daves build

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: daves build

Congratulations on closing the dome, Dave!

Time to start drying it out and planning the vent pipe. Are you going to use a clay pipe or steel pipe? If you go with clay and buy a rectangular pipe, you can cut it the long way on the diagonal, flip 1 half around and mortar it together so you have a tapering pipe which works great. I went with an 8" double-walled steel vent.

For curing: Raffy's suggestion of a brick halogen work light will warm it up good to dry it out before the fires. I think a couple of days for half the day works. Others have also put a small electric heater in there blowing hot air. After a couple days of that, you can start with fires.

Say what diameter is your oven floor? Looks great, good job. Cheers, Dino

[crwdtb]

Re: daves build

Thats so funny Les , but oooh so true!
Its a fair bit of work to this stage I must admit, and I have managed it in about 5 weeks which is well ahead of what I had planned. Still a fair bit to go but I feel like I am on the home stretch. any info on curing that you might have would be well appreciated.
Cheers
proud father Dave

[Les]

Re: daves build

Thats a great pic at the end - getting these things closed in is like having a child, looks like a proud father. Great job!

Les...

[crwdtb]

Re: daves build

thanks Raff,
must admit I am glad to be moving on to a knew part of the project!

[Raffy]

Re: daves build

Congrats on finishing the dome! You'll be cooking in no time. As you are building the chimney, you can start curing/drying the dome by placing halogen lights inside. The most difficult part for me was waiting for the oven to cure properly before starting those bigger fires. It's a necessary "evil" (I hate waiting) but patience is a virtue when it comes to brick ovens. Keep up the good work!

Raffy

[crwdtb]

Re: daves build

Ok guys bit of a setback when I found the last bag of mortar was a different type which had a lot more grit or agregate to it! was thinking of not using it but in the end I thought I would, although it didnt give as good a finish as the other refractory mortar it seemed to be stronger and I was only going to use it on the top few rows which wont be seen anyway. Needless to say the dome is finished and I am glad, getting tired of cutting bricks! Still got all my fingers which I am forever thankful!
Here comes curing!

[crwdtb]

Re: daves build

G'day
Gary I'm in hawthorn Melbourne cbd.

[aussiepizzaman]

Re: daves build

hi dave ,thanks for the offer of help and will certainly follow up when i start to build my oven.
just finished reading your thread and from where I am looking its going well,dont worry about how it looks as they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
where abouts in aussie are you ? I am in Stanhope in Victoria
regards Gary

[crwdtb]

Re: daves build

thanks Dino nice to get a bit of positive feedback! I have never done anything like this before so I am floundering a little, but hopefully it will all work out. I am just waiting for the whole thing to fall in! I will be seeking some help on the curing phase in the near future.
Thanks heaps for your comments.
Cheers
Dave

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: daves build

Hi Dave,
Your oven brick work looks really good. Your dimensions and proportions look good too. I like the tapered vent bricks. You'll find it goes a long way helping your oven draw smoke well. You've got it right on the vent height, 3-4 times the opening height is what seems to be common. Anyone who does shorter ends up trying to add some height to it so it sucks air/smoke better.
Your almost to the curing fire stage, looking good,
-dino

[crwdtb]

Re: daves build

got another course done!
Also removed the forms for ther arch so I can squeeze into dome for some cleaning!

[crwdtb]

Re: daves build

well I managed to work out the inward moving circle with reference to joining up with arch , be it a little unconventional it seems to be holding and strong so , I will move forward!

[Raffy]

Re: daves build

I admit it can be challenging but I guess that's where the fun is... trying to cut the brick to the right shape to make it fit was a fun obsession of mine. You're doing great. Just remember measure twice, do once

[crwdtb]

Re: daves build

update , must admit finding joining the dome to the arch a challenge!

[crwdtb]

Re: daves build

Cant believe I went out last night and pulled the form out from the arch to see if it would support itself! then gave it a shove to see how strong it was! needless to say here is the new arch!