Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Thank you everybody! Half the fun of this project is discussing it in the forum afterwards

Winters in Switzerland (uh, the bit I live in that is) can and do go down to
-10 C, but rarely for more than a week at a time. And with a bit of luck that should hold off until January. ...or not as the case may be.

I would like to get the archway, vent and chimney up before then, and cure the oven. I think it should survive the winter then, just with being protected against the elements. I'll work on insulation, cement covering, decoration etc, as and when the weather permits. What are winters like in Canada then?

Btw, the top of my doorway has cement mixed in with the mortar, and the archway and chimney will have, too.

Somehow it's sad finishing the dome. I've been psyching myself up to it for so long, and wondering if I can actually build such a thing, and now its over

Tomorrow I'll go looking for bricks for the archway...

[Ken524]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Nicely done, Frances!

[sarah h]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Frances, congratulations - it looks great !
I can only sigh in envy at what it must feel like to place that last brick.

I viewed this thread last night for the first time - love your songs-to-build-by. Got some more good tips from your posts to incorporate into my oven too.

How does Swiss weather compare to mine, I wonder? I see you were worried about freezing temps - I am too but our long-range forecast still looks fairly good (unless they've lied, which has happened more than once!) I hope your weather holds long enough for you to get the final mud layer and dry-out done.
What plans do you have for winter protection?

Sarah

[asudavew]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Excellent job Frances! This is why I?m trying to avoid mortar on the inside ? I?m claustrophobic.

Les?

I'm with ya there Les.... There seems to be a lack of Oxygen on the inside!


BTW -- I have to agree with Les... Excellent job Frances!
Looks great!

Congrats!
I enjoyed watching your progress.

[Les]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Excellent job Frances! This is why I?m trying to avoid mortar on the inside ? I?m claustrophobic.

Les?

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

more...

Gosh, but there's not much room in there!

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

WOOOOHOOOO!!!!
I'm lost for words, but here are the pics...

[RTflorida]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Nice, had something similar to those been available locally I would certainly have used them. For all of the reasons listed by dmun I opted for the simpson stainless steel. I would have prefered a more traditional look, but the fragile, ill-fitting U.S. flue tiles steered me to the stainless.

Can't wait to see these in place

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Good one Dave, I love it!

"Old brick, new brick, dome brick, flue brick...,
yes, some are good and some are bad, and this brick made me very mad"

Thanks Dmun, I'm glad you think my flue bricks will work out well. If you're interested in chimneys, maybe you'd like to have a look at this page: Konstruktiver Aufbau
Its in German, but they have some very sophisticated chimney systems...

[asudavew]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Here is my oven with its little night-light... I felt like covering it with a fluffy blanket and reading it a good night story, too.

Dr. Seuss? "One Brick, Two Brick, Red Brick, Blue Brick"

Good work!

[dmun]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Those flue tiles look really good:



I think one of the reason those crummy stainless chimney units are so popular here in the US is that our masonry chimney tiles are so bad and hard to use. They just stack up with mortar, there's not nice flanges to fit them together, they are thin and fragile, they are not particularly uniform in size or parallel at the ends. In addition they are supposed to stand free of the masonry enclosure, for no particular reason that I can understand, held only by the collar at the top.

The ones that you illustrate are clearly well fitted, self supporting, and I like that they are glazed on the inside, making them easy to clean.

I think they will be great. Good find.

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Here is my oven with its little night-light... I felt like covering it with a fluffy blanket and reading it a good night story, too.

And another pic of the firebrick chimney pieces I got, when I went for more mortar. They're 33 cm long, rather heavy and they slot onto each other. Has anyone here used ones like this before?

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Me too, believe me!

I'm seriously thinking that maybe I'll be able to do the Xmas turkey in the oven this year... Depends on the weather of course, but its starting to look like it might work out...!!!!

[Ken524]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Looking great Francis!
I've been thinking about your mortar questions and agree with the others. I think once it dries out and gets a few fires in it, you won't have a problem. Just keep the exterior dry with an enclosure of some sort.

The native Americans had (and still have!) clay and mud ovens that last for years and years. Theirs aren't nearly as nice looking as yours! Can't wait to hear how it heats up and cooks.

[asudavew]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

looking good!

I haven't got anything done this weekend.....

Maybe tonite