Countryboy build in SC, US

[countryboy]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

Thumbs up! What I found the first time I made a big batch of pies was that I was trying to hurry up too much. Pump a couple out to feed the immediate curiosity, then just settle in and enjoy it.

Thanks for that info!! I so needed to hear that... Feeling a little stressed right now, but everything is done. So, I will relax and have a good time.

Thanks!

[Tscarborough]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

Thumbs up! What I found the first time I made a big batch of pies was that I was trying to hurry up too much. Pump a couple out to feed the immediate curiosity, then just settle in and enjoy it.

[countryboy]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

A couple more pics...

While moving blocks around cleaning up I uncovered the handprints my boys and I made the day we poured this slab... A little dirt in them sets them off nicely...

Gonna rest and get ready to build a BIG fire in a couple hours!

Charging the battery in the camera to take a few pics of the gathering and the first pie!

[countryboy]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

Well, a couple siblings heard mom was coming over for the inaugural pizza cooking and next thing you know I have 16 people including me planning to eat here tonight!!

I was up until a little after midnight making dough and getting it into the fridge to proof. Not sure the 12 balls I have is enough, so gonna make a little more in a bit. Worst case we eat them in the next few days!

Up at 6:30 this morning with a LIST of things to do, not the least of which was to clean the patio.

I started with making a little vermicrete for the lowest areas in the enclosure to discourage vermiculite from finding little holes and leaking out. I mixed it fairly dry and dumped/leveled it in side the enclosure before adding five more bags. May need one or two more, but the oven is well insulated.

Next I mixed and applied the finish coat of stucco to the oven and back of the counter wall. Darn the color.. can't quite get them to match... Paint over the stucco will have to be the final solution to get the exact colors I want, but the current colors will suffice while the stucco cures.

Next I cut and screwed in sheet metal flashing to encourage run off from the top of the wall to clear the stucco and to get well out on to the roof. Some trick working around the chimney... Still have to build a brace for it and go one section higher, but it works for now.

Painted the chimney black as some of the flashing and a couple of the parts were galvanised and I wanted it all to match..

Fabricated an inner door with available materials. (Have several loaves of bread proofing, so they will go in the oven after pizza gathering is over...) The door is made of aluminum on the inside and outside with hardibacker in the middle... Fingers crossed to see how it does. The fit is snug, so it should hold a good bit of heat.

**** Anyone have a 22" x 14" piece of 2" thick insulation board I can buy?? That is what I'd like to put between the aluminum pieces... PM me please.

Then, my boys and I did a LOT of cleaning!

Still have a number of details to take care of, but I can take a deep breath and shorten the honey-do list that has grown since starting this project seven weeks ago!! (Yep. Seven weeks since breaking ground on June 16. Feels a LOT longer, but glad to reach this plateau before finishing the patio stuff...)

Bunch of pics coming up...

[countryboy]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

And a couple more pics...

Also, with the stucco on, it looks like the weirdness of that strange hump seems to be taken care of. Finish coat and the rock on the top and I think it will all be solved.

One side note from this evening.. While screwing in the lath I slipped with the drill and the bit, while still spinning hit the base of my left thumbnail and went right through!! Nice bloody mess.

My wife asked, "You need to go to the hospital?"

I said, "No! I need to get to work. We just mixed the stucco and I want to get it up!"

Kinda throbbing now, but hey, ya gotta do what ya gotta do!!

Overall, a good progress day!

[countryboy]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

Accomplished a good bit more after 6:30 p.m. today... Had a lot of help from my trusty 14 y.o. assistant!!

We started by flashing around the arch and upper section where it joined the base so any rain/runoff will be carried away from the oven and masonry work that might be affected by moisture. Also, I caulked some of these connections with a roof cement to also impede any water flow/seepage.

Next we covered the enclosure with tar paper/roofing felt before shaping and attaching lath to the three unstuccoed sides. (Sorry, no pics of back yet, but will get those in the near future...)

Then, as darkness encroached we started madly slinging stucco. My son took the large areas and I did the delicate work around and above the arch. As we were feverishly working we started to hear thunder and see lightning in the distance and by the time we finished there were rain drops starting to fall!! Quickly covered everything up with plastic and washed tools.

Had a couple bags of vermiculite ready to pour into the enclosure, but decided not to do that until we can totally seal the roof to prevent any leaked water from being absorbed...

Still need to doctor on the roof support immediately behind the front wall as well as build a support for the chimney. I want to go one section/2' higher, but need better support to prevent a strong wind from making a mess of the chimney.

Pics follow.

[countryboy]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

Going to get more done on the oven later today, but had time this morning to work on my oven tools for a bit.

Posted info and multiple pics in DIY Oven Tools.

One teaser pic below...

[countryboy]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

A couple better pics with flash...

Got to go feed the fish. Will check in later.

[countryboy]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

By the light of the moon... well, that and a street lamp!

Finished getting the hardibacker up. If all goes well tomorrow I will make the trip to the big box store for some lath and we'll get it stuccoed tomorrow evening.

Most of the backerboard was pieced together. Fairly straight forward except over the arch... Will be covered with felt, lath and stucco so I was not real concerned about tight precise fit... Mortar covers everything...

I included a couple pics of the roof. It is not screwed down yet, but is fitted. I'll screw it down and add a support bracket for the chimney after I get the vermiculite in.

Figured out the weirdness of the apparent bulge in the steel supports... Seems it is indeed level, only the far end of the right wall drops down a bit. Not sure how I ended up doing that, but it is staying that way. I am confident once the stucco is on and the rocks on the top it will be almost invisible... If not, well just have gatherings around the oven after dark or in heavy fog...

Pics follow.

[countryboy]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

Thanks, Scott.

The Lord knows, I have a hundred other projects that are unfinished!! I don't want this to be one of them... Seriously, I know a lot of guys on here have limited time or take their time. I just don't want to still be drooling for pizza in eight months!

[I looked at all the pics for your mill a day or two ago. Quite a project! Is it functional? I couldn't quite figure that out. Looks designed to be.]


The fire has gotten bigger each day. No cracking that I can see inside the dome, but I have several 'expansion cracks' on the outside. They open and close with temp rise. Hoped I wouldn't, but was not dismayed or surprised.

[Millstone Man]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

Looking great and I'm impressed with your dedication to staying on task and getting it complete in a timely manner.

[countryboy]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

Got some of the enclosure done today... was a bit frustrated that other things kept getting in the way of playing with the oven, but by 4 p.m. or so I had time to dedicate (Then some friends showed up for a tour of the greenhouse... )

Anyway, the first thing my son and I worked on was installing the hardibacker, felt, lath and stucco on the wall that was to be installed closest to the shop. I framed this and we opted to fab the whole thing then bolt/screw into place since we likely would have a good bit of trouble getting the stucco on after the wall was installed....

Worked like a charm!! We let the stucco set up for about an hour then VERY gently moved it into position and screwed it in place. Pics show the wall on a table and then before/after it has been installed.

Finished framing it up and go hardibacker on the back wall before darkness started to fall.

After it got dark, working by the street behind where the fireplace is, I managed to get the roof in place. Still need to do some final trimming and fitting, but I want it ready to screw down before finishing the hardibacker/stuccoed front walls. Figured it would be easier to fit that way and I can finalize it after the walls are done.

One part of the framing at the front/right is bugging me. It is near level but the curve and angle makes it look way out of level. Weird! May unscrew a few parts and trim to fit based on the eye and not the level... or, may wait until finished as I plan a line of flat stone along the top of the facade wall and hope it will hide the oddness... Maybe it is the lower horizontal running downhill? Just noticed that...

And, just for good measure... a couple of my 'assistants' (When they are not playing hide 'n' seek or some such) eating dinner in the fireplace area while they watch me work...

[BackyardPermaculture]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

Might be a group pizza thing for the first go!

That's putting yourself under some pressure!

Enjoy
Mick

[countryboy]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

No pics tonight, but a slightly larger fire with several hours of longevity while I started framing the enclosure.

Most of the metal work is up. Buying the hardibacker and metal lath tomorrow. Have several pressing things for my days off this week, but will try to finish the enclosure. Would hate to get it dried out good, then get rained on or some such!!

One other touch up tonight was to add 8" flue outside of the 6". I put 1" self tapping screws in 1/3 points and several levels to keep the 8" centered around the 6". With the smoke and fire going well the 6" was quite warm, but once the 8" was over it the temp was near ambient.

Under the gun a little. Was planning pizza for Saturday night and just found out that I have family coming in to town and the family will be gathering... possibly here on Saturday... Might be a group pizza thing for the first go!

[countryboy]

Re: Countryboy build in SC, US

You can't really tell in that pic, but it is herringbone on the hearth floor of the fireplace. The back will be regular lapped/stack on edge. I plan on some stone in front of hearth that will come up level with the top of the bricks, then I can straighten out the edge of the brick.

Might take a page out of your playbook and run some bick out of level... I love the stuff you did on your brick house.

The pipe to the left, set in the concrete is for a swinging pot hanger. I figure I will be able to cook just about anything between the fireplace and the WFO, though a whole pig might be a trick. Time will tell.