42" Pompeii oven in Gloucester, Virginia.

**Yannick** · 06-23-2014, 05:37 AM

Re: 42" Pompeii oven in Gloucester, Virginia.

With the lamps, I couldn't even find 100W standard light bulbs. What I used was 72W Halogens like replaces 100W but I don't think they put up enough heat. The temp on the wall is around 100.
I've put some boards in the front to plug the hole in the arch form to prevent heat to come out.
I saw some videos about using charcoal. What I also read on page 2 of the FB manual is:
"Use firewood for burning only. DO NOT use charcoal, pressure treated lumber, chipped wood products, sappy wood such as
pine, laminated wood or any material other than dry medium or hard firewood."
So is charcoal OK to use? Personally I don't see why not, but there is conflicting info.

**UtahBeehiver** · 06-23-2014, 06:04 AM

Re: 42" Pompeii oven in Gloucester, Virginia.

The Pompelli manual needs a little updating. Several of us have been using charcoal, or heat bead (what our Aussie brothers call them) for "curing" ovens for quite a while. You can regulate the heat much easier and move them around plus cook something at the same time.

**Yannick** · 06-24-2014, 04:48 AM

Re: 42" Pompeii oven in Gloucester, Virginia.

I checked the temperature last night. With the lights in the oven the dome is 104, the wall opposite to the entry door is 97 and the floor is 101.

**Yannick** · 06-24-2014, 05:16 PM

Re: 42" Pompeii oven in Gloucester, Virginia.

Here is a little update.
Tonight I placed the flue and started working on the surrounding bricks.

**SteelandStone** · 06-24-2014, 06:26 PM

Re: 42" Pompeii oven in Gloucester, Virginia.

Looking good, I wish I was that far along on my build. You'll be eating pizza in no time now.

**Yannick** · 06-24-2014, 06:33 PM

Re: 42" Pompeii oven in Gloucester, Virginia.

Thank you.
I wonder if I should wait until the file brick work is finished before I start with the charcoal in the dome or not.

**Yannick** · 06-26-2014, 05:01 PM

Re: 42" Pompeii oven in Gloucester, Virginia.

Tonight I removed the arch form and it's still standing. Yay.
I started burning charcoal. The roof was 225 and the flue was 105. I can't remember what was the wall temperature.

**Yannick** · 06-29-2014, 06:57 AM

Re: 42" Pompeii oven in Gloucester, Virginia.

I finished the brick work around the flue.
I guess I should use high temp sealant for the top part between the brick and the flue?
I started the cure fires too.

**Yannick** · 07-17-2014, 12:13 PM

Re: 42" Pompeii oven in Gloucester, Virginia.

So far I have installed between 3 and 5 in of ceramic blanket made fires and covered the blanket with chicken wire and cement.
My next step is cover with stucco and place some bricks at the base of the entry arch.
I had cracks outside the dome along some joint lines in several places but I'm not worried because it looks like it's to be expected.

**boerwarrior** · 07-17-2014, 12:33 PM

Re: 42" Pompeii oven in Gloucester, Virginia.

Looking good, Yannick!

I see Pizza for you in the near-future!

Neil

**Yannick** · 07-19-2014, 07:28 PM

Re: 42" Pompeii oven in Gloucester, Virginia.

I think I'm pretty close to cooking pizza.
Today I finished the stucco and put the bricks in front of the entrance.
The dough is in the fridge. I think I will crank that baby up tomorrow.
I feel pretty good about myself.
Next month I will remove the tent and "waterproof" the stucco and install the chimney cap.

**NCMan** · 07-20-2014, 04:07 AM

Re: 42" Pompeii oven in Gloucester, Virginia.

Looking good, Yannick. That's alot of hard work to get to that part. Good luck w/the pizza!!

**Yannick** · 07-20-2014, 05:02 PM

Re: 42" Pompeii oven in Gloucester, Virginia.

Thanks.
When I fired it today I heard some pops here and there, I think it was bricks but I didn't see any cracks inside.
After pizzas were done I baked a pumpkin pie.