Pompeii Oven Stand Height

[lhuhn]

I am getting ready to set the blocks for the oven stand tomorrow and I have questions about the recommended height of the stand for a Pompeii oven. The plans call for four courses of 8" block for a total of 32" to the bottom of the hearth. With a 3 1/2" hearth + 2" FB Board + 2 1/2" Firebrick that puts the floor of the oven at 40". It seems to me that adding another course of block to the stand would make things a lot more user friendly (less bending). I know this is an individual choice but I am wondering if there is a good reason for making the stand shorter? Any thoughts?

[Tscarborough]

Re: Pompeii Oven Stand Height

I bent my elbows to almost 90 degrees holding the peel and measured to the ground, that is the height I made my hearth, 41-1/2". That said, I do have to lean over to look into the oven standing right in front of it, so I generally stand back about 5 feet and don't have to bend to see.

Bending over is easier than working a tool above that 80-90 bend of your arms.

[fxpose]

Re: Pompeii Oven Stand Height

Perhaps because it was originally designed by a shorter person like myself? I am just over 5' 7". Five courses will bring the hearth too high for me.

[GianniFocaccia]

Re: Pompeii Oven Stand Height

If you have shoulders like mine (destroyed from years of overuse caused by youth sports) you will appreciate not having to stress them by having to lift a peel. My recommendation: take a broomstick and slide it horizontally at whatever level is comfortable to your shoulders and back as long as you can see the end of it (ala TScarborough).

[david s]

Re: Pompeii Oven Stand Height

I make mine 4 courses of 8" high blocks, then plus slab and floor gives me a working height of 3 ft. I have heard elsewhere that the ideal is 1 m which is 3ft 3" you will adapt to whatever you build but the 3 ft height allows seated guests to be at eye level to the fire which is nice.

[mklingles]

Re: Pompeii Oven Stand Height

I went with 5 rows of block. However, I'm 6'5". Also I just finished it and haven't had must time cooking with it. I think it will work well.

http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/memb...d-im-ready.jpg

[david s]

Re: Pompeii Oven Stand Height

Yehesss !!

[lhuhn]

Re: Pompeii Oven Stand Height

Thanks everyone. I decided to go with 5 courses.

[kebwi]

Re: Pompeii Oven Stand Height

My stand is four courses, so about 32". 3-4" hearth, 3" insulation, 2.5" firebrick. That's an oven floor of about 40". At my height of 5'11" it feels perfect. I'm sure some variation would be workable, but a full course of blocks would be too high for me...I presume, I have no experience with a higher oven of course.

How tall are you?

[WoodchuckDad]

Re: Pompeii Oven Stand Height

The best advice I received was to make sure it is tall enough. you can make it a small step in front of it to make it shorter, but you surely can't make it taller.