Michigan WFO

[mfiore]

Re: Michigan WFO

Jim, I really appreciate it. I'm not sure how much more we will accomplish this year (stinkin' cold out!). Next spring, watch out! We should definitely host a Michigan WFO party! I won't have 200 pizzas under my belt yet, but I'm good for the vino!

[Derocherconstruction]

Re: Michigan WFO

Sounds like the oven is ready for pizza to me Mike. Let all of us know when pizza day is, you have a big following, and we will all come over for the first pizza party! I think the family ordering pizza for the last time - get the dough mixed!. Such anticipation for the actual event, the first pizza's. I got to cook pizza #1, and then had the peel taken away from me by my buddy who cooked pizzas 45 yrs. ago in Dearborn, MI. as a young teenager... Gimmee that peel, have another vino, look out.... We have cooked almost 200 pizzas this summer, - friends, neighbors, business customers. Once you start, it will snowball [ good term for the weather we have been getting ].. Good Luck, you have done a Primo Job on that oven, now enjoy.... Jim

[christo]

Re: Michigan WFO

That does sound cruel....

Take pics of the first pie - even if you burn it or it does not quite make it off the peel intact.... Don't get downhearted if your first bakes do not live up to your expectations....

You will be happy you have all that insulatoin!!!

Good luck with the first pies.

Christo

[mfiore]

Re: Michigan WFO

I put 3 rolls of FB blanket on my oven yesterday. That's plenty. At least 3 inches all around, several more on top. It now looks like a big marshmallow puff.

I fired up my 8th curing fire yesterday, 650-700 degrees. I guess I don't see any benefit in waiting longer. I think I'm going big today to try to burn the dome clear.

Then pizza. I've been holding off on baking anything other than pizza during the curing fires. I promised the little guys that the first thing I would make was pizza. My family ordered carry-out Papa-Johns Pizza earlier this week. I think that was their cruel attempt to motivate me to get this thing done.

[mfiore]

Re: Michigan WFO

Eventually, I won't care either. Right now, thought, I've been increasing the fires by 50-100 degrees each day. I'm wondering when I should expect to see it happen.

[nodoubt68]

Re: Michigan WFO

Love ya style Frances..lol

[Frances]

Re: Michigan WFO

I don't know - and I don't care. As soon as the soot burns off I consider it hot enough and start baking pizza - it works, so who cares what the thermometer says?

But at a wild guess it'll probably be around 750 F.

[mfiore]

Re: Michigan WFO

I think you should shoot for 750F and bake some pizzas!

At what temp does the soot burn off the dome?

[james]

Re: Michigan WFO

I had my 7th day of curing fires today. I have little hair line cracks all over the outside of the dome. None have seemed to be any bigger, and there has been no soot on the blanket. I hope I'm in the clear.

The fires today have been 500-600 degrees, with an occasional spike up to 650 when a new piece thrown on. These fires are mesmerizing! It's hard to believe I spend hours staring at that thing, continuously checking the temps. Very therapeutic! (the smell of my clothing is just a bonus)

Well, what do you think? Should I keep going, or am I ready for the big-time!

I think you should shoot for 750F and bake some pizzas! This is sooooo cooool. Way to go Mike!
James

[peter]

Re: Michigan WFO

MIke, I am by no means an expert on the topic. When it came time for cure fires I pretty much followed directions for the CURE. I had already installed all the insulfrax and vermiculite/concrete mixture however. Candidly I think these things are pretty forgiving. I have no evidence of any faults related to the heat, there are a few that can be laid at the feet of the contractor however. I am every bit as enamored with the flames as you are. I placed the oven door toward a window in the house so I can even see inside the oven from the comfort of an armchair. I know it is a bit extreme. Shrugs haplessly.
Peter

[mfiore]

Re: Michigan WFO

I had my 7th day of curing fires today. I have little hair line cracks all over the outside of the dome. None have seemed to be any bigger, and there has been no soot on the blanket. I hope I'm in the clear.

The fires today have been 500-600 degrees, with an occasional spike up to 650 when a new piece thrown on. These fires are mesmerizing! It's hard to believe I spend hours staring at that thing, continuously checking the temps. Very therapeutic! (the smell of my clothing is just a bonus)

Well, what do you think? Should I keep going, or am I ready for the big-time!

[Frances]

Re: Michigan WFO

I think I should just wrap that baby up and not worry about it. That way, I won't see the cracks!

Spoken like a true WFO builder!

[mfiore]

Re: Michigan WFO

Peter, my dome is hot underneath the insulation blanket. The top of the blanket is cool. I only put down one layer, loosely, while I cure the oven. I like to look underneath to see if any cracks are forming. I think I should just wrap that baby up and not worry about it. That way, I won't see the cracks!

[peter]

Re: Michigan WFO

Michigan Too
I have about three to four layers of insulfrax and about six inches of perlite/concrete mix. I have never, even during cure noticed any warm spots on the exterior. I will confess I have probably not gotten the oven to max temperatures yet although I have had interior spot temps in the 950 degree range. I did take quite a while curing however, maybe that accounts for it.

[christo]

Re: Michigan WFO

Mike, Same thing with my oven - I have an enclosure with 2 to 3 inchs of ceramic blanket and 2 to 6 inches of perlite around that. Even after I thought my oven was fully cured the outside of my oven had several Hot spots that were more than warm to the touch. I was so disapointed!!! After 3 or 4 more fires, the outside was cool after that. Might help to keep some low fire or coals going for longer periods now, too.

Christo