Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

[Kemo]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

and here is what I did yesterday. I was a little disapointed how it all turned out in the front...plus, my concrete board is getting too hot at the chimney area as I had no room to put insulation. So in the front, I will extend the landing and show off some brick which will allow a few inches of insulation.

I dont always have a helper, but I did get pretty industrious with a set of shims to hold up the end of the concrete board.

I plan on building the roof next week!

[Kemo]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

ok...here is what I did the day before yesterday.

[Kemo]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

Steve,
Got any pics yet of your enclosure going up?

I agree with you about proceeding on. If a visual inspection of the inside of your dome doesn't reveal any serious defects, I think you're good to go.

I used mortar cladding on the outside of mine. While there are tiny cracks pretty much all over it from drying out, there are no visible serious defects inside or out. Perhaps the cladding is just hiding them? Maybe, it just stopped them from forming or getting too large.

So let's see that enclosure!

G.

I just got back from vacationing in Costa Rica! I havent done much to the oven other than slap some vermiculite up there before I left. Im glad I did, because we got some rain and cold weather here in central Texas while I was gone. I need to find a supplier of the metal studs still and then I can move forward...plus...its COLD!

[gjbingham]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

Steve,
Got any pics yet of your enclosure going up?

I agree with you about proceeding on. If a visual inspection of the inside of your dome doesn't reveal any serious defects, I think you're good to go.

I used mortar cladding on the outside of mine. While there are tiny cracks pretty much all over it from drying out, there are no visible serious defects inside or out. Perhaps the cladding is just hiding them? Maybe, it just stopped them from forming or getting too large.

So let's see that enclosure!

G.

[fullback66]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

Very good information.
thanks for the help.
fb66

[Acoma]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

FB, if you are to apply matrilite 18 outside the insulation blanket, you might mist the blanket well to create bonding, matting of the blanket. As Ken stated, all moisture is eventually being worked out of the oven for maximum functuality.

[Ken524]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

Why is it a good idea the cure it under the blanket?

We aren't exactly sure if it is or isn't. I'm curing with blankets on. Some cure with them off. There is a debate going on about which will cause less cracking.

Is it bad for the blanket to have moisture? Will the blanket always have moisture in it?

The idea of curing is to drive out the moisture. As the oven heats up, moisture will be forced out of the bricks, through the blankets and into the atmosphere. Wet blankets will dry out (they insulate much better when dry).

My blankets were really wet from dew, frost and rain (my tarp leaked). A few curing fires have made a big difference. I'm hustling to get the walls and roof on to help keep them dry.

[fullback66]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

I am new at this and learning from you guys. Why is it a good idea the cure it under the blanket? Does it prevent it from curing to fast and prevent making the cracks bigger? Is it bad for the blanket to have moisture? Will the blanket always have moisture in it?
help me out.
fb66

[dusty]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

Perhaps this is all psychosimatic

Yep! don't matter. If you think it tasted better, then it was better! Kinda like a placibo. If you feel better, it's not a sugar pill, it's a wonder drug.

dusty

For the record, that pizza looked more like a wonder drug.

[Kemo]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

Yum yum!

HOw was it?

Dave,

the pizza tasted differently than when I cook in the oven. the dough was moist as compared and the cheese seemed to carmelize differently. Perhaps this is all psychosimatic (sp?). either way, its cool with me

[Kemo]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

Hey Steve,
Did you ever pull your blanket off and inspect the dome for cracks?

I see your chicken wire in place. Once you get your vermiculite/perlite insulation on, what kind of finish do you have planned for your oven?

Great looking pizza, BTW. Someday I'm going to cook in mine!
George

i was thinking of doing that, but even with cracks...whats the worst that can happen. After covering with Vermiculite, there will be no place for smoke to go but out the front. Plus, I think the cracks just do their thing and then stop anyway.

I plan on building an enclosure with the metal studs and the concrete board.

[gjbingham]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

Hey Steve,
Did you ever pull your blanket off and inspect the dome for cracks?

I see your chicken wire in place. Once you get your vermiculite/perlite insulation on, what kind of finish do you have planned for your oven?

Great looking pizza, BTW. Someday I'm going to cook in mine!
George

[asudavew]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

Yum yum!

HOw was it?

And great idea on roasting the peppers!
I didn't think of that!!

YUM!

YUM!

Did I say that already?


Great job Steve.


Dave

[Kemo]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

so then I got the pizza rollin in there...

the first was just cheeze with bell peppers onions and tomatoes,

the second was cheese garlic and kalmata olives with basil

as you can see, my only customer was loving it

[Kemo]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

finally got to cook some Pizza on the oven. This Saturday night I fired up the oven and got the back area white hot. I didnt have a infared thermometer but it was pretty hot. I roasted some bell peppers for the pizza and they blackened up real good so I could get the skin off. I have the clay chimney "just sitting" in place. I had not modified the metal transition plate to accept. However, it was fairly level so I just put the thing there to keep the smoke down.