Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

[gjbingham]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

I wouldn't sweat it too much either. Keep building the fires a bit bigger each time. Small cracks sound like they are going to happen regardless of what you do. Drastic temp changes should be avoided. Consider pre-warming the oven?

Once I the hair on my hands, eyebrows, and forehead started to singe (sp?) while blowing on the fire, that was when the real steam started working out of the dome.

George

[asudavew]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

Barely touching that dome with those fires.

But just keep increasing the size of them slowly .

Unfortunately, for me, my oven cracks increased in size with each larger/hotter fire. Hopefully yours will not do the same.

I really pushed it on my 3rd or 4th fire.

I do wish I would of taken more pics of the cracks so others could see.
I do have one that is very visible on the inside. I will take a picture of that one the next time I fire up the dome.

Slow is best me thinks.
Have fun and take your time.

Nice job so far!


dave

[Acoma]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

Kemo, what has been the temps during the burns? You haven't mentioned this? This winter graduating class seems to confront these more than not. I wonder, the mortar for warmer temps gets used for the bricks, cooler temps battling the warm fires inside with no insulation around while expansion of brick and heat, wondering?

[Kemo]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

then i made my first fire on friday afternoon..paper only and then let it all cool down. Then another one in the evening. I then made a few bigger ones the following days. I think I must have made at least 4 small fires on Saturday and at least that many yesterday. I made yet another this morning before I went to work. I do have a few questions.

1. It doesnt seem like the dome is driving off any moisture like Daves. I feel like my fires are fairly big now. like 5 or 6 small sticks about an inch thick. When does it start driving off moisture? Will I see steam?

2. I noticed a couple of cracks here and there and they seem to go like a crack on the windshield. I have one that runs right up the middle in the front and includes the arch! Any worries here? they arent very big at all and if I wasnt looking for them I might not have seen them. The one on the arch troubles me.

3. All of my fires have been INSIDE the oven...do I need to build a fire outside the oven to cure the landing and outer arch? And if so, should I have done that first?

[asudavew]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

Very nice!

Congrats!

Break out the matches.

Or the venturi burner.


Dave

[Kemo]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

I removed the form on Wednesday of last week and here is what we have

[gjbingham]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

Kemo,
That's kind of what I tried to do. Pre-warm the oven prior to hitting it with the big blast. I used an electric heater for an hour or so prior to lighting my fires.
I think hardwood is called that because it's hard to find, at least here in the NW. The little I have takes a lot of heat to get it going, so I found it difficult once I lit the kindling, not to go to the big stuff pretty quick. I suppose I could've used the Doug Fir and Cedar that's readily available for the curing fires. Anyway, good luck. No cracks!

[Kemo]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

I am starting to think though, judging by the insightful posts of this semesters "graduating class" that ovens to be cured this time of year may take a bit longer ( more smaller fires) than ones finished in the drier, sunny months.

Dusty,

Im hoping that we get some good weather here in Texas over the next week. We are expecting a cold front this week which should drop the temps down to 50's during the day and dip into the high 30's at night. As long as its not raining, I hope to get a few fires rolling. Given that it is a bit colder, maybe i will build the fires up slower. Like make a small fire to start, let it stablize for a while, then build the fire up to the temp of the day. I have accepted the fact that I WILL get cracks. I just want to minimize them.

[Kemo]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

After filling my gut with Pizza, I was renewed to the point of mocking up a vent to go on top of my arch and transition to standard chimney hardware. Then I hustled over to a really good friend with whom I help restore really old rusty cars. He just happens to have a really neat cutting torch and a very expensive welding unit. We will have to finish up tonight, but here is the progress.

[Kemo]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

Nice job Kemo. Nice looking vent arches.

After having read all the discussion as to whether a dome should be insulated for the curing fires to minimize shock to the exterior mortart joints, I'm feeling pretty secure that it isn't really an issue. Both Sarah and I found that the bricks warm very very slowly externally. It takes nearly an hour after the curing fire is started for the heat to transfer out to the external surface of the dome.

I say, go with your gut.

George

glad to hear this...i dont have a blanket and I have an itchy match finger.

as far as "going with my GUT", here is what happened last night in my regular old "kitchen oven". Im Ironing out a few recipes for when it comes time to do the REAL DEAL in the wood fired oven.

1. Hand tossed dough via cool video i got from US Pizza team homemade, San Marzano Tomato Sauce (thanks dave on the HEB tip)

2. Mozzarella with Pecorino Romano

3. Baby Spinach with Roasted Red Peppers

4. Fresh Basil from a LIVE plant in my backyard

5. The finished product with a drizzle of Olive Oil

Now...note how "uncooked" the middle of the pizza looks. I think the new oven will make this good pizza GREAT. It took 9 minutes in my oven at 500 deg F. I think we can beat that time and beat that taste

[Kemo]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

Congratulations! Doesn't it feel great when you reach this point? Your dome and vent look great and I like the colour contrast!

By Tuesday, you mean next, right??

Sarah

I was toying with the idea of lighting a nice fire tonight...but i reconsidered. It will probably be on Friday morning and Ill try to follow protocol untill the following weekend...then its pizza time!

I still have to get the blanket and cover with vermiculite...let me check to see how much room I have left on my Visa

[Kemo]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

Congrats Kemo!


BTW - Did you have the happy/sad feeling at the end?


DAve

thanks Dave,

I cant say that I had a happy sad feeling but I did feel pretty damn good after I got the last stone in place. Like I did when I graduated highschool I will say that I was a bit scared climbing inside the dome once it was closed to fill in the gaps on the inside. SCARRY! I wasnt sure if it was gonna fall or what!

[gjbingham]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

Nice job Kemo. Nice looking vent arches.

After having read all the discussion as to whether a dome should be insulated for the curing fires to minimize shock to the exterior mortart joints, I'm feeling pretty secure that it isn't really an issue. Both Sarah and I found that the bricks warm very very slowly externally. It takes nearly an hour after the curing fire is started for the heat to transfer out to the external surface of the dome.

I say, go with your gut.

George

[dusty]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

Gongrads Kemo! Looks fantastic. Must be very exciting, I can hardly wait.
I am starting to think though, judging by the insightful posts of this semesters "graduating class" that ovens to be cured this time of year may take a bit longer ( more smaller fires) than ones finished in the drier, sunny months. Everyone seems to be following protocall, but all seem to say the oven is still wet and some have reported cracks. Maybe that happens any time of year - I'm new here so I don't know.
Keep us posted and enjoy!

dusty

[asudavew]

Re: Kemo's South Austin Pizza Oven

Congrats Kemo!

I love it!

Take your time on the curing fires, and start your search for firewood!!
It seems to take a bunch to drive the moisture out.

If you already have your insulating blanket, then I would throw it on.. If not go for it!

Once again, Congrats! I enjoyed watching your progress.

BTW - Did you have the happy/sad feeling at the end?


DAve