Newbie homemade oven project...

[Poohbair]

Re: Newbie homemade oven project...

... the barrel was used for food grade vegetable oil

[david s]

Re: Newbie homemade oven project...

A CAUTION TO ANYONE wanting to repeat this design, if you use an oil drum then make sure you pressure wash the inside thoroughly with detergent before cutting with either an angle grinder or oxy torch. Many people, all over the world have died cutting drums from the resulting accident where volatile oils and oxygen mixed together inside the drum have ignited, creating a powerful explosion. This happened at my old school where a teacher directed a student to cut up some drums to make some cattle feeders. The teacher now has to live with the knowledge that this accident caused the death of one of his students. The same thing happened to a school friend of mine working alone at his farm.He was also killed.

[Poohbair]

Re: Newbie homemade oven project...

A CAUTION TO ANYONE wanting to repeat this design, if you use an oil drum then make sure you pressure wash the inside thoroughly with detergent before cutting with either an angle grinder or oxy torch. Many people, all over the world have died cutting drums from the resulting accident where volatile oils and oxygen mixed together inside the drum have ignited, creating a powerful explosion. This happened at my old school where a teacher directed a student to cut up some drums to make some cattle feeders. The teacher now has to live with the knowledge that this accident caused the death of one of his students. The same thing happened to a school friend of mine working alone at his farm.

Could happen. This one had vegetable oil in it, so I wasn't worried. I cut it with a 4 1/2" angle grinder and a cutoff wheel. Took about 15 minutes, and worked great with no issues.

[david s]

Re: Newbie homemade oven project...

You're lucky. Maybe vegetable oil is not so volatile. People think that because the drum is empty then they are safe, but not so.It only takes a tiny amount.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3198271

[Poohbair]

Re: Newbie homemade oven project...

Hoping to get to work on this more this weekend.

I am going to be using Rock Wool for my insulation.... should I put a layer of home mix refractory directly on the barrel, and then insulation over that, or insulation right on the barrel, and refractory over that?

[stonecutter]

Re: Newbie homemade oven project...

The refractory layer will need reinforcement, or it will break apart from the steel thermal cycle.

[Poohbair]

Re: Newbie homemade oven project...

I was planning on putting mesh wire on the barrel for the refractory to stick to... this way if it cracks, the wire should hold it on to the barrel.

[stonecutter]

Re: Newbie homemade oven project...

That's good, the refractory will break bond immediately, so reinforcement is crucial. How thick are you planning?

[stonecutter]

Re: Newbie homemade oven project...

To answer your question...refractory first, then insulation.

[Poohbair]

Re: Newbie homemade oven project...

That's good, the refractory will break bond immediately, so reinforcement is crucial. How thick are you planning?

Not sure.. maybe ~2-3" thick, and then the Rock Wool is 3" thick. Planning on building a "box" around the oven with concrete board, and will add loose Perlite on top of the Rock Wool.

[stonecutter]

Re: Newbie homemade oven project...

Not sure.. maybe ~2-3" thick, and then the Rock Wool is 3" thick. Planning on building a "box" around the oven with concrete board, and will add loose Perlite on top of the Rock Wool.

3" would be good, with a couple layers of reinforcement. Looking forward to pics.

[Poohbair]

Re: Newbie homemade oven project...

Do you guys use mortar / thinset to "set" your firebricks on the base, or just let them "float" and let the weight of the oven keep them in place?? I was thinking I could just let them "float"

[stonecutter]

Re: Newbie homemade oven project...

Dry-set, on sand or fireclay/sand mix.

[Poohbair]

Re: Newbie homemade oven project...

Thanks

[Poohbair]

Re: Newbie homemade oven project...

Despite the fact that today was my 17 year wedding anniversary, I got a lot of work done!