like 3 or 4 :1

The sample....

[Gulf]

Re: My Wood fired Redux

Here is what I am doing with the cast concrete. These are experimental and won't be used, but they give an idea of what the two layers will look like.

Dogonit! Stonecutter,
Full scale esperiments Youv'e got more money to spare than me .
Seriosusly, from what I can see, the earth tones you are using will match your stone perfectly. Can't wait to see the finished product .

[stonecutter]

Re: My Wood fired Redux

Dogonit! Stonecutter,
Full scale esperiments Youv'e got more money to spare than me .
Seriosusly, from what I can see, the earth tones you are using will match your stone perfectly. Can't wait to see the finished product .

HA! It's not cash flow, I'm using material I have hanging around. I am actually thinking more grey for the cast pieces. There is going to be quite a bit of granite work on the enclosure and I think it will look better...well, IMO anyway.

[Tscarborough]

Re: My Wood fired Redux

I mix the portland and water together, then fold it into the perlite.

[stonecutter]

Re: My Wood fired Redux

I dry mixed out of habit..you know, mortar... thinking wet mixing might need longer to coat everything even and avoid clumps. I'll give it a try when I cast my panels.

[Tscarborough]

Re: My Wood fired Redux

Yeah, dry mix definitely doesn't work with perlcrete.

[Gulf]

Re: My Wood fired Redux

I am actually thinking more grey for the cast pieces. There is going to be quite a bit of granite work on the enclosure and I think it will look better...well, IMO anyway.

Well, then it will be perfect . Your's is the only opinion that really counts!..........................unless you are married .

[stonecutter]

Re: My Wood fired Redux

.....unless you are married .

We have discussed this. However, the oven is sovereign husband territory and she can't press her rights there. When it functions as a cooking tool is another story.

[stonecutter]

Re: My Wood fired Redux

Yeah, dry mix definitely doesn't work with perlcrete.

Actually, I thought it worked well. I liked how you can tell if the particles were coated, as opposed to vermiculite..a little harder to see. I like the idea of creating a 'slip' with the portland and water though...I'll try it next.

[Tscarborough]

Re: My Wood fired Redux

It works, but it generates too much dust.

[stonecutter]

Re: My Wood fired Redux

I didn't find it very dusty at all, but then everything I do generates dust so my view point is probably different. I can see potential for dust if a lot of particles are ground down..the bags I had didn't have much crushed material in it.

[Tscarborough]

Re: My Wood fired Redux

Did you use block fill perlite? The one we have is already pretty fine, 1/4" or less with a lot of dust (as a gradation, not a condition).

[stonecutter]

Re: My Wood fired Redux

No, it was Horticultural grade. It barely had any dust at all..I was expecting more. Lots of small particles, but all intact for the most part. I'll open a bag up tomorrow and get a pic.

[stonecutter]

Re: My Wood fired Redux

Some pics of the Perlite particles. It was like this through most of the 20lb bag...barely any fine powder in there at all.

[Tscarborough]

Re: My Wood fired Redux

That looks much better than ours.