The Morgan's WFO build

[kebwi]

Re: The Morgan's WFO build

Why did you fill the void with perlcrete instead of loose perlite? Loose insulation would be more insulating and would permit you easier access to the dome if you ever needed to do major repairs...and would be unnoticeably cheaper.

Just curious.

[vintagemx0]

Re: The Morgan's WFO build

OK, now you got me a little freaked-out! Do you think we just screwed ourselves? I had thought about loose but also though we'd be OK with perlcrete.

I know that loose would have been a better insulator, but we used three inches of the wool insulation and when the oven was screaming hot, the outer layer of insulation was cold to the touch. We are also going to rely somewhat on the perlcrete to support the stucco roof that this thing's going to get.

If this thing ever needs major repairs, it's going to be a pain either way. Yes, the perlcrete will create a challenge, but it could be done. I'm going on the notion that most ovens will never need to have reapairs to the dome.

I'm sure what we're doing isn't thermally optimal, but do you think we'll regret it? And as far as assuming that it is unlikely that the dome will need repairs, do you think this is wishful thinking?

We're very glad to have this forum to report our work on and get guidence. Thanks kebwi!

The Morgan's

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Re: The Morgan's WFO build

Morgan's
Relaxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.... If it needs a repair you will have to do it from THE inside,, dont worry its cool.. on the bright side, If a nuclear bomb ever goes off you can hide in the oven,,, OVERbuilt is always better than underBUILT...
enjoy
Mark

[kebwi]

Re: The Morgan's WFO build

Oops, I didn't mean to scare you. Bear in mind I'm a novice. My own progress currently stands at a dug-out foundation still waiting to be poured, so I have no direct experience with any of this. Yours was simply the first oven I had seen in which a large walled-off volume is filled with 'crete instead of loose, but just because I haven't seen it elsewhere on forum doesn't mean someone else hasn't done it or that regardless of its rarity (ingenuity?) it may be a perfectly workable design.

I'm sure you know a lot more than I do. You've already built your entire oven.

I'm sure everyone else will pipe in and say your plan was fine; I just hadn't seen anything like it before and was curious about it. That's all.

I am curious about your last statement though. Are you planning on a flat stucco roof? I'm not for or against, just asking because I'm doing stucco too (igloo) and I'm curious about how it behaves in general.

Cheers!

[vintagemx0]

Re: The Morgan's WFO build

Oh, it''s quite alright kebwi, and I feel a little relieved now... That's what's great about forums - others can pipe-in and question such things and spread the knowlege or spark some more questions. I think what you said makes perfect sense. I'm all for doing it right the first time. If this were a commercial build, I think we probably missed the mark a little by not being as efficient as it could have been, but for our casual use it sounds like it should be fine.

Yes, we're planning on a flat stucco roof with a slight slope for water to run off. We've never worked with stucco before so it should be "fun". I think the trick will be to add acrylic agent to the mix, and we plan on painting ours which should help seal it. Hopefully we'll be doing that in the coming weeks, so I'll let you know what we experience.

Thanks,

Ken Morgan

[kebwi]

Re: The Morgan's WFO build

I lived in Albuquerque for eight years and my wife lived her whole life there until we moved to Seattle. We definitely want a stucco exterior. Very "home". Of course, in Seattle, whatever exterior we use is going to have to be REALLY weather proof!

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Re: The Morgan's WFO build

We've never worked with stucco before so it should be "fun". I think the trick will be to add acrylic agent to the mix

Hi Guys,
You really want to check out Quikrete Surface Bonding Cement, You can add the acrylic fortifier to it for water proofing.. Its basically stucco with Fiberglass strands mixed in, It adds structural strength as well.. If you can Ice a cake you can use this stuff with no problems, You can trowel it for a smooth finish or sponge it for a slightly rough finish. I used it over my whole oven, walls dome etc.. The quikrete people told me it would withstand temperatures up to 300 degrees without a problem.. I also added color to it for the dome (terra cotta) It looks Great,, And if you dont like the color you can always paint over it..
Time for some more pics ????
Mark

[vintagemx0]

Re: The Morgan's WFO build

That stuff sounds like the ticket Mark. I've searched around here and can't seem to find any. Stucco, in general, isn't very prevelant in the Pacific Northwest. Can I ask where you were able to obtain yours? That material really sounds like a good low-fuss way to go.

Too dark for photos tonight, but tonight I installed our outer doorway arch. I still need to finish the area of the ficade above this arch and finish filling in the perlcrete, capping the structure, tiling the landing, some lights, and the stucco. I plan to finish the brick work on the front tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll finish before it gets dark and I'll snap a couple photos.

Ken

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Re: The Morgan's WFO build

http://www.quikrete.com/ProductLines/QuickwallSurfaceBondingCement.asp

hey ken,

Both Lowe's and Homeless Depot have it here in NJ, If HD doesnt have it, Just go to the pro desk and they will order it for you (no extra charge)

QUIKWALL? Surface Bonding Cement (No. 1230-1231) is an alkali resistant, fiberglass reinforced, portland cement based surface bonding cement used for construction of dry-stack (without mortar) cement block walls. Add color with QUIKRETE? Stucco & Mortar Color.

Enjoy,

Mark

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: The Morgan's WFO build

Hey Mark,
Do you think that QUIKWALL can be used on Durock or Cement Board too? I plan to stucco the back of my oven enclosure and it's dry-stacked blocks for the bottom half and Durock for the top half. Thanks, Dino

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Re: The Morgan's WFO build

hey Dino,
I called Quikrete (Help Line at 1-800-282-5828) they said no problem to apply directly to the durorock or cement board.. No lath or wire needed...

[vintagemx0]

Re: The Morgan's WFO build

Thanks Mark! You're the man! I'm going to talk to the HD guys and get some of that material to button this thing up. Is it a pre-mix in buckets, or a dry mix?

We decided to brick above our outer arch all the way up to the top of the enclosure. We'll do that today. We'd planned on cooking pizza tonight because we have a sister coming over to visit, and from the temperatures I was seeing around the front of the chimney bricks last week, we're not worried about the new brick work getting hot while it's curing. The arch support columns are the only parts that may get hot due to radiation and they have been curing since Monday. I'll try to get some photos tonight because the final look is beginning to be realized.

'Morgans

[vintagemx0]

Re: The Morgan's WFO build

Well, I bought some mortar and some other supplies today, but I didn't get any work done. Perhaps tomorrow I'll finish that front brick work and do some more perlcrete on top. Here's a photo of what the oven looks like right now...



I think those lights need to be moved outward to be centered-up with the cinder block columns. Tonight we cooked a bunch of pizzas. We made our own dough with Caputo flour using James recipe. We adjusted it for a 62.5% hydration, which was very easy to work with. Oh Man! It was very good. Everyone commented on how good the crust was and we were very happy with it. We'll experimaent with wetter doughs and see if we can find pizza nirvana. Here's a photo of the first pizza out of the oven tonight...



We cooked eight pizzas and got stuffed, but let the oven cool off for a short while and then assembled a skillet full of apples with butter, brown sugar, and oats. It cooked for about 30 minutes and was a real treat...



Our second encounter with using the oven has really sparked a re-newed interest in it's use. We're going to be using tis thing a lot.

The crust from this dough recipe was really outstanding. I'm really encouraged to use it from now on, because it was our first time and I'm sure we have not optimized it. Leads me to think we can't go wrong.

Ciao e presto!

The Morgans

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Re: The Morgan's WFO build

hey Morgans,,

Lookin good, I took the libertyy of moving the lights for you so you could see what it will look like,, (photoshop)

Enjoy
Mark

[KINGRIUS]

Re: The Morgan's WFO build

Hey Mark, while you're at it, I would like an outer arch over my oven entry arch, an overhanging ledge in the front for food handling, an a-frame roof over the front slab...

Morgans- looking really sweet! Hey, even if you didn't cook with it, it would be really nice to just look at!

I am prepared to have to learn how to use my oven. I am not expecting perfection right away (but later definitely!). You now hold in your power the potential to make the best pizza and food in the world. Just like any great tool, it's going to take some practice to learn how to use it and master it. It looks like you have begun your journey...

Enjoy!
Darius