Structural Slab for new WFO

[stonecutter]

Re: Structural Slab for new WFO

I sure don't miss the nastiness of March in New England that's for sure. Though we are having a horrible pollen season here...long time locals say it's the worst one they can remember. I would trade this for winter any day...we had days were my eye's feel like somebody threw sand in them, and there is enough pressure in my head that it had me looking at my drill a bit too long.

[Gulf]

Re: Structural Slab for new WFO

It was worse...those patterns lasted all winter sometimes.

I noticed it only took a week to break that wuss down though!!

I probably wouldn't have lasted that long . About once every five years for a light dusting is what we see here. A good cover, about every 10 years. I've worked away from home a few times, I'm really not that fond of that sht.

[mikku]

Re: Structural Slab for new WFO

Really nice set up!
When I lived in Aurora, you could drive around in your car (with outdoor temp sensor) and watch the temperatures drop. Going over the Laurentian Divide heading toward Tower and Ely, the temp would bottom out at the bottom of the hill going into Embarrass. -40 is normal for winter, -60 was an occasional event!If I had a chance to go South for the winter, I always thought Minneapolis/St. Paul would be a good location. Snowmobiling is great fun but when your fingers cannot move because the cold wind is blowing thru the thread holes in your mits, that is really too cold!

Wish I knew about WFO's when back in Minnesota. I would have had more reason to cut firewood off the back 40! Those days, had all the equipment to make preparing wood easy...tractors, trailors, lots of good chainsaws, power splitter! Miss those things.

[stonecutter]

Re: Structural Slab for new WFO

Very nice oven and surroundings Mr.Chipster!

[mrchipster]

Re: Structural Slab for new WFO

It is normally 60F here this time of year for the daily high but last Friday I awoke to this and we had a similar event the week before.

Welcome to Minnesota Spring, On the up side we may see our first 60F degree day today.

Second photo is of what is should look like this time of year.

Chip

[mikku]

Re: Structural Slab for new WFO

When you live in a cold climate area, you get used to the inconveniences and try to enjoy the beauty around you. Northern Minnesota has ice fishing, skiing both downhill and X-Country, snowmobiling, hunting, trapping...all sorts of things to do. The winter months are when the loggers can really get into some of the remote areas because they make winter roads and are able to drive into areas that are usually swampland. Other winter sports like hockey, events like Pepse Challenge Races, World Cup X-Country, Luskiainen (Finnish snow festival) at Loon Lake..They have the whip sled and lots of good finish food and music. All these things are great! But if you move away for a little while and experience say...a month of winter instead of 6 months. A couple of inches of frost at best compared to several feet! Working outdoors with a jumper instead of parkas and sorel boots... Then...the winter becomes less desirable!
I never thought about the cold for 45 years, that is where I lived. Did not think twice about needing 2 batteries on my truck or the need to keep it plugged in to start OR keep it in a heated garage....That was Life in the beautiful Northland.
Now, I see snow maybe three to four times during a winter...cold temperatures are zero instead of -60F. I love the Northland but cannot take the cold anymore!
There is nothing that stops the wind from the Artic Circle chilling you to the bone...No mountains to block these icy winds. I moved back to the USA after 8 years in Japan only to find that my blood was too thin to survive the cold of home!

If you live there...you love it! I still do, but I cannot take the cold anymore! It is true about the snowplows...but they have a lot of roads to clear---hundreds of miles every day and they cannot worry about each persons' driveway. Got to be thankful that they work all hours to have the roads open to get to work in the early morning hours!

That is my speech on cold winters, and now I'm finished!

[stonecutter]

Re: Structural Slab for new WFO

Was it as bad as this? A Southerner Moves North? Rated PG .

It was worse...those patterns lasted all winter sometimes.

I noticed it only took a week to break that wuss down though!!

[Gulf]

Re: Structural Slab for new WFO

Thoroseal is a cementitous breathable paint which works well on masonry.

Yeah, I don't miss the snow that much either. It was great watching it fall, but it meant a lot of extra work for me...it got old after four or five months

Was it as bad as this? A Southerner Moves North? Rated PG .

[stonecutter]

Re: Structural Slab for new WFO

Thoroseal is a cementitous breathable paint which works well on masonry.

Yeah, I don't miss the snow that much either. It was great watching it fall, but it meant a lot of extra work for me...it got old after four or five months

[mikku]

Re: Structural Slab for new WFO

No, I am not planning on using hydraulic cement. but there was a lot of discussion on waterproofing--someone posted about a Henry product somewhere ...guess it is some type of waterproof paint. Paint must also be a no - no... stops water from coming in.....traps water from escaping!

Nothing really happening with my build. last time, I put 5:1 pericrete around chimney. That was a couple of weeks ago. With spring break coming up this week, maybe I can borrow the forklift from my neighbor. His business should be closed for several days---so maybe I can keep the forklift at my place for Golden Week.

That would give me a chance to fire it and put it indoors overnight if it looks like rain or SNOW!

I have some thoughts for oven #2. A lighter variety than #1... and maybe just a sheetmetal shell cover with loosefill vermiculite. That would be a very quick build. have to see what this oven does--"like looking how the smoke flows out of the oven"---can easily make modifications to the molds for a second try.

I saw that Northern Minnesota just got another 8" of snow in Duluth! I miss the people but not the snow!

[stonecutter]

Re: Structural Slab for new WFO

People talk about waterproofing WFO's.... there is special hydraulic cement used for stopping leaks in masonry foundations.... What is your take on something like that?

Mine will just be plastered, several times and covered with a heavy rubber sheet when not in use. Later, there must be a roof over the oven.. Waterproofing the dome only still leaves the landing open to water infiltration... Roofs and overhangs keep water away!

Do you mean what do I think of using hydraulic cement on a WFO? It would not be a good idea idea...primarily because anything that traps moisture inside masonry and prevents it from breathing is bad....period.


Any pictures of your build?....sounds like you are moving right along!

[mikku]

Re: Structural Slab for new WFO

I am sure anything that you will come out great! Just looking at some of your projects shows that you take a lot of pride in the work that you do and will go to great lengths to produce a thing of beauty.

Looking forward to seeing some of your handywork that is not masonry! Looks like this week-end I'll be starting a fire for the first time. The inner door for overnight heat retention will probably just be a 2x10 pieced together and soaked in water to keep it from burning. I can look for something more appropriate once the curing is done and my final render coat and stucco finish is in place.

People talk about waterproofing WFO's.... there is special hydraulic cement used for stopping leaks in masonry foundations.... What is your take on something like that?

Mine will just be plastered, several times and covered with a heavy rubber sheet when not in use. Later, there must be a roof over the oven.. Waterproofing the dome only still leaves the landing open to water infiltration... Roofs and overhangs keep water away!

[stonecutter]

Re: Structural Slab for new WFO

I think I have 50 of these pieces...my Dad broke the skids down a while back and he was going to CL them but offered them to me. I couldn't pass it up...some will be used as fire wood, because they are twisted a bit. I see oak being used for stone pallets too, but the yards charge you $20 if you don't return them..it's not really worth it.

A lot of my stonework over the years involves re-using/recycling material...it will be cool to re-purpose the oak into doors (I plan on making a couple spares), peels and serving platters, etc,etc.....

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Structural Slab for new WFO

Stonecutter,

I work in the pipeline industry where skids are used regularly but it is rare now a days, at least in this area to have oak skids anymore unless the pipe very large diameter and thick wall. I would hang on to those skids, a dying past. I wish I had all those oak skids from years past for my WFO oven now.

[stonecutter]

Re: Structural Slab for new WFO

I am also using the same wood to make a couple different peels and serving trays.