Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Thank you Ken and Hendo! It's so nice to have encouragement. I like the idea of insulating between the dome and the archway, but its one of the thinks I will leave to the masonry buffs among us. I'm trying to keep it simple...

Do any of you have days where you think you've got it all wrong? Yesterday was one for me: The doorway's too small (or too big, I dunno), the entry walls too long, the measurements all inexact, the chimney will be too heavy... etc. Better today though

My latest song:
"Chim-chimmeny chim-chimmeny chimchim cheroo
I build what I like, now I'm building a flue"

Here's what I'm doing next. One small question, should I use refactory mortar on the archway, or could I use regular?

[sarah h]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Do I ever have days like that? Every day since I started this thing ! Until I get to the successful baking stage, I expect they'll continue too. On my part, I know there are things that could have been done better but then I take a step back and ask how much is it likely to matter once I reach the cooking stage?

I'm betting we'll each end up with an oven that works just fine.

Your arch is looking great! I'm looking forward to seeing it all tied in with those flue sections you showed earlier. Hang in ... you're almost there !

Sarah

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Ok, I checked the materials list and it has regular mortar for the oven entry ...so I went out (with all theree kids in tow) to buy some. Half way through the archway I mixed in some of my refactory mortar ?s well, because the regular stuff is soooo not sticky. Now if part of the archway falls down or ages faster, I'll know which would be better to use next time.

Yes, and my measurement skills were once again tested and found to be...unconventional. The archway was perfect, with all bricks the same size when I laid it out, but add the mortar and put it into vertical and its all different. But hey, its my first archway ever - the leaning arch of Allschwil it'll be called.

Dave, how long till I can remove the form again?

[christo]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Wow! Really nice. I love the little designs you put in the corners of the Arch!!

Christo

[asudavew]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

Dave, how long till I can remove the form again?

I waited 2 days on the first arch...
It broke.

I waited almost a week on the second one.

And I like the designs too.

[sarah h]

Re: Pompeii oven in Switzerland: pics

It's looking great - cool designs too!

Sarah

[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?

[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

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.

[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

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.

[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

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?

[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.

[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.