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  • Dome wall thickness question

    Hello,

    I need to completely confine my oven, including vent and entry, within the 48" diameter corner hearth slab pictured below and would like to squeeze in as much floor space as I can.

    So this is what I'm thinking:

    I can build a 3" larger oven (35" vs 32") by using bricks cut down to 3" instead of the usual 4.5". I don't plan on using a soldier course.
    I understand I will end up with less thermal mass but is this acceptable?

    If this is all right should I keep the entire dome wall thickness uniform at 3" or can I use 4.5" bricks for the upper courses?

    Or is this a bad idea and I should just stick to the 4.5" wall thickness and build a 32" oven?

    Thanks!

    EDIT: On second thought, using thicker courses on top of 3" lower courses may be a bad idea, structurally. I remember reading somewhere about the line of thrust.
    Last edited by fxpose; 04-15-2010, 10:42 AM.
    George

    My 34" WFO build

    Weber 22-OTG / Ugly Drum Smoker / 34" WFO

  • #2
    Re: Dome wall thickness question

    like this

    also if you stand first corse on end you will get more usable area for bread and wood

    just my thought's

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Dome wall thickness question

      Originally posted by fxpose View Post
      I understand I will end up with less thermal mass but is this acceptable?
      I see no reason why it won't work. The cast ovens are thinner than that and I believe David built his 2.5 inches thick. I personally would sacrifice the mass for the larger space.

      Les...
      Check out my pictures here:
      http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f8/les-build-4207.html

      If at first you don't succeed... Skydiving isn't for you.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Dome wall thickness question

        that pic sucked try this never mind lol

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Dome wall thickness question

          32 inch is a very usable oven size. If it was me, I would opt for the thicker 4 1/2 inch mass. This will make the oven a bit more versatile - like slow roasts 24 hours later with only the initial firing.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Dome wall thickness question

            I'm with Les on this one, go with the added space. My oven is 36" and is perfect for my family, but I really would not want anything smaller - just makes the cooking harder if you are trying 2+ pizzas or multiple pans when roasting.
            Good insulation all around should allow roasting the next day without issue. Be sure to build an insulated door if you want that capability.

            RT

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Dome wall thickness question

              fxpose
              I would be tempted to go 3" bricks for the first few courses and then increase this to the thicker to increase the thermal mas and 'usability' of the oven. Just make sure that the strength and integrity of the oven is not compromised in needing to apply buttressing to the thinner walls. I have a 40" Pompeii and would not go smaller. This is a little too small for the odd occassion.

              Neill
              Prevention is better than cure, - do it right the first time!

              The more I learn, the more I realise how little I know


              Neill’s Pompeiii #1
              http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f8/n...-1-a-2005.html
              Neill’s kitchen underway
              http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f35/...rway-4591.html

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Dome wall thickness question

                Thank you all, for your replies! They all make good sense but I'm still torn which way to go.

                I figured 3" was fine because most cast ovens I've seen all seemed to have thinner walls as Les mentioned.
                I also decided I will use a soldier course, after all, to maximize floor space.

                As far as the shallow entry goes, it will be rectangular with a flared side wall opening.

                George
                George

                My 34" WFO build

                Weber 22-OTG / Ugly Drum Smoker / 34" WFO

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Dome wall thickness question

                  I figured 3" was fine because most cast ovens I've seen all seemed to have thinner walls
                  They also have far fewer pieces to expand, contract, and crack. That said, I have a thin wall oven and I don't see any real advantage to it. If it's just the size of the dome, you can thin the dome walls where they intersect with the enclosure.
                  My geodesic oven project: part 1, part 2

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Dome wall thickness question

                    How about 3" thick walls, bottom to ceiling, and adding some layers of home brew mortar on the upper half of the dome to increase mass?
                    George

                    My 34" WFO build

                    Weber 22-OTG / Ugly Drum Smoker / 34" WFO

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Dome wall thickness question

                      your going thur the same thing i was only a few weeks back

                      what i found was this the larger the oven the less often they seem to use it

                      ie firing for just 2 pizza's

                      i was going to build a 48 oven but ended up with a 36

                      so as for therm mas depends on what your cooking seems that for pizza and
                      1 or 2 bread rotation 3" to 4.5" all good more insulation will be the most important thing. the thermal mas greater then 3" only comes into play once you remove the fire and slow cook bread and so forth at 3" that seems fine just how you hold that heat is very important.

                      another point made was if it takes 90 sec for a pizza how many can you cook at once with out burning them if your watching moving as they did at expo more room means nothing

                      and if you can bake 30 loafs of bread in one firing wouldn't they start to get old before you could eat them ?

                      so i tough wouldn't i like to use it more often
                      have it fire faster use less wood and just enjoy the cooking
                      i got a posting from a guy who has a 21 in oven and uses it all the time
                      so you will be fine just insulate the hell out of it
                      Attached Files
                      Last edited by olddude; 04-17-2010, 07:16 PM.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Dome wall thickness question

                        With 3" walls and enough room for 3" of blanket insulation and stucco I can lay out 35" of floor space. With stucco on the outside perimeter of the 48" circle I can do 36" of floor space.
                        Inner oven opening will be 18" wide.
                        Last edited by fxpose; 04-17-2010, 09:11 AM.
                        George

                        My 34" WFO build

                        Weber 22-OTG / Ugly Drum Smoker / 34" WFO

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Dome wall thickness question

                          from what i've seen on this site and others make the oven smaller stay with the 3" of mas but you need more insulation

                          thermal mas is where the heat is stored for none fire cooking

                          so if your insulation is small you will lose heat fast
                          so even if you had 5" of mass wouldn't mean anything

                          question how will you be cooking for

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Dome wall thickness question

                            i keep trying to send you a readable cad drawing showing 2'8" in side
                            4 /2" wall 3" of insulation then you could stucco the out side


                            here is a pick of my first row on end get more room

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Dome wall thickness question

                              yes 3" is good my bad thought i saw 1"
                              Last edited by olddude; 04-17-2010, 09:09 AM.

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