Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

The dome got warm to the touch on the outside after today's fire and tiny (cold) wisps of smoke came out through the top of the dome from time to time.

Thanks to Dave's question on his thread I checked the mortar consistency (now, why didn't I think of doing that before now??)

The Mortar on the inside is getting nice and hard - but intrestingly enough on the outside its quite a lot softer than it was before... Had me puzzled for a while until I realised that it must be because the water is working its way out of the dome. Less on the inside, more on the outside. Well, I thought that was pretty weird anyway.

[sarah h]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

WOW! Frances, that is just so cool!!! I love the way you stacked your chimney blocks in a spiral - I have similar plans for a brick twist - and it looks like your cast vent works well too. Just beautiful - both the oven and the fire!!

Have a blast cooking and be sure to post more photos!

Sarah

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Thanks George. Haha, crazy, that's too right!! Intrestingly enough though, my kid's friends are really impressed...

[gjbingham]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Frances,
The oven turned out wonderfully. I can't wait to see the mosaic finish.
What do your kids think of this whole project? Around here, they just look at me like I'm crazy.
George

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Fire, fire, burning bright,
In the forests of the night.

The really difficult bit about curing your oven is being able to stop again. All day long I'm going: HOW long until I can light the next one...??! But it is soooo COOOL!! (Or did I mention that before already?) Oh, and check out all the wood which was delivered yesterday.

One priceless pearl of wisdom I would like to share with my fellow oven builders is this: Don't make the outer arch higher than the inner one, otherwise the smoke will not all go up the chimney. On the other hand you won't bump your head on the doorway quite as often, so its ok really.

Btw, after a lot of thought I've decided not to put any cladding on my oven, because the mortar I've got doesn't work on surfaces (it'd just crumble off), and covering my cement-free dome with a cement-based product would seem to council out any advantages this mortar may have. At least that's what I thought.

Still pondering the chimney hight. But I can add on another flue bit anytime...

Hey, does anyone know where to buy pizza oven accessories in Switzerland? No, me neither.

[sarah h]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Wow!! You're moving right along and it really looks great!
Does this mean fire photos are next?
(I've been stalled but that will end in three hours' time - then I get back to work mine ).

Sarah

[dmun]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

The refactory casting mortar... Wierd stuff, and an ugly black colour too.

Don't worry: It will all be matte black by tommrrow. Your chimney and throat get soot covered, and stay that way. Only the inside of the dome burns clean.

BTW, the last picture shows (more or less) how high the chimney is and how far away it is from our garden house. I'm thinking the chimney will be high enough as it is. Or not?

The rule around here is two feet above anything within 10 feet.

[asudavew]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Outstanding Frances!

I sure could use a couple of those flues....

Fire tomorrow!

WTG

Can't wait to see the pics.

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

More...

BTW, the last picture shows (more or less) how high the chimney is and how far away it is from our garden house. I'm thinking the chimney will be high enough as it is. Or not?

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

The refactory casting mortar stuff said to wait for at least 24 hours before continuing. I managed to leave it alone for all of 22 hours... Wierd stuff, and an ugly black colour too, but it is rock solid now. You were right of course Sarah

If I had to do it over... no wait, on my NEXT oven I will cut the polistyrene form so that it falls away from the circle in the middle faster, then edge of the vent would be a bit thicker. Or buy more mortar. But the chimney pieces distribute the weight over a fair area, and it seems to be holding up ok.

Tomorrow my first fire! I already put the newspaper in!

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Thank you Sarah. IF the vent sets properly (I'm waiting for it to warm up a bit outside before going to check) I'll be putting the chimney on this weekend, and lightling the first fire. WOOOHOOOO!!!

Actually I'm hoping for a really mild winter, and I'll continue to work on the oven whenever possible... while patience may be a virtue, its not really one of mine

It's going to be an igloo, and realistically I'd really like to get the insulation, vermiculite, cement and weatherproofing layers on this year (overprotective?). maybe I'll keep the decorative bit for next Spring.

[sarah h]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Frances - congratulations on your standing arch! The vent arrangement looks pretty cool - I'll be interested to hear how that stuff you're using sets up. Remember, you were worried earlier on about the vermiculite hearth setting - bet this will be fine too.

How do you plan to finish your oven and will you do that now or in the spring?

Dave posted a fire pic today ... now I'm waiting to see one from you!

Sarah

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

You're very welcome George, I'm glad it helped. And thank you

Today I poured my vent. Made the form, put the night-light in BEFORE fixing the form in place (I was quite pleased with myself for remembering that), then I mixed the refactory casting product I had got. It said 7 liters if you want to pour it... well I put in 6, and the consistency can best be described as "liquid". Maybe tending towards "very liquid" . So of course I shoved it in.

When I'd mopped up all the dribbles on the outside, I suddenly thought: hey, it'll be dribbling down all the beautiful inside of my entry, too!! And it is supposed to dry fast. So that's when I pulled my arch - made me laugh, Dave, that you didn't wait on yours. I mean hey, at least I had a really good reason!

The arch stayed up. Which is cool. I got the inside cleaned up, too. And an adrenalin rush is supposed to be good for you from time to time. But I'll be really interested to see how this vent thing of mine dries out.

[gjbingham]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Great work on your oven Frances. It really looks nice and the workmanship is outstanding. Thanks for your help with the angle iron info for framing the oven opening. It helps me out a lot.
George

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Thank you everybody! Twirly bits is totally my thing. Just wait, this oven is going to be COVERED in twirly bits...!!!

Today's song:

No work today,
the rain has come to stay,
wish it would go away,
cos I've got bricks to lay...

I went to get my insulation today though. 5 cm thick Rockwool with a silvery foil covering. Its called flumroc FMI 500, and I chose it because no-one here had ever heard of Isosol, and also because a guy who seemed to know what he was talking about recommended it (after all if you think about it, the whole oven is being built according to those criteria). And that will be covered with 3 1/2 bags' worth of vermiculite. Its sure to work out somehow... Has anyone by any chance got any tips on insulating with rockwool at all?