Steady good heat without the large flames. How?

[V-wiz]

Ive been curing the oven for a few days now. Started out with a propane weed burner, did that about twice, got it up to 175-200. After that ive been using charcoal and heat beads/briquets. Last night i got the oven up to 350-375 using charcoal and some small chunks of wood. So how does one create a steady, even hot fire while not having flames, or at least large flames? What do you do? lay out small pieces of split wood all over the floor and light it up so the heat is evenly distributed? or do you create a fire in the middle then spread it out?


Here is a picture from last night. The charcoal is not cutting it anymore, i need more heat.

[okn]

Re: Steady good heat without the large flames. How?

Nice picture. I don’t have a great answer for you. As I was doing my curing fires I kept thinking about where to measure the temperature. I mean it’s all over the place when you have a small fire. The dome could be 500 under the fire, 300 where the dome meets the side wall, the side wall at 250 and the floor by the side wall at 175 and floor by the fire at 300. I just ended up building progressively larger fires, and when they burned down spread the coals and closed the door.

By the way, I forgot my oven thermometer (like the one in the picture) inside the oven and built a fire right on top of it. After racking it out of glowing coals, I had more or less burnt all the writing off it.

[V-wiz]

Re: Steady good heat without the large flames. How?

thanks man, that sucks that you burnt up the Thermo, well it so cheap you can get another one.

[stonecutter]

Re: Steady good heat without the large flames. How?

Just burn smaller fires in the center until you get enough coals to spread to the walls. No biggie..just be patient.

[Tscarborough]

Re: Steady good heat without the large flames. How?

Cactus burner.

[V-wiz]

Re: Steady good heat without the large flames. How?

Just burn smaller fires in the center until you get enough coals to spread to the walls. No biggie..just be patient.

By doing this that would mean having hot spots at the center/top of the dome and having the bottom walls be a lot cooler, and doesn't this cause cracks? the large temp variation? Is this the correct understanding?

[V-wiz]

Re: Steady good heat without the large flames. How?

Cactus burner.

Whats that?

[stonecutter]

Re: Steady good heat without the large flames. How?

By doing this that would mean having hot spots at the center/top of the dome and having the bottom walls be a lot cooler, and doesn't this cause cracks? the large temp variation? Is this the correct understanding?

It hasn't caused a problem in the past...but the key is keeping the fire small and continually move coals to the perimeter. Oh, and as we all know, cracks happen eventually...causing damage from rapid expansion is what you are trying to avoid.

[Tscarborough]

Re: Steady good heat without the large flames. How?

[V-wiz]

Re: Steady good heat without the large flames. How?

Oh ya ive got one, i mentioned i used one, i didnt like that method. Rather use wood as its more even

[V-wiz]

Re: Steady good heat without the large flames. How?

It hasn't caused a problem in the past...but the key is keeping the fire small and continually move coals to the perimeter. Oh, and as we all know, cracks happen eventually...causing damage from rapid expansion is what you are trying to avoid.

Got it, thanks

[cobblerdave]

Re: Steady good heat without the large flames. How?

Gudday
To quote Laurentus, Newbie forum, "Heat drops fast"....
Quote "Then, cook something while it cures" Unquote
Well why not ....it doesn't have to be a 90 sec pizza does it.

Regards Dave

[Tscarborough]

Re: Steady good heat without the large flames. How?

Is yours 500,000 BTUs?

[V-wiz]

Re: Steady good heat without the large flames. How?

^ probably not. Show off, trying to flash your guns???

[V-wiz]

Re: Steady good heat without the large flames. How?

Im a bit hesitant as you can imagine, last night the first few cracks appeared, hair line cracks around the top perimeter and down a few rows, it closed up mostly when it cooled down in the morning. So i want to be cautious and take it easy, and do it right. Im hoping to get the heat up to 400-425F tonight. From what i understand, build a small fire in the center, keep on adding fuel and spread it around, is this correct? Thank you.