A newbie’s survey of the Forno Bravo treasures hiding in the archives

[topcrop]

Re: A newbie?s survey of the Forno Bravo treasures hiding in the archives

Thanks for the post! I'm such a noob that I'm not even sure what a pompei oven is yet!

I think I like the house-type ovens a bit better than the igloo-type ones, but as long as I can make a pizza, I'll be happy!

ps - I like the ovens that Christo has as his sig, and Dino Pizza has as his avatar. If anyone can tell me which type they are I'd appreciate it. I haven't been hre long enough to find any others, but I'm looking.

[stoveup]

Re: A newbie?s survey of the Forno Bravo treasures hiding in the archives

Another great build thread (in 2 parts) I have been following is peterlyn's build in Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada. It starts here: Let?s Roll! 40? Pompeii in Nanoose Bay and continues here: Pompeii in Nanoose Bay!.

Not only is this a gorgeous build, it is very well documented both in description and in pics. Caution! Newbies should not be intimidated by the quality of Dave's workmanship - this guy is a professional. Few of us can equal his work, but there is a lot to learn from his methods.

BTW, Vancouver Island is one of the most beautiful places on earth and is definitely worth going to the trouble to visit (I grew up in the Smoky Mountains, so I know beautiful when I see it!).

[Millstone Man]

Re: A newbie?s survey of the Forno Bravo treasures hiding in the archives

I got to add Dino's to the list of helpful threads. Well done and well documented. I found it very helpful.

http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f8/d...arts-5883.html

[Filthymutt]

Re: A newbie?s survey of the Forno Bravo treasures hiding in the archives

You guys are great, thanks! As a newbee getting prepared to dive into this project, the research phase was looking to be almost as daunting as the actual build itself. Thanks for making that first step a lot easier to handle!

[oventhusiast]

Re: A newbie?s survey of the Forno Bravo treasures hiding in the archives

Agreed! Those are some of the best threads to follow for a Pompeii build!
And don't forget the other forum members picture archives! Sometimes during my build, I'd have to 'see' what was done in order to fully understand their posts! Take lots of pictures to help show our new builders 'different' ways to build.

[stoveup]

Re: A newbie?s survey of the Forno Bravo treasures hiding in the archives

Excellent advice!

As another prospective wood-fired oven builder, I want to echo Lburou's comments. I have spent a lot of time searching through the FornoBravo forum and am amazed at the amount of information and encouragement that is available here. Downloading and reading the Pompeii Oven plans was my starting point and I highly recommend it for others - the plans will help formulate questions to research on the forum and will answer many questions you did not know to ask. Following several builds through the process from beginning to end will fill in any remaining gaps and provide the hands-on know how that only experience can provide.

All of Lburou's suggestions are excellent points for other newbie's to look into - I wish I had had these pointers several months ago.

A couple of builds I found particularly valuable are:
Pizza Bob's 42" Build at http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f8/p...uild-7155.html

and Mitch's Oven at http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f21/...oven-3176.html .

I have not mastered the art of attaching URL's to posts. I hope these work!

[Lburou]

Being new to the Forno Bravo web site, we quickly realized that we wanted to build a pizza oven and access the best information available, but did not know where to look. Getting smart about building a Wood Fired Oven (WFO) would have been easier with a little tutoring. So, listed in bold below, you find a few shortcuts to finding Forno Bravo?s WFO Nirvana here.

Our focus is now directed almost entirely here on Forno Bravo for information, instruction and comradery. After checking your local building codes, your first decision is whether or not to build your own oven. You will find the Fornobravo Store here. Whether you build your own oven or buy an oven or an oven kit, you will find the following links helpful in your planning.

To start, download and read the Pompeii oven plans, (Add to cart and checkout for free at the Fornobravo store). Then, read through the well documented and well built oven Links below. The oven construction threads below are remarkable for their presentation and discussion of making a 'typical' pompeii dome oven while sticking to the plans -people have problems with their ovens when they do not follow the plans. The links below have been included primarily for their sketch-ups and/or their pictorial record showing their process -they will aid you in conceptualizing your oven making process. Your oven does not have to be as neat or petty as most of these ovens (mine sure isn't), just put the bricks together so they won't fall apart.

Keith Wiley's build here and here.
Mitch's oven
Aidan's build here.
Apagio's build here and here
Ken524's build
banhexio76's build here.
Gulf's build and his album
Mark & Cheryl's oven Here & Here.
GianniFococcia's build
dbhansen's oven here and here.
Brandasco
Pizza Bob's
Paul's Oven
Boylanta'd build here.
Dino's build Here and his sketch-ups Here
UtahBeehiver's build
Ryan's Oven
Xene's oven
Gene's small oven
Texman's outdoor kitchen
oasiscdm's build
Greenman's build here and here
videts38's oven thread Here.

Study the links above and you will have the benefit of a host of builders who have made themselves smart about the pompeii oven plans and then gone off to make their oven dreams a reality. You will want to make reference to the Materials List and the Brick Oven Glossary from time to time. There are other exceptional oven builds documented on fornobravo.com, but I could not name them all for fear of leaving some splendid people off the list, but you can sift through them here. BTW, don't believe everything you see on YouTube.....

Later, you?ll want to reread the Pompeii oven plans, and then read them again. That activity alone will answer most of your questions. The Brick Oven glossary will soon become part of your vocabulary.

As you wade through these data links and downloads, a plan will develop in your mind?s eye and you?ll be on your way. By then you will be more familiar with the Forno Bravo Web Site and find yourself involved in many threads about the details of design and construction of your own pizza oven.

Finally, you'll venture to other parts of the web site and learn to manage your oven fire, make dough, cook pizza and bread. Then, you can launch out to cook most any dish in the open oven environment. When you become a WFO expert, maybe you'll hang around and help new members ferret out their dreams.

HTH, My best to you. One more thing, please take a moment to rate this thread using the "Rate Thread" (found at the top of this box) or, the 'Like" button (at the bottom of this box).

Post Scripts:

• If you have a favorite feature or thread on the WWW or FornoBravo.com, please, add it by posting a 'reply' to this thread
• The Photo Gallery is a great resource to peruse while gathering information, or if you're stuck about a particular construction question. The gallery is here
• Thinking 'outside-the-box' for your oven design using concrete surfaces around your WFO: look here.
• You will find deejayoh's dome design spreadsheet here.

I don't know of a better pictorial overview for building a wood fired brick oven
than Ken524's build.