New build - 1.2M dome

[JRPizza]

Gulf, thanks for that link. I'm currently using a worn out old weed cutter like the one shown . Functional but ugly and not completely flat so leaves more ash than desired. I was having trouble with the blade handle interface, so the idea of slitting the handle and thru bolting looks like the trick! I think that is going to be on my to do list.

[Gulf]

It was real easy to make. The hardwood handle lasted about 3 years. It would have taken about 15 minutes to replace it like kind. But, I cut a piece of thin square metal tubing and made sort of an interface to protect the wood from the hot coals.

The Rooker and other tools.

[jonv]

A draw hoe would probably make a serviceable rake, and an all metal sort can be had quite cheaply.

[JRPizza]

Yep, I use my garden hoe to rake out the coals when I want the oven fairly clean (then I do the peel slap or mop) and my worn out weed tool when I just want to get the main coals out. I would rather have the pleasure of building a tool though. Besides, I'll probably need the hoe this Spring

[cobblerdave]

G'day
i use a handmade Aluminium flat rake to move ash and coals around the oven. The wood handle tends to char a bit do you get cut a section off and reconnect it ever now and then. It's softer than the bricks so you can also scrape at the blackened remains of a pizza on the brick without harming anything.

[cobblerdave]

Just got to figure out again. I'd think you wouldnt mind this on your thread

[jonv]

Dave - yeah, love that. Planning a pizza only diet for a few weeks as soon as the oven's dried out . Nice set of tools that.

JR - haven't touched the garden since I started building the oven - don't think the hoe is going to cut it

[Bauldy 2]

Well done boss I'm so glad your curling went well.

[Bauldy 2]

I had o take a break waiting on granite can't get polishing disks til new year so new finish date will mid jan I reckon on three days to do entrance and Dec. Arch another two days to do sink an d cupboard further three to complete grill and fireplace that I may get done while I wait for granite pads.you should be proud and fat by new year.

[jonv]

That must be really annoying, but you'll be done soon If you can get a heat lamp or something similar in the dome it'll dry out nicely while you're waiting - seemed to do a good job on mine.

"proud and fat" - might have to get that inscribed on the oven somewhere

[jonv]

After some weeks of gentle drying with the heat lamp and over a week of long steady curing fires I was getting a little worried that the temps weren't going up as high as they ought to.

But today I had a mighty fire going and saw the dome start to clear. Can't remember the last time I was that excited

I had a little dough in the fridge from testing some pizza flour earlier in the week and threw that in with just olive oil and salt. Results were encouraging - ready now for real pizza on New Year's Eve

[SableSprings]

Looking good Jonv! Remember to work the sides/perimeter with the fire. The outside, lower perimeter will be the last part to clear on every firing and during the curing process it will be the last area that still contains moisture.

Pizza from your own WFO is certainly a great way to say goodbye to 2016 and welcome in 2017.

[jonv]

Good point. At the end of the curing fires I've shoved the embers around the sides but it's not enough yet - will give them more attention on the next fire.

I haven't observed any significant cracks yet - I'll have a good look tomorrow after this big fire. There appears to be one hairline crack across the corner of one of the bricks that joins the inner arch. If it is cracked it is minor and nothing of structural significance.

[JRPizza]

It took me several fires to get from the center of the dome clearing to clearing the entire dome down to the floor. Do you have an IR thermometer? If you do it'll tell you how much cooler the lower parts of the dome are vs the top.

[jonv]

I do have an IR thermometer, but it went out of range on the top of the dome. I can't recall the numbers but it was much cooler on the sides. I was left with a band of soot of around six inches.