Jayson's build in Melbourne Australia

[Jayson]

After much research and a lot of time spent on FB I am please to have started my build.

I am following the Pompeii oven plans with a few of my own adjustments. Dimensions : 1100mm internal diameter , should end up 550mm high.

I was really impressed with the various types of indespensible tools I have seen on FB and decided I had to give that a go, which you will see in my photos. It has been a great help.

I am using castable refractory mix and found it to be really good to work with.

I have started a Picasa web album and welcome any feedback
https://picasaweb.google.com/1140387...eat=directlink

[mn8tr]

Re: Jayson's build in Melbourne Australia

Looks like you are off to a great start. Enjoy your build, you will be cooking in no time.

[brickie in oz]

Re: Jayson's build in Melbourne Australia

If you havent already started the arch you may want to put a small packer underneath the arch form work.
This will enable the form to be removed a lot easier when you have finished.

As your form is now it will be very difficult to remove especially when it gets wet and expands.

[Jayson]

Re: Jayson's build in Melbourne Australia

Hi Brickie, thanks for that advice, I hadn't thought of using wedges. The upper arch section is screwed to an upright and the upright doesn't go all the way to the top. I was thinking I could take the screws out to drop the arches and the rest should be clear. I might trim the width and use wedges at the sides. Thanks for the heads up.

[Jayson]

Re: Jayson's build in Melbourne Australia

Thanks mn8tr. I cant wait to fire up the first Pizza. I like the stones you have used on the fron of your arch. Very unique. How's it cook?

[Jayson]

Re: Jayson's build in Melbourne Australia

Things have been progressing and I thought I should share my progress with some photos below.

[Jayson]

Re: Jayson's build in Melbourne Australia

Firstly, sorry about the order in which I have added this post.

This part of the build was obviously before the previous post.

These pics show the transition of the dome to the arch, which I have found to be the most challenging part of the build so far. I was keen to avoid the tear drop shape that I have seen occur with other builds. When I began cutting the transition brick I had initially used full length bricks but quickly realized that if I used a brick longer than the normal half bricks, this took the round shape off course and caused the tear drop shape.

I resisted the temptation and just used half bricks and this seemed to work. Getting the angle on the back of the brick (outward facing) right was the hardest part as you will see from the picture of the front of the oven. A couple of bricks above the arch had been angled a little too steeply and as a result I had to fill a bit with mortar but this is just in the surface mostly.

Credit to my dad too for doing the clean up, trust him to be able to prove he helped by getting in the photo. Free Pizza for life now.

[Jayson]

Re: Jayson's build in Melbourne Australia

Hey Jayson,
Nice job you have done a neat transition from the oven to door arch it's all looking good.

Cheers Doug

Thanks Doug! Watching yours along the way has really helped. Thanks for sharing the build.

Regards

[Jayson]

Re: Jayson's build in Melbourne Australia

Good pick up Doug, old Bill over the back has a great vegie patch. I recommend building on the fenceline to everyone as it's been a great way to get to know the neighbors. Bill and I have shared a beer or two over the fence since I've been building the oven and he has taken a real interest, even loaning me an old pointing trowel, it has been really handy. I've given him eggs from my chooks and he's brought me vegies. I reckon he is as eager as I am to try a pizza or two when it's done. My build has turned into a real community project with interest from loads of friends and neighbors and a bit of help too. Just another good reason to build one!

The copper pipe is a sleeve which holds my thermometer. It's sealed on the internal end so it's airtight but will still transfer heat to the thermometer probe which slides inside the tube and has a gauge on the end of it. I got it from 'Johnny the oven man', he's a forum member who sells refractory supplies here in Melbourne.