IT guy building a 39'' oven

[GianniFocaccia]

Re: IT guy building a 39'' oven

Alex,

I think the 8mm gap will work a treat as well as the ceramic rope. I recommend you do not leave an inside gap between entryway and oven arches for oven heat/gasses which will deteriorate the rope over time.

I am envious of your Solidworks designs, which look comprehensive and well-thought out. Building the entryway should go fairly quickly for you. You will be happy with this design's performance as it gives oven smoke/gasses every opportunity to exit up the flue rather than out the front of the oven.

BTW- Congrats on your new son! May he learn to love pizza and the wonderful dishes you and your oven will certainly provide.

John

[Alexandru Duma]

Re: IT guy building a 39'' oven

John, hearing this from you just made my day! I have been reading your thread inside out and it's your design that I am trying to replicate. If I do a job half as good as yours I will be truly satisfied. You will see next that I am copying also the entry arch

About the heat break, I think I will leave a 8mm gap (1/3'') and stick in there a ceramic rope, I think the pressure is enough to keep it in place, maybe just to be sure I will cut a little the inner arch so that the rope will fit in there... will see how it goes this weekend.

About the entry arch, I mad my calculations in Solidworks, here are some screenshots:

[GianniFocaccia]

Re: IT guy building a 39'' oven

Alex,

Just caught up on your build. It is easy to see how much care and attention to detail you have put into your oven. Simply magnificent.

Regarding your entryway heat break, you may want to simplify the gap and eliminate the 'thumb-like' protrusion, which is prone to crack from thermal cycling. I originally had this same design but changed when TScar and Les convinced me a 1/4" air gap is sufficient. The bricks on the inside of my arch just barely touch the oven arch, and the outside gap is filled with Inswool refractory caulk.

John

[RandyJ]

Re: IT guy building a 39'' oven

You do want to shave the bricks down so that the stainless sits at the same level as the rest of the floor. It is there for a heat break and protecting the entry and insulating fire bricks.

Randy

[Alexandru Duma]

Re: IT guy building a 39'' oven

Thanks Sharkey, your build was awesome, I had a good time reading it (twice).

Seems a lot of IT guys are building ovens, Darin also has a great oven.

[Sharkey]

Re: IT guy building a 39'' oven

That is a great looking dome. I love the photo from inside looking up - I think every oven is different and could be identified by a photo like that, like a fingerprint.

The whole plan and also the location looks great.

I too am an IT guy and have done a lot of very non-IT work to build my oven. In fact my wife regularly describes my work as "Not bad for an IT nerd".

As far as the record for longest build goes I think mine is up there. I started on September 19th 2009 and have about 80% finished. Of course the oven and area is functional and gets used A LOT, but there is still plenty to be done before it is finished.

[Alexandru Duma]

Re: IT guy building a 39'' oven

Now, about the heat break, I really like the design Chip posted on Randy's thread. But I have some questions:
- by SS you mean stainless steal and not soapstone, right?
- how thick does it need to be?
- why go with this and not leave the bricks visible?
- the fact that the plate sits on top of the bricks so there is a difference in height between that and the oven floor doesn't poses any inconveniences? I am thinking of shaving the bricks under it so that at the end it will sit at the same level as the oven floor.

[Alexandru Duma]

Re: IT guy building a 39'' oven

Oh, it seems my posts don't have to be moderated anymore! Yey, I don't have a 1 week lag anymore Thanks admins!

Please check page 1 of the thread, the posts with the build were approved and are now visible.

[Alexandru Duma]

Re: IT guy building a 39'' oven

Well, as long as you enjoy it I don't think it matters how long it takes, it's certainly not a race. For me the rush was generated by the fact that I have to give back the cutting machine in 6 weeks (5 have past, have only 1 left to finish the entry arch).

[RandyJ]

Re: IT guy building a 39'' oven

Good point. What is really considered done I guess it is all just a point of view. So many years.

Randy

[mrchipster]

Re: IT guy building a 39'' oven

That would all depend on if and when the builder considers their oven DONE!!

I still have things I want to do but mine has been fully functional for almost 4 years.

[RandyJ]

Re: IT guy building a 39'' oven

What is the record for the longest build? I would guess 4 years.

[Greenman]

Re: IT guy building a 39'' oven

Plan looks good. It will be interesting to watch your progress. It doesn't matter how long it takes if there is some steady progress. The record for the longest build is quite significant and will take some catching.

[Alexandru Duma]

Re: IT guy building a 39'' oven

Guys, thanks for the warm welcome and encouraging words.

Indeed the wood bin is large but I use a wood burning boiler so that is enough for 3 winters. Also behind my yard there is an abandoned apple orchard so I have also apple wood from branches that needed to be cut anyway. From past experience I can say that apple burns really really well.

About the build, the dome is closed now but I am still waiting for my posts to be approved so you can see and comment my work

Next work is to do the entry arch and the smoke flue, I am aiming for the following weekend, the guys that will build the wooden framework for the outside kitchen will arrive this week and they will step on my toes

[jeeppiper]

Re: IT guy building a 39'' oven

Nice looking plan...Looks like you have plenty of wood ready to go.