Nikki's 42" in Phoenix, where it's hot as a...

[fullback66]

Re: Nikki's 42" in Phoenix, where it's hot as a...

That sound O.K. to me if there are not a lot of trees around. I do not use the good fruit woods. I use any hardwood I find. There is plenty here in MI at a good price. $0.

I like the picture of your belly. When I first saw the picture I thought of Austin Powers.

"GET IN MY BELLY"
fb66

[Modthyrth]

Re: Nikki's 42" in Phoenix, where it's hot as a...

Nikki,
Is the wood expensive in the desert? I have wood coming out of my ears in Michigan. Then again, it is under a foot of snow.
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I have no idea--I've never bought wood anywhere else. I got a standard pickup bed of mesquite delivered for $100 (that's about 1/3 cord, I believe). I picked up a hardwood cooking mix (various fruit and nut woods) for $70 for what could fit in the back of my pathfinder. That was slightly more expensive, per volume, but came from a more reputable actual dealer rather than someone who was clearing roads in his ranchland (mesquite guy). Both are well seasoned and already cut to the right size for a pizza oven, which made the cost a little higher. Is that expensive?

[fullback66]

Re: Nikki's 42" in Phoenix, where it's hot as a...

Nikki,
Is the wood expensive in the desert? I have wood coming out of my ears in Michigan. Then again, it is under a foot of snow.

Nice fire.

fb66

[Modthyrth]

Re: Nikki's 42" in Phoenix, where it's hot as a...

I built my last curing fire today--fun stuff! Now that's a good Christmas present!



I only got the top half of the dome to go white, so I guess I need to build it even bigger next time. I'm sure I'm still driving moisture out, too, and will have an easier time getting the oven nice and hot as time goes on. That insulating blanket works gorgeously--the outside was perfectly cold the whole time.

I'm loving the top-down fire, too. It's way easier than trying to reach in and build a teepee of wood in the middle of the dome.

[Frances]

Re: Nikki's 42" in Phoenix, where it's hot as a...

Wow Nikki, congratulations!

Tardis, ginger bread ovens, fire pics, and pizzas real soon - cool, cool ,cool!

[Modthyrth]

Re: Nikki's 42" in Phoenix, where it's hot as a...

Nice flame!!!

That little gingerbread village needs a mini WFO in the back!

Wow, why didn't I think of that?? The next house I decorate is totally having a little candy WFO.

I picked up an SUVload of wood today. The place I went recommended the small splits (already the right size for the pizza oven) of their hardwood cooking mix. I have a mix of apple, citrus, olive, and almond. I'm going to pick up some mesquite, too, to see how I like working with that. It's all over the place here, so it's easy to get, though I read that it doesn't make quite as nice a coal bed as the stuff I already bought.

I get to use kindling tomorrow! Guess it's time to seriously read that top-down method thread. I've only lightly browsed it before, and retained absolutely none of the information.

[sarah h]

Re: Nikki's 42" in Phoenix, where it's hot as a...

Wow, somehow I've missed your thread over the past few months but what great work - not just the oven but the cakes & gingerbread houses too! It all looks good and I can't wait to see what you do next.
Congratulations on your first fire too - it's pretty gratifying to get to that point isn't it? And it just gets better when the cooking begins!

Sarah

[james]

Re: Nikki's 42" in Phoenix, where it's hot as a...

There is something soothing about a nice fire in a brick oven. It's as though all is well with the world.

Looking good!
James

[egalecki]

Re: Nikki's 42" in Phoenix, where it's hot as a...

Ha! A Dr. Who fan! I knew I liked you!

Feels good to have a fire, doesn't it?

[dbhansen]

Re: Nikki's 42" in Phoenix, where it's hot as a...

Congrats on the fire! Looking good.

[Dancing Bear]

Re: Nikki's 42" in Phoenix, where it's hot as a...

Gingerbread TARDIS! OMG!

[mfiore]

Re: Nikki's 42" in Phoenix, where it's hot as a...

Nice flame!!!

That little gingerbread village needs a mini WFO in the back!

[exceloven]

Re: Nikki's 42" in Phoenix, where it's hot as a...

Nikki, The gingerbread houses are cool, BUT....the fire, now that is awesome.You can tell where my mind is. I'm consumed with my oven. The rains have hindered progress but I just use the time to plan my next step. Congrats!

Mark

[Modthyrth]

Re: Nikki's 42" in Phoenix, where it's hot as a...

Fire!!



I used all of the newspaper I had, but since we don't subscribe to the newspaper, that wasn't much. I'm going to have to start mooching off my neighbors. The chimney drew pretty well, and I always planned to add at least one more segment, maybe more. Just a little bit of smoke escaped out the front. I'll be interested to see what more height does for the draw.

I'm picking up some firewood this afternoon, so I'll be ready for upcoming curing fires. Pizza soon!! I've solicited advice for where to get great ingredients locally on chowhound.com, so I'll be running all over the valley in the next few days gathering quality ingredients for the first pie. I can hardly contain myself, I'm so excited!

I decided to wait out the rain, since I was so busy with gingerbread houses earlier this week, anyway.





Two gingerbread decorating parties done, and now I just have to deliver the neighbors' houses.

[David Manchester]

Re: Nikki's 42" in Phoenix, where it's hot as a...

Hey Nikki,
Oven's looking great! I haven't been on in a while, so I just popped in to check on how everyone is doing. Keep up the good work!