NH Oven Build

[david s]

Re: NH Oven Build

Two questions,
How thick did you make the dome and did you use stainless steel needle reinforcing?

[benny8]

Re: NH Oven Build

Two questions,
How thick did you make the dome and did you use stainless steel needle reinforcing?

Dome was about 2" thick and I used polypropylene fibers in the mix.

[david s]

Re: NH Oven Build

Good job. The polypropylene fibres give your refractory a measure of protection from blowing (rapid steam expansion), but they don't provide any additional reinforcing. I didn't use them in my first oven and it still fires ok. Interested to see how your dome performs over time.

[benny8]

Re: NH Oven Build

Thanks David. It has been a learning curve, thats for sure. But it has also been fun. Hopefully it holds up well, but if it doesn't I am not out a lot of money.

[benny8]

Re: NH Oven Build

Wednesday night I was in a panic. I was getting ready to cast the last big piece(oven opening), and I decided I should see if the other pieces would release from the form. I had used vegetable oil for a release agent, and the pieces did not want to release. After about an hour and some cursing, I finally was able to get them to release. Apparently, the form I made was of plaster. I sanded it down and painted a coat or two of Kilz primer on it. The cement acted like a suction on the primer. When it finally released it took the primer off with it. Luckily it peels off the inside of the oven like a skin. Anyway, today I took the day off from work to get some other projects finished around the house. When that was done, I cast the last pieces of the oven. I also picked up my stainless steel pieces for my flue and chimney. Good busy day today.

[TxTanner]

Re: NH Oven Build

Your making great progress,you and your daughter should be proud

[benny8]

Re: NH Oven Build-Update

Well, this will be my third summer with the Homebrew castable refractory oven. We have cooked over 200 pizzas in it over the last 2 years. Few hairline cracks, but she is still running strong. Last Memorial Day we hosted our 1st annual Pizza Cookoff. We cooked 64 pizzas in 3.5 hours. It was a blast. This weekend we will be hosting the 2nd Annual Pizza Cookoff with 3 divisions: Traditional, Specialty and Dessert. Thinking about building one to start a mobile wood fired pizza business.

[benny8]

Re: NH Oven Build-New Pics

Some pics of the finished project-2 yrs later. Sorry

[almondsurf]

Re: NH Oven Build

Thanks for the pictures and feedback. I am casting mine today and enjoyed your posts.

[benny8]

UPDATE- It has now been about 4 years and many, many firings. I am happy to report that the Homebrew castable refractory has held up awesome. Not showing any signs of crumbling or break down.

[david s]

Excellent, report back in another 4 years.

[benny8]

Update- 6 years in and the homebrew cast dome is still going strong. Best $80 I ever spent.

[benny8]

Update-7 years in and ~500 pizzas later, the ol' homebrew $80 dome is like the Energizer Bunny=STILL GOING!

[UtahBeehiver]

Thanks for following up. It is a good testament that homebrew dense cast will hold up. We have been seeing a rash of perlite/vermiculitecrete domes lately so this is timely to show how well a correctly built oven performs and "lasts".

[benny8]

Thanks for following up. It is a good testament that homebrew dense cast will hold up. We have been seeing a rash of perlite/vermiculitecrete domes lately so this is timely to show how well a correctly built oven performs and "lasts".

One of the best and most favorite projects I have embarked on.