Napa WFO dome & hearth build questions

[EricU]

Re: Napa WFO dome & hearth build questions

Formed and poured the WFO counter last saturday. Thanks to my buddy Mike, I had asked if he could come over and help pour in the morning and well, I wasnt quite ready. Thought I would be done by 10 or 11 in the morning and we cleaned up around 6:00 PM!!!!!

[EricU]

Re: Napa WFO dome & hearth build questions

Finished stripping the forms today, started the chimney stack and finished a little more rock

Used Sakrete 5000+ for the slab at about $5 a bag. The Buddy Rhodes mix that I like to use is more, a lot more. The Sakrete (from HD) worked quite well and I am quite happy the way the slab came out.

The drips on the big rocks will clean right up with either vinegar or a stiff wire brush or both.

[Tscarborough]

Re: Napa WFO dome & hearth build questions

Absolutely wonderful!

[John K]

Re: Napa WFO dome & hearth build questions

Great Work!!

keep those photos coming

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Napa WFO dome & hearth build questions

Well done Eric. Beautiful counter-top.
-Dino

[EricU]

Re: Napa WFO dome & hearth build questions

Thanks guys, though I have to say this thing is kind of taking the wind out of my sail. It is very time demanding and I still have a lot of work to do with the framing and fascia work.

I keep changing my mind on the chimney design and I think I will just see what comes out as I do it!

[EricU]

Re: Napa WFO dome & hearth build questions

Well, It has been pretty nice weather here in Nor Cal, and since I have kind of stalled on my WFO project due to burn out (no pun intended!) I decided the other day to start re-drying out my WFO. After a few hours of 300 degrees or so fire going I got the idea to throw in a chuck roast I had ready for the oven. Put that baby in a cast iron dutch oven with carrots, onions and garlic, nothing fancy but that baby was awesome!

It turned out so good that I am now "fired" up about the oven again and want to both work on it and cook in it!! I still need to finish the flue transition, chimney, roof and upper enclosure!

I even went and ordered a half cord of dried and split white oak.

What to do? I plan on cooking some game hens hopefully this wednesday as our weather is supposed to stay in the 60s throughout the weekend. But I also need to work on the oven. You can see in the pic below that I have smoke residue all over the front of the oven and the keystone for the chimney transition from using the WFO without a proper chimney!






This is a pic of the WFO and chimney keystone back when it was still clean!

[lwood]

Re: Napa WFO dome & hearth build questions

Hi Eric, looks great. What is that counter top? Pigmented concrete. Like your wrap around counter design. Haven't seen that before.

[EricU]

Re: Napa WFO dome & hearth build questions

Yes, it is colored concrete, Sakcrete 5000 from HD. Cheap with powdered color.

The top will be framed with an enclosure and filled with more insulation. The landings out front will NOT have any posts though.

Eric.

[Aegis]

Re: Napa WFO dome & hearth build questions

Wow! Love the entire build!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great job on the oven and The wrap around counter is perfect! Great concrete work, Great stone work, Great brick work! I can see why it has taken you more than a weekend to build!

Wow!
John

[EricU]

Re: Napa WFO dome & hearth build questions

...I can see why it has taken you more than a weekend to build!...

Thanks for the props, I just finished the lawn and now it is time to get back to the WFO build, All I need to do is finish up the dome surrond using split redwood, granite paver splits and maybe a clock to go with the speakers and lights.

I am probably going to do the counter tops next. polished "wine and beer bottle infused" at the bar, simple colored and steeled finish on the sitting wall and a Buddy Rhodes press on the upper BBQ.

[Aegis]

Re: Napa WFO dome & hearth build questions

Hi Eric,
Love the dogs! I noticed you didn't have a flue for the curing fires, was it a problem or did it help with a lower/slower fire.
Great build and beautiful patio/kitchen area!
John

[EricU]

Re: Napa WFO dome & hearth build questions

...I noticed you didn't have a flue for the curing fires, was it a problem or did it help with a lower/slower fire...

John, I have been running the WFO without a flue since I finished the dome last year and have been on other home projects. The lack of a flue hasn't had any real negative effect other than my keystone rock looks kind of dark now!

I cured my oven no problem and started cooking in it about the third or fourth fire when I realized that the 300-400 degree oven temps was perfect for cooking meats nice and slow.

The lack of a completed flue has not stopped me from enjoying my WFO at all and we use it two to four times a week depending on the weather (cooked two turkeys in it last night, and they are good).

My dome has a couple of cracks in it when it gets good and hot that open and let visible steam out but I don't care as it cooks fine and I will fill my upper enclosure with pearlite anyway.


I do need to finish the flue and upper enclosure sometime, but my wife has made a "honey do" list and the WFO isn't on top!

Eric

[EricU]

Napa WFO dome & hearth build questions

It has been a while since I worked on my oven, but I did get the roof rafters and their support framed up over the Memorial day weekend.

I drilled the support beams so I can run power for various lights and also run speaker wire for speakers that I am going to mount up under the rafters.

I need to;

• Frame the two side and back walls with tin can studs
• Finish the front chimney brick work
• decide on what roofing material - thinking now maybe slate like Dino's and Ageis' (?)
• Run all the wiring back to the house
• fill the cavity with pearlite ($$)

The only problem is I bought another wakeboard boat!! and I use the oven too much!!!

Eric.

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Napa WFO dome & hearth build questions

Hey Eric, Can't wait to see that countertop you're talking about. Sounds great.

Is that a small grape orchard you've planted? Mind if I ask how many vines and what kinds? Just curious.

Also, that last post by you and the 4 picuture collage: how did you do that and upload it?

I had used picasweb, which for years let you pick your photo size before pasting into the FB "insert image" but now you're only allowed to right-click the photo and past a huge pick into the posting. Did you do a collage photo 1st and just pasted that in?

Your whole outdoor kitching is looking terrific.
-Dino