BenjaMia Bakehouse Project

[SpringJim]

Insulating Firebricks

stacked a bunch of insulating firebrick on the dome

[SpringJim]

Thermocouple tubes

A couple of the used firebricks had holes in them so I attached a tube for a thermocouple tunnel.....(reminded me I buried the last tubes under the firebrick ring on the base....have to fix that!)

[SpringJim]

Perlcrete Insulation Stucco

I used Craigs mixing method with some twists.

2.5 gallons of water in a 5 gal bucket
1 48 oz can of portland
1/2 can of fireclay
mix with a large paint mixer on a drill

pour water mixture in a wheel barrow
add 1/3 bag perlite
start with drill mixture folding the perlite into the water mix
finish by folding the mixture by hand
keep spraying water over mixture until wet and workable.

I actually had a watery layer that I kept folding into the mixture to refreshen.
Since the insulating firebrick was so porous and dry, I used a very wet mixture and it stuccoed on very well.

Jim

[SpringJim]

The Benjamia Monster

This thing sure grew with it's insulation layer!

[SpringJim]

Re: BenjaMia Bakehouse Project

Took the cardboard out ... pretty clean!

.... it sure has a nice feel to that (pear, egg, teardrop) hearth/dome shape!

Can't wait to see flames in there!

patience......

[SpringJim]

Re: BenjaMia Bakehouse Project

Used every insulating firebrick I could find...that pile is gone!
only a few of the very ugly firebricks leftover from where we started!

time to cleanup the rest of the messes!

[Ken524]

Re: BenjaMia Bakehouse Project

Looks just great, Jim!!

[asudavew]

Re: BenjaMia Bakehouse Project

Looks just great, Jim!!

Indeed

Cure time!!

Dave

[Inishta]

Re: closing in....

almost done the dome.....it's been interesting with the teardrop shape.

You've been a busy boy S Jim..........looking good........

The shape is similar to mine except ours transitioned to a dome finish.

PhotoPlog - Dome and Floor

[SpringJim]

Final insulation layer....

Thanks guys....it's been fun and educational!

I finished the insulation layer with another bag and a half of perlite....now to let it cure while I figure out a chimney

....always something to work on.

but I cleaned up too!

[SpringJim]

WFO Surgery

I forgot about my thermocouple tubes and covered them with firebrick and luckily only a little perlite...

So I performed surgery on the patient before she cured....is it a she?

Anyway, I was able to extract the firebricks (three rows!) from under the pile, expose the tubes and add some extensions before replacting most of the bricks and repairing the perlite stucco.

[SpringJim]

Outside Air for the Oven

I'm installing two air intake vents at the bottom sides of the entrance to the oven. They will be ducted to the outside of the bakehouse so that the oven will primarily use external air.

I will also be able to manually damper this intake air as needed. I am thinking about a chimney damper as well......I like maximum control!

I'm now thinking about a glass panel for the front.....outside air comes in on the sides, smoke goes up the chimney....I can watch the whole process through the glass panel....now to find a tempered glass door!

[Ken524]

Re: WFO Surgery

So I performed surgery on the patient before she cured....is it a she?

This was covered in a previous thread... I'm pretty sure it's a "she" (or a Sheila for the Down Under crowd)

George's detailed description of his oven a few months back without a doubt indicated a feminine quality (it's too hot for me to repost... you'll have to look it up!)

[SpringJim]

Re: BenjaMia Bakehouse Project

Bought a cheap thermocouple unit for $10 that came with two high temp probes...we'll see how it goes!

Also set up a grease board in the bakehouse to track temps!

[SpringJim]

Perlite

I had to cut off some of the perlite stucco....so I threw a couple of pieces in a bucket ....it floats! even after 3 days!