Getting Re-Started more like it

[Filthymutt]

Hi all, It's been a while since I've posted anything.

My WFO has gotten a lot of use but anyone who remembers my build here in Beijing about 4 years back may remember I did it at a rented house. So I was wondering, since we will move out next May to our own house, anyone ever do a dome dismantle?

I'm not really sure it is worth it. It is a 42" and in the new house, since my son will head out to college I'm thinking to downsize to a 36". Also, I believe my dome insulation will need replacing as well. What do you guys think. Scrap and build fresh? Or dismantle/downsize/rebuild. I'm also going from an outdoor oven to an in the kitchen build...

Advice?

Filthymutt in Beijing

[UtahBeehiver]

Aren't you a helicopter pilot? You can just lift and fly it over to the new home........LOL. IMHO, you will be better off building a new one rather than dismantling the old one. The new one should go up faster than the old one since you have been through the building process. I would do a forum search for indoor kitchens to see some of the builds that have gone on of the FB site.

[Filthymutt]

.Oh I wish it was so easy as to do it like that. Yeah actually I'm kind a looking forward to do a new build. If the owner doesn't want this one anymore I can always salvage the insulated board from underneath but I think the top insulation had gotten wet because I noticed over the last two years my bricks don't hold the heat as long anymore afterwards

So I'll build a new 36 incher at the new place. And thanks I'll check out the pages you suggested. My wife isn't going to be too happy with that mess inside the house during the building process!!!

[UtahBeehiver]

If you do break down the old oven, the floor bricks, which should be dry fitted, could be used in the new build. If the floor insulation is ceramic fiber board, it can we dried out as well but it may be mushy if wet and may not be able to be taken up without breaking. I am not sure how expensive materials are in (Hong Kong??) but it may not worth the effort.

[Filthymutt]

Hey sorry. Old age seemed to have gotten the best of me. I posted that question and then forgot I did.
Appreciate the answer and agreed. That's pretty much what I was thinking.
Its March now and we will move to the new place in May. Not Hong Kong no, I spent enough time down there in sweat city, I'm staying in Beijing I got everything I needed here for the 1st build I should be ok for the second. May downsize from my present 42" to a 36 though. Undecided still. Looking forward to doing a better job the second time around! Would really like to try and go mortarless this time but doubt I have the precision brick cutting ability for that.

BC

[Filthymutt]

Well, It's me again. I've finished the dismantle and have to say I am pleasantly surprised that the dismantle went so well that 90+% of my bricks are salvageable! And considering I was planning to downsize anyway from my existing 42"ID to a 36"ID all is hunkydory. Not only my cooking floor is reusable but pretty much all the other bricks. The only ones I feel are not worth saving are the ones that marry the entryway to the dome.
So, for any of you that find yourself (like I did) in the position of needing to destroy and rebuild your phoenix from the ashes, go for it! Its not so bad. Just be careful of your fingers if you're doing it the morning after a final farewell pizza night!!! Ouch! A 100C+ brick can take some skin off!