gt40's Pompeii Oven 42" build log

[gt40]

Re: gt40's Pompeii Oven 42" build log

Update:

finished 2 full courses. The mini course to set height as this is a LOW dome oven and the angle setting course which sets the angle of the dome. It is necessary as there is an abupt change compared to high dome. It will be almost entirely hidden as the course on top will be perfectly angled and only 1/8" or so will show.

I also re engineered the arch for the opening. thanks out to Nic above btw.

Here are some pics:

Shot of the angle setting course with the mini course below:


Overview shot. FYI, the cooking surface ended up a full 49"/1245mm diameter. I also purchased another 100 firebricks for a total of 300.


close up of where the arch will go for the opening. This is what I tackle tomorrow:

[Nic The Landscaper]

Re: gt40's Pompeii Oven 42" build log

I would strongly recommend changing how you are completing the entry arch. the bricks should be turned on edge and all the bricks at the arch should be cut to be about the same size. You wont get the strength out of that arch that you'll want the way the bricks are being completed.

I attached an image illustrating what I'm trying to say.

[brickie in oz]

Re: gt40's Pompeii Oven 42" build log

and I have to say, going up and down on the high stand a hundred times will get you

Ppl pay good money to got to the gym to do that..

[Mike D]

Re: gt40's Pompeii Oven 42" build log

Nice progress, you should put something down to protect your floor. It is amazing how dirty everything gets as you get more vertical.

Mike

[gt40]

Re: gt40's Pompeii Oven 42" build log

How are you going to do the floor of the entry? You cut a very nice round shape in the front, are you going to use a different material for the front floor? Or are you going to match that curve with more brick. Most people just continue the pattern out to the outer edge. That way might be easier than cutting another perfect round shape to match the floor.

- Nice work though keep it up.

Mike

I am thinking about making a landing of soapstone that will merge perfectly with the round floor. I still have ceramic fiber board so I will insulate it all the way to the end. I am still trying to find a decent piece to cut for it.

Update

Worked on the arch and transition cuts. I found with my 18" x 12" high opening, I needed to adjust the height to match the angles. I had to cut up a whole row of these little 1/4 brick height pieces. Put an angled brick to start the dome. Dome should be 18" high.

I also dry fit the bricks for the arch. I will cut the centers out of the middle of the arch for an 18" x 4" flue opening.

Here are some pics:

dry fitting the arch:


transition is a work in progress:



Overview shot:



I sawed a lot of bricks and I have to say, going up and down on the high stand a hundred times will get you

[Mike D]

Re: gt40's Pompeii Oven 42" build log

How are you going to do the floor of the entry? You cut a very nice round shape in the front, are you going to use a different material for the front floor? Or are you going to match that curve with more brick. Most people just continue the pattern out to the outer edge. That way might be easier than cutting another perfect round shape to match the floor.

- Nice work though keep it up.

Mike

[Sharkey]

Re: gt40's Pompeii Oven 42" build log

Good to see an interesting variation to the standard build. Looks like a great start to the actual oven too.

I like the position of the oven on the corner of the existing deck. I also like the no-thumbnail photos - keep 'em coming.

[gt40]

Re: gt40's Pompeii Oven 42" build log

Update:

I managed to finish welding the supports for the steel stand. Now it is solid like stone thanks to the angle additions. Thanks for the suggestions to add the diagonal bracing. It made an amazing difference.



We managed to get the floor done and leveled with clay/sand mix and put in the first row of soldiers. Here are a few pics:

Top view:


where the door will be:


another shot of where the door transitions:

[gt40]

Re: gt40's Pompeii Oven 42" build log

Nice start.
If it were me Id add some diagonal top to bottom bracing, these things are heavy and Id hate to see it rack sideways and fall.

Added some diagonal braces after realizing how much weight we will have after this is built and the 6" thick foundation I have floating on top of the structure. It used over 30 90lb bags of concrete + the bricks and mortar- well, you can never have it too strong.

The wife and I were both up on the slab when we were laying bricks and could get it to move a hair. With the diagonals, it is solid like stone. Figured being in California earthquake country it was better to be safe than sorry.

[gt40]

Re: gt40's Pompeii Oven 42" build log

You need to wear gloves! I have been wearing 2, just to be safe (as I read on this forum, from other people). The mortar will burn your hands. I have been using silicone/laytex gloves under a normal pair of mason gloves.

Mike

Yeah, I took all the safety stuff seriously on wearing a mask at all times and stuff but i missed that part :P My fingertips are toast- wearing a few bandaids today. I will definitely have a healthy respect for the mortar going forward.

[Mike D]

Re: gt40's Pompeii Oven 42" build log

You need to wear gloves! I have been wearing 2, just to be safe (as I read on this forum, from other people). The mortar will burn your hands. I have been using silicone/laytex gloves under a normal pair of mason gloves.

Mike

[gt40]

Re: gt40's Pompeii Oven 42" build log

Update:

Rotated the orientation of the herringbone pattern and moved the location of the oven so it is closer to the front. I also started my first soldiers.

Shot from the side showing how things are closer to the edge now:


Backside- I know that the bricks get covered and no one will see the outside after we are done but I cleaned them anyway:



I am quite tired and my hands are shriveled from the diy refactory mix I made. The build is coming along considering we just started everything 9 days ago. I am anxious to see how efforts to make the low dome will fare.

Thanks for looking

[gt40]

Re: gt40's Pompeii Oven 42" build log

Hi gt40,
You are progressing well, just a couple of things I have noticed, if it is not to late.
You went to a lot of trouble to lay your hearth in a herringbone pattern but it needs to be at a 45 degree angle to stop your peel from catching. May be you could just rotate 45degrees before you start the dome.
The other thing is you seem to have set the oven a long way back from the entry.
My entry is only 20'' from the front of the landing to inside of the door arch, the door sits only 15'' from the front of the landing. At that depth it is pretty difficult to place logs in the fire, I certainly would not like it much more deeper with an oven so big. You might want to rethink that if you can. Placing and retrieving pizza is not a problem using long handle peels but tending the fire is another thing. Just my opinion from my previous experiences.

Cheers Doug

I really appreciate the feedback. You are absolutely right on the hearth needing to be rotated. The wifey said the same thing. I can easily rotate stuff still at this point and the pics were taken for the dry fit before we start. I hadn't realized the issue of the hearth being too far in the middle. I just measured it and it is 20"/508mmm from the edge. I should be able to move it to 15-16" and stay under the soft firebricks.

Thanks again

[gt40]

Re: gt40's Pompeii Oven 42" build log

Update:

Well, we made the floor of the oven today. Hope to start on the dome tomorrow.

The floor consists of soft fire bricks cast into the concrete and then ceramic fiber board with rigidizer on top of that. total of 3.5"/89mm insulation till you get to the 4" of concrete under it.

First we cut a circle out of the ceramic fiber board and then used it as a template for drawing the cut lines on the bricks



I have never cut a brick in my life but the virgin HF brick saw worked great.

Here are some shots of the finished floor:

Measured a full 48 inches/ 1220mm:


Closeup:


Overview shot:

[gt40]

Re: gt40's Pompeii Oven 42" build log

Hi gt40,
I have built a 48'' oven with a 23'' dome height and 14.5'' door arch height.
It takes a fair bit of firewood to get up to temp. Sometimes I place a 24''x6'' log on top of the 12'' logs that I start up with. I hope you have access to free firewood like I have.

Cheers Doug

Thanks for the input and for all the detail you posted on your oven building thread. I just got done reading it before this.

I am hoping that the lower dome and lots of insulation will lead to reasonable heatup times. I am going with 2.5"/64mm soft firebrick with 1"/25.5mm ceramic fiber board insulation on top of that for insulation under the floor and 6"/155mm of ceramic fiber blanket on top of the dome.

Based upon input here, I guess I will go with a 13"/330mm x 18"/457 oven opening"

That's a big oven. How many people are you planing on feeding?

Mike

I figured with all the work, we might as well go a bit larger. I don't want to be thinking I wish I had more cooking surface. We generally cook for a dozen or so but we had 40 people over a few weeks ago on my bday.