Finally decided on 32in castable dome

[Mullster]

Ready for my first pizza tomorrow!

So I think (never sure) the curing has gone well. A week of increasing fires - saw 700F on the dome tonight. There doesn’t seem to be any sign of damage or cracks, no suspicious smells other than smoke.

I have lots to learn about fire and oven management and I know most of that will come with practice and getting to know my oven but I do have a few questions hoping you guys can help with:

• what does clearing of the dome look like? I get the sense the soot disappears at a certain heat? So far it’s pretty black in there!
• Tomorrow when it’s pizza time do I simply move the fire (I’ve been practising) and then wire brush the hearth to move as much dust/ash as possible?

Can’t believe it’s almost pizza time!

[david s]

The soot should burn away at around 300C (572F) By the sound of it you still haven’t got the oven hot enough yet. Sometimes a wet oven wil display a persistent ring of black around the base of the dome. This is an indication that it is still damp in that place, so the fire still needs to be fairly gentle. I catered for a wedding last night and I fired my oven for longer than usual because there were wedding delays. After 3 hrs the top of the dome registered 650C although this is only the surface temperature (IR temperature guns are not really that useful).
Regarding the wire brush, do not use it. There have been incidents of people ingesting bits of wire with can lead to very serious consequences. A length of 1/2” pipe is far better, just blow, don’t suck.

[Mullster]

ThanksDavidS - although the black is at the top of the dome rather than the base...

Really I can’t use the wire brush? I thought they were specially made - or is it just for cleaning the next day?

[david s]

Black anywhere means it’s not hot enough for pizza. The risk of losing some metal bristles and possible ingestion is too great in my book. I wouldn’t put a metal brush anywhere near an oven. Raking the coals over the floor will burn off anything and leave it clean once you’ve blown away the ash.

[UtahBeehiver]

Plus one on "NO" steel or brass brushes in the oven.

[sergetania]

A length of 1/2” pipe is far better, just blow...

Really!?! That's pretty cool! Thanks for the warning not to use a wire brush. The WFO chef on YouTube recommends wiping the ash with a damp rag wrapped around a small turning peel. That should work too, right?

[david s]

Yes, but it also cools the floor off and leaves the surface a bit muddy. The blowpipe does a better job IMO.

[Mongo]

Just happened to be sipping a beverage out by the oven. Love the blowpipe. Careful with that thing, move from back to front never front to back.

[sergetania]

Just happened to be sipping a beverage out by the oven. Love the blowpipe. Careful with that thing, move from back to front never front to back.

Yes, but that one can't shoot darts! Nice tiles!

[Mullster]

Just happened to be sipping a beverage out by the oven. Love the blowpipe. Careful with that thing, move from back to front never front to back.

I’m intrigued (or maybe just confused ) why never front to back?

[Mongo]

I’m intrigued (or maybe just confused ) why never front to back?

Caught the end of the pipe on a brick once. Got a fat lip and almost lost a tooth.

[Mullster]

The dome is clearing!!!!!!!

First pizza fire today and the dome is clearing for the first time - it’s working!!!

[Mullster]

First pizza night - a roaring success!

Worth every penny and every hour!

Had such an amazing family pizza party today. Oven fired for almost 6hrs by the end. 10 pizzas - not one wasted (I’d assumed at least one would end on the floor or the fire!).

The taste is something else. We have long made home made dough and pizza sauce but even still - a wood fires pizza really is something next level!

Im so pleased and so content!

A big thank you to DavidS - you’ve helped more than you’ll ever realise - and those weep holes poured today! So glad I had them.
Mongo the last minute advice to make a blowpipe - priceless - fashioned one out of a roller blind this afternoon - what a gadget! Blew that ash nicely!

countless others have shared their experience, their thoughts and photos - and it’s all contributed to me making an oven that has delivered real joy today - thank you!

Stay tuned - I still have rendering and painting to finish. I’ve also started the pergola that will cover the dome and deck!

[Mullster]

More photos from the first pizza party

[sergetania]

Simply awesome! Congratulations! Great job!

The variety of pizza shapes is mind blowing!Haha! Ignore me, amazing job!