5/8" metal deck?

[aaron4osu]

I building a wood oven using the basic directions? I'm cutting a few corner and making use of some materials i already owned. So after pouring the foundation i then following the cinder block design for the stand, i have topped the stand w/ 5/8" steel instead of pouring a foundation on top of the stand. This is the stuff that's used on roadways. Anyway, my question is can I go lay my firebricks right on top of the metal? I planned on using the sand, firebrick, water mixture directly on top of the metal. or i could lay down a few inches of gravel first. what do u guys think? My friend has a mold to pour my own oven that will sit on top of the firebricks. thanks, aaron

[RCLake]

Re: 5/8" metal deck?

Remember to have insulation under the firebrick floor, either vermiculite or an insulation board such as the FB board. Otherwise the heat will escape down thru the floor and I imagine that steel plate would get awful hot.

[Les]

Re: 5/8" metal deck?

Aaron,

The fire brick needs to be on top of insulation. I believe the plans call for around 3 inches of a vermiculite mix. Some of us have opted to set them on insulation board. Either way you go, you need to have them insulated or you will lose your floor heat.

Les...

[dmun]

Re: 5/8" metal deck?

Insulate! Insulate! Insulate!

Gravel, sand, ground glass: none of these things insulate worth squat.

I can just see that six hundred degree piece of steel putting a brown stripe on the front of your jeans as wrestle your firewood around in the oven.

[james]

Re: 5/8" metal deck?

...
I can just see that six hundred degree piece of steel putting a brown stripe on the front of your jeans as wrestle your firewood around in the oven.

Now there's a good mental picture. :-)
James

[RCLake]

Re: 5/8" metal deck?

This is the second time today I've thought of Rocky Mountain Oysters in a WFO, earlier George was describing how to get/crawl out of the vent and protecting valuable items. Didn't mean to turn this discussion in a strange way, but lots of insulation between that steel and floor.

[aaron4osu]

Re: 5/8" metal deck?

wow, thanks 4 all the help. do u think i can use that 2" thick blue iso-board from lowes or Home Depot? I think it's like $30 per 4'x8'x2" Would i still go over that w/ sand vermiculite mix? I'm planning on using an insolation blanket over the oven. I have not decided if i will enclose it or not yet. I just found this site and can't believe how big the community is. So many great ideas to think through. Great Job Everyone!!

[Les]

Re: 5/8" metal deck?

Aaron,

I don't think so - I believe the board you are referring to is a foam product. You need something that can withstand the extreme heat you are going to generate. Forno bravo sells what you need or you can do a google on insblok 19 (and there are other products) - we prefer you buy it from James If you refer to the plans on this site, it will give you a recommendation of a sand / clay mix for leveling the floor. Good luck and keep the questions coming - we're here to help another brother of the brick.

Les...

[RTflorida]

Re: 5/8" metal deck?

I think Les is spot on, that blue foam board is not rated for high temps, it is a wall/attic insulation; at the very least it will melt.....maybe worse

RT

[dmun]

Re: 5/8" metal deck?

The foam board might also outgas nasty fumes when it gets hot. If cost is the primary consideration, shop around for big bags of vermiculite or perlite, garden centers, pool suppliers and the like. It mixes with a little portland cement to form an effective insulator, 4" of perlcrete are almost as good as 2" of cal-sil.

[gjbingham]

Re: 5/8" metal deck?

It would be cool to be there for the first real fire though, huh. Melt down then implosion!

Aaron,
Just to save you some time and money, download the e-plans for a pompeii oven from the FB store - great price! Free! While there's a lot of latitude in how you build a brick wood fired oven, there are a few principles that you don't really vear away from. Insulation able to withstand 1000 degree temps under and over the dome is critical to oven function. You can choose to ignore that, but eventually, you will be kicking yourself in the butt for not doing it right.

[aaron4osu]

Re: 5/8" metal deck?

thanks, I started this project w/ the e-book. I 'm pretty sick of mixing concrete. lol.That was why i took the turn and picked up the steel plate. I'm looking locally for the insolation board and blanket, but I'll probably end up getting it here. With price a factor, I might end up going w/ vermiculite insolation mixture under the bricks.

[jengineer]

Re: 5/8" metal deck?

5/8ths - talk about overkill

[aaron4osu]

Re: 5/8" metal deck?

alright, i'm ready to finish this project. I've been waiting to get the actual oven poured, and over to my house which should be done this weekend. where would anyone suggest to look for the insolation locally. Outside of the pizza world what is that insolation( insblok 19, and the blanket) used for? maybe hvac installers? I will buy from here if i can't find anyone locally, i feel i owe by town that. The dome i poured looks like the casa90 and i wanted to start the curing process as soon as possible. While i'm waiting to get the insolation do u think i can start little fires in it to get the ball rolling or should nit be finished and covered w/ blanket then vermic- portland outside first. I wasn't sure if heating it up to like 300 or so just to begin the process would crack it or not if it's not insulated. I guess i'm just really anxious to get going.
thanks, aaron
ps as far as the 5/8 thick deck, i went to a scrap yard next to where i work and it happened to be sitting there the perfect size. 4'x4'. the week i built the base it was sooooo cold, and i could not stand to mix another bag of cement. so i took the short cut.

[dmun]

Re: 5/8" metal deck?

I like your thick steel deck. Should work fine.

For Insblock19, it's used for building ceramic kilns. Refractory suppliers pretty much the only option for specialist refractory materials like board and blanket. Columbus is in the middle of the industrial heartland, somewhere in northern Ohio, you are going to find what you need.

Perlite and Vermiculite are used for a lot of purposes. Look for pool supplies, and installers, as well as landscape suppliers. You need the big bags, and not silicone treated.

Good luck.