The Badger Build

[thebadger]

The Badger Build (Status)

Gang,

Took a quick break from working on the oven to start actually enjoying the oven. I've had about 3 pizza parties, cooked salmon for the family and a beef brisket the next day after pizza. The pizzas have turned out really great - no "totally" burned ones yet

I called quikcrete and after talking to a rep decided to put a layer of type S mortar over my perlcrete. I think we eneded up with 1/8 - 1/4" over the whole dome. My plan was to then use "quickwall" and add a little texture when applying it. Then finish with a masonry paint.

Question...

I kinda of like the look of just the type S. Can I just put a layer or two of masonry paint now or do I need another layer of "something" - either type S or quickwall?

Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks
Dick

[Ken524]

Re: The Badger Build

I finally went "white" on Sunday -

Isn't it cool that you get to see your bricks again? Congratulations!

[thebadger]

Re: The Badger Build

Ken,

I like the look of your veneer base - looks great!!!

Gang,

I finally went "white" on Sunday - I cooked about 8 regular and 2 dessert pizzas for some neighbors. Again, no "big" cracks on the inside that I could see. I'll have tuck point a few joints but so far so good. I do have a couple of cracks on my outer "decorative" arch but I'm not too worried about those.

Only issue I had was making a pizza while one was cooking (just did one at a time for now) hard to do two things at once. I did use my "superpeel" to make it easier to slide a pizza on my metal peel... I might get another superpeel so I can do two at once - you can make them on the peel and "push" them off as they don't stick.

Hoping to cook some pizza on the 4th depending on the weather.

Then to figure out my "stucco" options.

Thanks
Dick

[Ken524]

Re: The Badger Build

Outstanding!

Your finished oven looks gorgeous. I laughed when I saw your picture of the boxes of stone veneer. I just picked mine up yesterday. I wish I could have paid $3/ft! I had to match our pool retaining walls so I needed to spring for the $8/ft stuff.

[thebadger]

The Badger Build (First Pizza!)

Gang,

Still curing!

So far I?ve built about 9 fires. I was planning to cook few pizzas tonight but the rain got in the way. However I did manage to crank one out. I didn?t get it too hot so the pizza cooked in about 8 minutes! Even so it was delicious. The dough was a little chewy but we had some issues with the rising.

I did hear another ?clink? but I haven?t seen any ?major? cracks.

I?m still going to burn smaller fires and cook some pizza at lower temps to get the hang of things before going nuclear!

Dick

[thebadger]

Re: The Badger Build

Gang,

My wife told me she'll consider it "done" when she doesn't have to help me wrap it up each night to keep it from getting wet.

Built another small fire tonight 350-450 for about 2 hours. My goal is to keep building small fires after work this week.

Curing to date:
12 hours (over 5 days) 300-550 using 1" of blanket (fixed a coupld of cracks)
Then added 2" blanket/4" perlcrete
5 1/2 hours (over 2 days) 350-450

I'm trying to go low and slow...

Thanks
Dick

[asudavew]

Re: The Badger Build

Sorry, Nope,... not done . You have merely completed the part that interests you the most. Getting an oven that cooks pizza. Now you must complete the part that interests your wife the most... the appearance She has been willing to put up with your obsession with the hopes that your oven will beautify the yard when it is done.

hahahahah!!!!!!!!

Well said!

And that is where I currently am in life.

No pizza cooking for me lately..

[Frances]

Re: The Badger Build

Yes, good work... keep going...

It really has turned out a nice round shape and that stone veneer will look great on it!

[asudavew]

Re: The Badger Build

Great work Dick.
It has been a pleasure watching your progress.

You oven looks great, and I hope it performs as well as it looks.

Keep posting. I can't wait to see how you finish it.!

Dave

[thebadger]

Re: The Badger Build

Brokencookie,

I did say "sort of"

U R right, no project is ever done until the boss says so. I am actually looking forward to take a little break as I cure and cook to spend time with my boys and wife. As all of you know, this is a big project requiring lots of time. My boys have even added "...please GOD help daddy finish the oven so he can play with us.." to their nightly prayers.

I want to spend some time with them and then I can finish 'er up.

Dick

[brokencookie]

Re: The Badger Build

Sorry, Nope,... not done . You have merely completed the part that interests you the most. Getting an oven that cooks pizza. Now you must complete the part that interests your wife the most... the appearance She has been willing to put up with your obsession with the hopes that your oven will beautify the yard when it is done.
Having done many projects managed by SWMBO ( She Who Must be Obeyed) or she who holds the power of the budget, I have found that the longest, most tedious, and finiky part of the project is the last "dressing".
My wife is never nagging or overbearing about these "apearance" items. She just says things like..

"Oh, I had pictured it much redder ( taller, rugged, square, round, pick your adjective) "
" I really like it. If I could get you to do one last little thing it would be even better"
" Did you mean for those bricks to have a 1/4 gap rather than a 3/8 in gap?"
" You were going to square it up and clean it weren't you ?"

And the ever popluar

"Oh....Are you Done ?"

Believe me, the project ain't done until she says it is !!

[cplain]

Re: The Badger Build

Dick:

Congrats! It looks great...the shape is very nice. Please keep posting and adding pix even thoug you're "done." I'm interested on seeing the finish with the stone. I'm think of doing the same and I want to see your end results! Craig

[thebadger]

The Badger Build (Status)

Update,

I guess I?m sort of ?done? with the oven (not according to my wife since I still have more to do). I still need to stucco/waterproof, pour my landing and add stone veneer over the block.

Oven Status
My wife actually did the perlcrete layer (still wet in the attached pictures). I think we both wanted a more ?round? shape but we?re happy with the end result. I added about 3-4? of perlcrete over 2? of blanket so we should be fully insulated. Still need to figure out the ?stucco? portion as I can?t find it in the Cincinnati area ? I?ll post some questions later.

Bringing Families Together
Today, another FB member from the area came over for lunch. We talked ovens of course as our kids ran around and wives commiserated about our ?oven obsession.? Hey, is there a support group for the spouses of FB oven builders?

Curing
After talking with Chris today and reading some more I decided to start ?re curing?? just 1 day after we finished the last section of perlcrete. My rationale ? I already built 5 small curing fires and am using 2? of blanket, which should prevent most of the heat from getting to the perlcrete. More importantly I?m just sticking with some more small burns 350-400? I figure I?ll do this a few more times before going to the 450-550 range. My goal is to have it ready so I can cook pizzas (at least for everyone to taste) for our annual July 4th party. Not sure if I want to trying making pizza for 30 people the first time out.

Stone Veneer
The place I bought my firebricks/HS50 from had some odd/off color stone veneer. It?s normally ~$7 sq ft and I picked it up for ~$3 sq ft. The colors aren?t that off and I?ll be able to mix them up.

Milestone
This marks my 250th posting!!!! I think I might qualify for the pizza cutter ? perfect timing!!!!

The next steps are to finish curing, starting eating some pizza and then put the finishes touches on the oven.

Thanks so much to everyone for his or her help so far!!!! I?m sure I?ll have more questions before I?m "finally" done.

Dick
thebadger

[thebadger]

Re: The Badger Build

Dan,

My obsession started last March when I saw an HGTV outdoor special that showed some pizza ovens...

I started my foundation - digging/filling the cores last fall.
I poured the hearth - to where I am today staring in April. Just about every weekend I've done something. Needless to say my wife and kids are looking forward to me being done...

The materials are going to depend on your unique build - no 2 ovens are alike. I would use the FB plans as a guide as they will give you a good starting point. For example I used way more HS50 than I thought - 4 bags. I also needed more cinder blocks given my foundation needs.

I was pretty lucky in that I could buy everything locally except for the FB blanket/iso board and a couple chimney pieces. If you can swing it I would recommend at least 1" of blanket and the board.

It truly is an obession.

Good luck - and post lots of pictures!!!
Dick

[schallert]

Re: The Badger Build

Thanks Dick,

This was the advice I was looking for. Watching your build is a real inspiration and is making my efforts to get to work problematic. I am now officially consumed by this project.

when did you start? Can you provide a rough estimate of materials to date?

Thank You,

Dan