SE Minnesota insanity

[Eric Pfeifer]

Re: SE Minnesota insanity

This is one of the coolest projects I've seen. Can't get any closer that this to the kitchen area!

Thank you. Yeah, I was going to build an outdoor one first next to the workshop (aka, the Manhut), but then it occured to me that I would like to eat pizza too during the Minnesota winters...the ones in February when it's -30; that left only one viable "plan."

[cecilB]

Re: SE Minnesota insanity

Wow! Eric, I really want one in my kitchen, too. I'm building outside - as practice. Our kitchen will probably be the last place to get done, so I know I have plenty of time to practice - I was having visions of brick domes all over my yard - as practice.
It'll definitely be fun to watch your progress so please take tons of pictures!

Cecelia

[Eric Pfeifer]

Re: SE Minnesota insanity

Eric,,,

Nice saw..... your build will definitely go faster now

Cheers
Mark

Thank you. I struggled a little sinking this much money in the project, but the thing was on sale, and I have a bunch of other masonry projects around the house--and friends with theirs.

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Re: SE Minnesota insanity

Eric,,,

Nice saw..... your build will definitely go faster now

Cheers
Mark

[Eric Pfeifer]

Re: SE Minnesota insanity

This project has become an obsession! It's the most fun I've had in years, and I've learned new things and skills. My Christmas present to myself (last year a chain saw) just arrived, and in 15 minutes I finished cutting almost half the oven floor. This is great fun!

[timo]

Re: SE Minnesota insanity

This is one of the coolest projects I've seen. Can't get any closer that this to the kitchen area!

[Mitchamus]

Re: SE Minnesota insanity

I'll be watching this one.

The best part is - the beer in the fridge is so close!

[Eric Pfeifer]

Re: SE Minnesota insanity

Hello All,

Today we nearly completed the (what I call) the "thermal containment area" for the indoor 36". The hearth is 2 inches FB board, 1 inch percrete, and 4 inches structural concrete. The outermost walls are cement board. The dome will be covered by 5 inches of ceramic blanket, leaving an air gap between the dome and the cement board. The hole you see is the outside access door for inspections/repair.

I also started laying out the floor and soldiers. As you can see there is quite a bit of space competition in my little garage. Next week the brick cutting begins in earnest!

Cheers,
Eric

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Re: SE Minnesota insanity

Wow,, very cool.... It will probably take longer to carry the bricks in than anything else..

good luck and keep posting pics

Cheers
Mark

[Eric Pfeifer]

Re: SE Minnesota insanity

Yeah, that's right...2000 pounds of firebrick in one haul. Now how to put these together to make pizzas.........

[Eric Pfeifer]

Re: SE Minnesota insanity

For the hidden amount of my tax dollars that goes into his 1 million per game, the Vikes better do something right this year!

Finally I am ready to lay the masonry. The FB boards are mushy in areas where they absorbed water from the concrete, so I'm trying to dry them out with a heater. At least the hearth is enclosed now, and I can work through the winter.

[pizza_bob]

Re: SE Minnesota insanity

This is almost as insane as Brett favre leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 6-0 start to the football season!
This ought to be really cool!

Good luck with the build!

~Bob

[Eric Pfeifer]

Re: SE Minnesota insanity

Hello, yes. This is what the disaster looks like in the kitchen as of this morning.

[fxpose]

Re: SE Minnesota insanity

Nice. This is going to be such a cool set up. Have you begun work in the kitchen yet?

[Eric Pfeifer]

Re: SE Minnesota insanity

Excuse my ignorance. Your formwork is high, high, high.
Is this oven going to be accessed from inside the house?
Paul

Yep, the oven will be accessed from within the kitchen--a necessity I feel, when it's -26F around here. The dome will be supported by this tower, which is steel reinforced concrete and is 8 feet above grade. I have a friend who is a skilled concrete tradesman, and we borrowed the mud forms at no cost. It took a day to put them up, and 45 minutes to pour (with the monster boom truck), and half a day to remove the forms. Even after paying my friend his normal wages, buying the mud, and renting the pumper (150 dollars per hour), doing it this way was far cheaper and faster than laying block. The foramen will be about elbow-shoulder height inside.