Hendo's oven continues

[nissanneill]

Hi all,
since Hendo's death, I have made it my ambition to see his Pompeii oven finished for his family and friends.
Last Wednesday, I went across town and met his wife Margaret and his brickie Dallas. We looked at Paul's dying instructions, scribbled onto a sheet of paper because only he knew exactly what needed to be done to complete his dream as he had planned it. After an hour or so of discussion, we decided to cut the final 2 courses of taperred firebricks and the two keystone blocks to finally close the dome.
Dallas was glueing the bricks in with high temperature adhesive whilst I was on the saw cutting the bricks for an individual fit. The last row saw us pack the inside of the oven with bricks on edge and place a few pieces of particleboard on top and then to make a damp sand pattern for the final row of bricks as they were nearing vertical when installed.
The dome was closed in record time and we discussed Paul's vague idea of a door. I contemplated casting aluminium doors as I did on my oven but Margaret sald that they did not plan on cooking breads or anything but pizzas. With this in mind, we decided to open the entry chamber by 20-30mm wide and lining the oven opening with a rope seal held in a manufactured stainless steel track.
I have just completed it tonight in readiness for intallation by screwing it to the oven openning before the vent and entry brickwork is continued on 10 May.
We plan to continue the wall brickwork up including 2 glass brick tiles in the wall at the rear of the bench adjacent to the oven, behind the barbeque.
I will get pictures of the progress after my next visit.
Until 10 May,

Neill

[christo]

Re: Hendo's oven continues

Neil,

That is really nice work. Super great for you to take time to do this!! I;m very sure Hendo would approve!!!

All the best!!

Christo

[SpringJim]

Re: Hendo's oven continues

ditto, warms the heart....

[biondoli]

Re: Hendo's oven continues

Neill, that's very nice of you, not a case that within the oven construction there are key words like: hearth (slab) and curing (fire)....alla my best.

[gjbingham]

Re: Hendo's oven continues

Gorgeous work too neill(and Hendo). I'm sure Hendo is happy to see his work finished there. It was really nice of you to finish it up for his family. Onya!

[Ken524]

Re: Hendo's oven continues

BRAVO... Excellent work guys.

[nissanneill]

Re: Hendo's oven continues

Saturday 10 May 08
I got to Hendo's at 1:00pm after purchasing some small dyna bolts for securing the stainless rope seal strip around the oven opening.
Dallas, the brickie had ben there for 5 hours and was busy laying more bricks at the rear of the preparation area. I dropped out mu mixer yesterday for mixing the mortar and it will stay there until the task is complete.
Will post some pics when you can see more progress.
We discussed the chimney vent and got that arranged for him to continue.
I will purchase some stainless and construct almost the same as mine. but will be hidden by the brickwork fascade which will double as the splashback ofor Paul's benches and barbeque area.
We need to do some repairs on Hendo's paving as it is cracking and sinking around the perimeter. I think he will approve!
We have also received offers for an engraved plaque and a decission will be made further down the track.

Neill

[SpringJim]

Re: Hendo's oven continues

Thanks

You guys are great! Big pat on the back....

[nissanneill]

Re: Hendo's oven continues

I just returned from Paul and Margaret's home (and oven) and took all the dimensions for the chimney and void.
Dallas, the brickie has done a wonderful job of the oven dront and enclosure but still to finish the sides and rear wall. As it stands at the moment, I have access to the rear of the wall which runs up to the roof in front of the oven.
Sorry, no fresh pictures as it was an unexpected visit and no camera on board.
I am on holidays and will get the stainless steel sheet for the vent and hopefully install it ready for the first fires within a week.
Some led 'Pool downlights' have been purchased for the oven illumination, but I won't use them as they have a plastic body which will not take the heat. I will provide the same downlights as I installed in my oven as I know they work exceptionally well and withstand the heat.
I will get some up-to-date pics and post them then. But the oven will be finished

[christo]

Re: Hendo's oven continues

Really cool that you are spending so much time on this. Can't wait to see the pics!



Christo

[mannextdoor]

Re: Hendo's oven continues

I have said it once and I'll say it again. The people in this forum are like family. Great job.

[nissanneill]

Re: Hendo's oven continues

Holidays are here and time to get into those 'promised jobs'.
I have been a little slack with Hendo's oven but been rather busy with my outdoor kitchen build.
I phoned Margaret (Hendo's wife) last night and appologised for my tardiness but to check on whether anything had been done since my last visit some month ago. It was ironicle that Dallas, their brickie, also phoned me, to catch up on the oven progress.
Nothing has been done, so I get the stainless sheet this morning, cut and fold it up at school and put it together this afternoon. Thought I'd better check with the family to see whether they want lights in the vent to shine into the oven hearth as per my Pompeii. Yes was the reply, so out with the folder and fabricate the two lamp housings. Luckily I had around a dozen or so spare 240Volt downlights to use in my 'spares' supply. I will need to drill a hole in the side and through the vent firebricks of the oven to locate the cabling to the lights.
A little difficult but an estimated guess on their location and direction of aim. I have allowed some bending adjustment within the design as they will be tack welded on the bottom edge allowing the tops to be adjusted some what.
All is ready for installation so it will be across town (some 65 - 70km round trip) in the next week to fit and then start the fires. The oven is yet to be insulated, I believe the framework is yet to be bricked up, a roof constructed, the chimney put through the patio roof and the granite bench tops ordered and installed, Hendo's sink hooked up, a little painting and all ready to go for broke. Hopefully we will have it cooking in a month ready for the summer season.

Neill

[Ken524]

Re: Hendo's oven continues

That's really nice work Neill. I sure wish I had metal skills (and tools!).

[nissanneill]

Re: Hendo's oven continues

Ken.
Working with metal is much like working with wood or stone, you just need a few different tools. I wore the teeth off my hole saw trying to cut the 71mm diameter holes for the lamp housings in the 304 grade stainless steel, I cut new teeth in it but that wasn't overly successful so I cut the holes out with a worn out 1mm cutting disk in my little angle grinder. It worked a treat, just as I cut the 8" hole in the top for the flue pipes. I will make a peel for Margaret from the offcut, just as I did with mine. It works a treat for turning and removing the cooked pizzas!
Sure it takes a little longer but we need to do what needs to get the job done. Stainless steel is pretty hard and it always pays to buy the best rather than the cheapest when it comes to metal working tools and cutting/grinding discs.
All up, this unit with the lights took around 4 hours to make, the lights taking the majority of the time but they will be greatly appreciates as mine are invaluable. I will never build another oven without them!

Neill

[Frances]

Re: Hendo's oven continues

I was just checking something on my old oven building thread and there were all these helpfull posts there from hendo... back then I didn't realise he was building his oven at the same time as I was building mine. I thought he was this really experienced oven builder who'd been part of the forum for ages already.

So sad.

Neill, its great you're finishing his oven - I just wish I could fly over and help a bit. Thank you for keeping us informed.