Central Texas Build

[pdqtom]

Re: Central Texas Build

Howdy all after a long pause with no updates. I have completed my dome and have a question about "cladding". I used Heatstop for my build but kept all the brick dust from cutting. I did not parge or add "cladding" as it is referred to here on the forum. I am waiting for chimney parts to be delivered and was wondering of the usefulness to make home brew with my dust and add a layer over the entire dome. I will post pix soon, as a lot has happened since my last post.

On another note, I have come to an acquaintance with a friend of a friend who fabricates metal. He has a water jet and came to see my build and sketched up a very cool "hood" instead of using an outer arch. The chimney will be in the normal position as if between the arches , except no outer arch. In visualizing in front of the oven now, it seems there is much better access to the oven without the tunnel of using two arches. I described what I had in my minds eye and he sketched it on a small note pad to a Tee. We will be incorporating a swinging insulated door and I am thinking of a swinging vent door on the other side of the opening. So you can choose which door is in use. All is going to be of stainless steel as the rest of my outdoor kitchen is stainless.
I'm thinking of using a granite or stainless entry floor as he can water cut any shape for me.

Any thoughts?

All this for a couple of beers and a promise of gluten free pizza for his wife when the oven gets fired!

[pdqtom]

Re: Central Texas Build

Howdy Tscar,
Very cool! Pieous is about a mile from my house and we've been wondering when they would open. I heard a wf oven was going in and I was curious about it. I'll stop by and ask for Josh.
As you saw I'm back on the build. It's amazing how many things can compete with the attention needed to get back at it.

Thanks again for your help, past and future!

moT

[Tscarborough]

Re: Central Texas Build

Hey Tom, a friend named Josh is opening a Neapolitan pizza joint right there by you called Pieous. He has an FB oven and should be open soon, stop by and say hi to him.

[pdqtom]

Re: Central Texas Build

Hey Pfennig,
Sorry for the so late reply! Busy with holidays family and Scouts. I stayed away from the forum so as not to get too anxious about starting up again. I'm just west of the Y about 5 miles towards Drippin'. Got my base finished and the only rain we had in the fall got my insulation wet and took a long time to dry it out. I built the roof over the oven base and gutters installed then the Holidays hit. Now I'm ready to cut brick and sling mortar. All my Scouts are bugging me about doing a pizza party so I need to get going again.
I'm not by any means an expert but would be glad to offer any help, observations or encouragement I can. Tscarbrough is a great guy and very knowledgeable as well as right here in Austin.
As for the keg, it used to be XX. Switched to a light beer as I was wearing to much of the Dos Equis! She that must be obeyed likes Ultra so there you go.

Good luck on your build,

moT

(Which is my brothers nickname for Tom)

[pfennigthecat]

Re: Central Texas Build

Hey pdqtom (tom? moT?) and Tscarborough!

I just joined the forum after devouring it over thanksgiving break. I'm deconstructing an old above-ground hottub that came with the house to get to the existing slab for my future brick oven in Lakeway! Glad to hear there are existing experts in my area to lean on. Tom, also glad to hear you like kegs, despite being filled with michelob ;-) .... might mean I can return favors via homebrew. I suspect there's a correlation between those willing to make a serious oven and a serious beer setup. And pizza e birra is just perfect.

Anyway, hope things are going well, I'll be following with interest!

Pfennig

[pdqtom]

Re: Central Texas Build

Here's my buddy and his wife as we finished mixing 64 bags of Quikcrete, the slab and the end of the day! Best part is.... He doesn't drink beer! I've been known to though. Great friends, they spent their entire labor day helping me. He gets my IT and floor form after the build and we start his oven.

[pdqtom]

Re: Central Texas Build

Here are some beginning photos. I think I figured out how to post pix from my iPad.Showing "in the beginning" how I notched the block so the lintels could also support the limestone stand cover later. The "Boss'ton", she's almost 15 and supervised us through the heat. My friend filling the cavities in the stand. Some of the steel before the hearth pour. My friend said he needed to find a buddy into origami or noodle art or something, my stuff is too much work!

[Tscarborough]

Re: Central Texas Build

That is a good tip, I will remember that one.

[pdqtom]

Re: Central Texas Build

Thanks Chip,

Great tip, i called MPI and they have splits so I will pick some up today. These kinds of tips are something you envision until after the fact. I appreciate you sending this one my way!

moT

[mrchipster]

Re: Central Texas Build

If you are building the floor inside the dome consider starting the dome with a split. That way your peel will not get caught in the joint at the floor level.

Wish I had done this.

Chip

[pdqtom]

Re: Central Texas Build

Thanks everyone for the comments. I hope I can live up to the examples yall have set! Les, my whole extended family are football nuts. I, sadly haven't the attention span to watch someone else play a game for several hours. Although going to a home game at A&M I never turn down. Watching the fans and traditions is unbelievable! Only Angie's understand this, WHOOP!
My son is an Aggie so I claim to be since I'm paying his tuition!

I got the insulation board cut today and with some fancy cutting got two layers giving me 4" of ceramic under the floor.
I read about soldiers or no soldiers. I had originally planned to use them and now have decided to go with half brick stacked to get vertical and then start the dome. I saw a comment from Tscar about that and he is going to be my mentor since he is in the same city as me, wether he likes it or not. His comment about outward stability made sense and it gives me a chance to see how the HeatStop mortar works before making the complicated tapers and such.

I like the idea of the masonry merit badge, I like devious Scoutmasters! I've been one for almost 12 years with 48 eagles since I've been wearing the hat.These guys make me proud. Folks ask if I have any kids and I say 72, but only one is mine. All the other adults say I'm the oldest scout in the troop. These guys keep me young. If you grow up, you start getting old! My wife says I'm still 17 between the ears. Luv ya hun!

I tried uploading photos from my iPad and can't seem to be able to do so. Anyone know how? I'll try from my PC tomorrow. Right now my keg is callin!
Thanks again for this forum and the comraderie!
moT

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Central Texas Build

14" saw will be golden for you. You should have plenty of depth capacity for your build. Tscar gave me plenty of good ideas during my build as well as others.

[deejayoh]

Re: Central Texas Build

I say, create an "oven building" merit badge and put those scouts to work hauling brick, concrete, and sand! Later you can create a "wood cutting" merit badge to get firewood

[Les]

Re: Central Texas Build

the Aggie brings it to me from A&M and some football game and the SEC happens! Another buddy of mine paid $500 for 2 tickets to this sold out game last Dec. I'm thinking, dang, that's 200 fire brick and a bag of heatstop!

I don't know dude - now that football is back on the world seems right Looking forward to tomorrow - first home game and the tailgate is in order.

You will be pleased w/ 4 inches of insulation on the floor. When you cover the dome, do the same (at a minimum). Good luck with your build! A 14 inch saw should do anything that you can dream.

[pdqtom]

Re: Central Texas Build

Next step,
Too much research makes you crazy!
I'm waiting on 4 " of ceramic board that will be here on Sunday. I've done so much over thinking that my eyes are crossed. I plan to start tapering my soldiers in the morning and be ready to set the board and lay the floor on Sunday when the insulation board gets here. I'm ready to sling some mud!

I found a wonderful lady at KT Refractories in Houston for the insulation board and she made me a great deal on 3 pieces of 40"X48"X 2". That will give me 4" on isul-board under the floor. From what I've gleaned the consensus is never too much insulation.

Today, instead of making a living, I drew out on a large sheet of paper the final dimensions of the oven. I'll make a plywood template of the interior in the morning and get ready to start. I picked up a 14" wet saw on Craigslist for $375 and already have a friend to transfer it too after the build.
These 104+ days are getting old. We're supposed to have a " cold front" tonight that will cool it down to the low 90s! That actually sound like a blessing to me! As I get older, my temperature range for efficient productivity has narrowed!
I'll get my board on Sunday after my son the Aggie brings it to me from A&M and some football game and the SEC happens! Another buddy of mine paid $500 for 2 tickets to this sold out game last Dec. I'm thinking, dang, that's 200 fire brick and a bag of heatstop! Why is it that this oven building becomes such an obsession.

Oh well, my keg of Michelob is calling. I'll post pix soon! All this from a crazy Texan about to dive off the deep end with more fire brick than I can swim with!