Nathan's 36" SoCal WFO build

[n8huntsman]

Re: Nathan's 36" SoCal WFO build

Calcium aluminate cement is proving to be as difficult to get ahold of as the HeatStop! For $219.60 I can have 3 bags of Refmix delivered. Is that a bad decision? I think I should stay away from Portland, no?

[deejayoh]

Re: Nathan's 36" SoCal WFO build

nathan

for mortar just look up homebrew on the forum. It is the best and least expensive. usually those two qualities dont combine, but sometimes they do.

Texman

+1. I started with HS50. It's like pouring money down the drain. Homebrew is much cheaper, easier to work with, and you will never notice any difference in performance.

[n8huntsman]

Re: Nathan's 36" SoCal WFO build

...The bulk of the rest of the material, fire brick, sand, cement, fireclay, etc., we got at a local masonry supply just off of Jefferson called Brandel Masonry. (42368 Rio Nedo Road, Temecula, CA 92590 (951) 296-3433). We found their prices a little more reasonable then RCP.

I'm familiar with Brandel... I actually work across the street from them. I've purchased a lot of stuff there throughout the years but I thought they were a bit more costly than RCP... at least on the stuff I've bought there; curved block, cultured stone, and firebrick. I do prefer Brandel's Boulder Creek cultured stone though so I'll continue to buy it there when I finish off the oven. Plus it will match the rest of my house where I've used it. IIRC RCP and Brandel both carry Pacific Clay, but RCP was cheaper. I have not checked Lowes yet but I do know that our Home Depot stopped carrying Pacific Clay firebricks. I'll price check them at Lowes... Thanks for the suggestion.

[n8huntsman]

Re: Nathan's 36" SoCal WFO build

I got excited to see that the local block and brick place that I'm buying my firebrick from (RCP) was listed as a distributor of heatstop 50... then I called them and they acted like I was speaking another language and tried to sell me sairbond. They claimed it was the best stuff on earth, but from what I've read it's a no-go. Then I called every other distributor in so-cal and got the same reply. I'd like to stay away from mortar with Portland in it so my options appear to be a calcium aluminate cement home brew or get the refmix and pay the shipping...
I did however get my Thermo-12 Gold dropped off for free as promised. FYI, Bay Insulation in San Diego has great customer service for anyone in the area.

[texman]

Re: Nathan's 36" SoCal WFO build

nathan

for mortar just look up homebrew on the forum. It is the best and least expensive. usually those two qualities dont combine, but sometimes they do.

Texman

[Rbhumbert]

Re: Nathan's 36" SoCal WFO build

Yes we live in De Luz and we did get snow, but some areas up here suffered much worst then others. We got less that 1", but some got up to 5" and then some very cold nights. The avocado trees were heavy with fruit and the snow caused many limbs to break. The frost also damaged many groves and I feel for the growers which suffered damage and loss.

Our build was done under a tight budget, so we shopped around for all of our materials. The bricks are Pacific Clay bricks, but we actually purchased them through Lowes. The bulk of the rest of the material, fire brick, sand, cement, fireclay, etc., we got at a local masonry supply just off of Jefferson called Brandel Masonry. (42368 Rio Nedo Road, Temecula, CA 92590 (951) 296-3433). We found their prices a little more reasonable then RCP.

We are firing the oven for pizza this Saturday, and I will be baking bread on Sunday. Although avocado wood is not the best wood, it is free, which makes it excellent.

Your attention to detail will show in the final oven. Keep up the good work.
rbhumbert

[n8huntsman]

Re: Nathan's 36" SoCal WFO build

I have been watching your progress. Looks like you have it under control. We built a 42" oven in Temecula. Where are you located? Don't see a lot of builds in SoCal, maybe people just don't have the room. We are happily enjoying our
oven and so glad we have it. Keep up the good work. RbHumbert

I took a look at you build... very nice! Where did you get your bricks? RCP? I'm off of Los Alamos and the 215. Looks like you're up in DeLuz? Get quite a bit of snow up there on new years eve?

[Rbhumbert]

Re: Nathan's 36" SoCal WFO build

I have been watching your progress. Looks like you have it under control. We built a 42" oven in Temecula. Where are you located? Don't see a lot of builds in SoCal, maybe people just don't have the room. We are happily enjoying our
oven and so glad we have it. Keep up the good work. RbHumbert

[n8huntsman]

Re: Nathan's 36" SoCal WFO build

Thanks for all the words of encouragement. I have to make up for my lack of skill by planning and drawing.
I found a company in SanDiego (or LA if it's closer), Bay Insulation, that has 3" Thermo-12 Gold for $6.55 per sq. ft. The sales guy coincidently lives by mean and offered to drop it off free of charge. Can't beat that! This Saturday will be 7 days on the hearth. Soon enough to start laying brick? Maybe get the insulation cut and in place Saturday and lay the floor Sunday?
Next step.... figuring out what mortar to use. I haven't even begun to research that but I know there is a wealth of info about it on this site.

[texman]

Re: Nathan's 36" SoCal WFO build

nathan

Very nice. If you are half as good at building as you are at designing, you will have a masterpiece. Nice overall project that you will enjoy.

FWIW-start cutting brick and get started building the oven and adapt as necessary. Be reasonable on all the goodies, you will see once you start building the oven what i mean. The cast transitions, four heatbreaks, stainless landings, and granite counters are great. But the oven is very functional using quality firebrick and home-brew and your craftsmanship will make it beautiful even with out all the extras. But really-make it yours. Just saying after having done this that a lot of the extras that i added have been forgotten(by me even) and don't noticably change the oven performance. Get tight and uniform joints and keep that stagger is the main goal. If you really enjoy cutting bricks, go for the four side like John. Also, the heartbreaks do help, but i think the extra insulation and good door are more important. Again, all this is FWIW

I would say my kitchen came out about 90% as designed and the rest make it fit.

Texman

[Gulf]

Re: First time finishing concrete - Pizza Oven Hearth slab is poured

I finished the hearth slab on Saturday. It came out okay. A little rough around the edges but considering none of it will show, it was more for practice and to see if I can handle a bigger job like concrete countertops.

Nathan,

From the looks of your formwork on the oven hearth, and especially, your stand: You will do just fine!.

Your research, and your attention to detail, will get you to what you want to achieve .

I'm very much looking forward, to following your build.

Joe

[n8huntsman]

First time finishing concrete - Pizza Oven Hearth slab is poured

I finished the hearth slab on Saturday. It came out okay. A little rough around the edges but considering none of it will show, it was more for practice and to see if I can handle a bigger job like concrete countertops.

[Greenman]

Re: Nathan's 36" SoCal WFO build

I knew that you would have it under control. Just had to ask the question though.
I hope your pour goes well.

[n8huntsman]

Re: Nathan's 36" SoCal WFO build

If you are talking about the one in the front with the rebar protruding through it, after I drilled the holes for the rebar I took my sawzall and cut it down almost all the way to the bottom so that after the concrete is hard I can knock out the remaining piece and lift the form straight up.

[Greenman]

Re: Nathan's 36" SoCal WFO build

I might be missing something or not seeing something but how are you going to remove the formwork at the front when you have poured?