Starting new build in Dallas

[Dwatkins]

Alomran,
thanks, we are really enjoying it

[Alomran]

Congratulations on the beautiful oven. nice set up as well. very well done!

[UtahBeehiver]

Turned out quite nice.

[Dwatkins]

The oven turned out better than I expected. I still need to do a little trim around the top, build a wood door to cover the lower wood storage area and the door to the oven. It holds heat very well and could not be more pleased. I did build this small serving table which works very well when pulling pies from the oven I have a place to sit and cut them.

[Dwatkins]

Hey Russell, I did pick up a small 9" peel and yes it is a little tricky.
Ricky I appreciate the compliment.

This pic was taken about 3 weeks ago and shows the oven finished but I still need to complete the trim around the top. I left the brick down about and inch under the pergola and will put wire screen to cap the opening and then trim with a cedar. Want to have a little ventilation and also keep any small animals from making a home inside. Also trying to finish up the flag stone around the base and will show a finished walk around in a week or so.

[Chach]

Very nice design I like the round design. Also, your brick work is very clean. Really enjoyed seeing this come together.

Ricky

[UtahBeehiver]

I see the carbon has burning off nicely. If you do not have one yet, get or make a banjo peel for turning your pies, I make my share of accidental "calzones" while learning how to use my oven.

[Dwatkins]

Okay, the sixth fire and up to full temp. Holding heat without the door, that is next on the list after the brick is complete. But the day after it was still around 400. Baked our first three pies and can tell it will take some practice. At this point on 10/14/2019 I have about 30 brick left to lay and then to trim out the top. I am leaving the brick down about 1 1/2 inch below the pergola and will trim it with thin cedar.

[Dwatkins]

Fifth fire and more headway on the outer wall.

[Dwatkins]

Started the fourth fire and up over 400. Also good progress on the outer wall.

[Dwatkins]

I got two 3' sections of double walled 8" pipe, a cap, roof flashing, a rain hood and the pipe ceiling support. It all went in easily and after installed I built my third fire and smoke came out the top, just like it is supposed to.

[Dwatkins]

I picked up some toys to add to the built this past weekend and was able to get it all installed.

[Gulf]

I am sure that many long time members already know that I am not a real big fan of the "serpentine" flue. There are times when interlocking the corners are not possible. The serpentine is an example of that. In non-refreactory cases i've use wall ties, long screws, and or at least the mortar adhesion to take care of that. My personal rule is, if it will not fall in on itself while drystacked, then it won't fail under a load (or fire in this case). Your sepentine is pretty sharp imo and is of a concern for me. That said, the pins that you are using to transfer the load of the face brick arch to the inner arch may also work to transfer the weight back from a couple of the key elements of your serpentine to the face arch. Is that what you are intending to do?

[Dwatkins]

Question.
I have been planning to stuff small strips of ceramic blanket in the gap that I left between the dome and the chimney throat and have been researching high temp caulk to seal it off. If the HT caulk, once brought up to temp, becomes very hard and probably transfers heat, would it be just as efficient to use Heat Stop 50 to fill the void once the blanket strips are inserted?

[Dwatkins]

The second pic shows the chimney throat and the 4 stacked bricks that begin the outer arch. With these type of arches (throat and outer) the arch pushes down which forces the stacked bricks to push out so a buttress is needed. The outer wall (old Chicago brick) butts up against the chimney throat forming a buttress which you can see in pic 1. The outer arch will not have any type of buttress so I came up with a solution that I believe will work. I drilled holes in the ends of the fire brick and Chicago making sure the holes lined up. I used 4 ½” Tapcon masonry anchors/screws and then cut the head off. I dry fitted the four bricks on each side using wood strips to get the holes lined up and it took a little bit to get these mortared in but it turned out pretty good and should support the arch.