low cost wfo build

[david s]

Re: low cost wfo build

Yes you could use a mix like that, but you're in unchartered waters. The calcium aluminate cement is still really expensive stuff and tricky to use. You can do it even cheaper using 4:1:1:1 sand,fireay,Portland cement, lime. Either of the two brews will require added fibres (fine polypropylene ) which when mixed really thoroughly (about twice as long mixing that you would normally use) produce a network of tiny pipes, after they melt away at 160C, that moisture can escape through,Also it is advisable to add 2% stainless steel fibres , by weight.

[kstronach]

Re: low cost wfo build

Thanks both.

I was thinkin of using a homemade mix for the dome rather than the expensive bought stuff. I was thinking calcium aluminate cement fire clay and silica sand at about 1. 1. 4 would this be anygood? Or does anyone have a better mix? Any idea about temperature in a cast dome? Would in need to vermicrete over that say another 2" or use thermal blanket?

Cheers

[david s]

Re: low cost wfo build

Using castable refractory over a sand form is an easy way to make the dome. Go for a thickness of around 2" and use damp newspaper between the sand and the castable. Mix up small batches at a time until you get the hang of the stuff. It goes off really fast and is expensive, you don't want to waste any. Add stainless steel needles for reinforcing. Start at the bottom and create a horizontal ledge that will take the next layer. Work in this way until you get to the top. Cover for 24hrs.before removing the sand. You do not need to damp cure calcium aluminate cement for a week like you do with calcium silicate cements, 24 hrs is sufficient.

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: low cost wfo build

Check out "Bookemdanno" on this forum. He is from the UK and can guide you on materials and ideas to help with cost. He just finished his build recently......

[kstronach]

hi all,

OK so i have decided that my next project is going to be wood fired oven! after reading through tons of post both on here and over at pizzamaking.com i think what i want to do is an igloo dome oven with a fairly lowish ceiling height for quicker warm up and faster cooking times (hopefully!) originally i liked the barrel vault ovens as it would be a cheaper and easier build however have been put off by some peoples opinions on them and longer heating up times.

OK so heres how i plan to do it hopefully depending on what people think as i have no experience at all when it comes to WFO's!
basically i am looking to keep costs down as much as possible due to my the impending arrival of my first child !! and also the weather over here in England's not great to say the least so probably not get as much usage as i would like! will external temps affect the internal temp at all? would it be possible to use all year round even in freezing conditions? if i get wrapped up!!

i am pretty much going for the forno bravo Pompeii oven shape etc but the catch is instead of the brick dome i am going try to cast the dome around a sand mould out of a castable refractory mix, I'm then going to bed the cast dome atop a course of firebricks or red clay brick upright for the first chain leaving out the inner door at the front so the height of the door would be at about 9 inch ( the top of the upright brick). i am hoping for a ceiling height of around 15 inch? i have been advised this is a good hight for pizza? and oven width of around 36" i will the build a brick outer door with red brick and a chimney out of that as normal. also i could put a thermal blanket over the dome for extra insulation purposes if you think this is necessary then mesh and render over that! i think this oven would be visually appealing with a brick front arch brick chimney and a first course of brick around the dome and the rest painted cement render.

the floor make up would be insulated conc with firebricks bedded on that or maybe a few corderite kiln shelves or i could maybe get hold of some granite but I'm not sure on that and how it performs under heat?

do you think a cast top dome will get hot enough for neo pizza oven temps?? i would love to hear peoples opinions on the cast dome good or bad!!

how is all this sounding am i going along the right lines? any help is appreciated as I'm going to start gathering materials probably in the new year.

sorry its a long post but wanted to try and get enough information across as possible! thanks in advance for any help i look forward to hearing everyones opinions!!

Keith