42” Pompeii in San Felipe, MX

[modified9v]

Thanks Ricky... I can already tell that you are right. Damn mess to clean up. I think it will go smooth now. I gotta say that your cast flue vent looks tempting but I actually have a plan and bricks are in it. LOL

You guys are the best... Thanks, Mikie V.

[modified9v]

Since I’m feeling a little sad about taking a couple steps back I thought I’d take a few pics... 1st one is after I cut the bricks out and cleaned up the bricks... the others are of the other work that is going on in the courtyard/patio/party place. I am only doing the pizza oven. Local talent is taking care of the rest.

We have owned this place for 1 year and 1 week... the progress has been amazing. Keep in mind we live off grid. Solar power and water is trucked in. I do love my view of the Sea of Cortez.

Wanted to mention that family that was coming down from Nor Cal has decided to skip the trip due to the pandemic. They are elderly and I totally get it. It does buy me some time but I need to stay focused.

Be well, Mikie V.

[modified9v]

Spent the better part of the day cutting the funky “L” shaped bricks and the ones on the outer edge. Also did a bunch of clean up and other much needed crap around here.

Tomorrow I will pull the arch form out and get it marked for mortar joints and the eventual 8” opening for the chimney pipe. Man, there really isn’t a lot of room after you take into account the 8”. I now think that I made my landing area in front of the outer arch a little too short. Another inch would have been like a mile. I’m at 13” from the dome arch to the edge of the outer arch. 14” would have been much better. 15” would have been amazing.

I gotta say that somewhere along the build I got off with measurements. Not a lot... maybe a 1/4” that no one but me and you will know about. That said, I’m feeling pretty good about this. I had wanted to cast the gallery but I think that is above my skill set. I will make it out of brick.

One question: I see that on some builds with a heat break between the inner and outer arch have beveled the arch bricks where the smoke exits the dome area. Curious how important this is?

Thanks, Mikie V.

[JRPizza]

Mike, I had sufficient area coming out of my vent arch but it was in the form of a rectangle and I had to transition to a square for my adapter. I had plenty of width but had to add depth so extended the brick chimney back towards the dome (see link). Even with that depth wise extension I had to do some grinding to accommodate the adapter as shown in the photo, otherwise I would have had made the chimney wider than I wanted. You just need to figure out what works. I found building my vent and chimney one of the biggest "adventures" of the project.

https://community.fornobravo.com/for...556#post386556

[Yokosuka dweller]

I beveled arch bricks, but that was because in copying from other people on this forum I forgot to account for the fact that my oven is only 31" whereas the ones I copied from - JRPizza's build actually - had larger diameter domes. So my brick build up of the serpentine flue became a bit too narrow - about 10% less than what I should have had flue size. I think flue size is very important for draw, so did what I could to help create a smoke exit...among others by cutting the bevels. The cuts were not very precise but at least it doesn't seem to have harmed the smoke flow.

[modified9v]

Thanks guys... yes, this is challenging. Kinda fun in a sick sort of way. Got rained out today... been getting that a lot lately. Rain is a rare event here but we welcome any moisture we can get. I’ll be back on it tomorrow, maybe even this afternoon.

[Mongo]

Hello Mikie,

Thanks for your photo documentation. Great stuff and invaluable. I'm just behind where you are in your build. Even being held up by the same rain here in so cal.
I'd like to pick your brain and hope you don't mind a few questions.

You mentioned you have 13 inches from your inner arch to the edge of your outer arch but would have wanted more.
What would you do with the extra depth?
Are you making your flu 8 inches deep (front to back)?
How wide are you making your outer arch bricks? The ones that form the complete arch?

A broader question to all those following with completed ovens: How deep is your flu gallery and does the depth hamper your ability to work pizzas or get things in and out of the oven?

Thanks again. Good work. And another thanks to JRPizza for your flu design.I was going to close the arch to 8 inches then go straight up. Yours is incredible.

-George

my Build: https://community.fornobravo.com/for...mente-ca-build

[modified9v]

Hello Mikie,

Thanks for your photo documentation. Great stuff and invaluable. I'm just behind where you are in your build. Even being held up by the same rain here in so cal.
I'd like to pick your brain and hope you don't mind a few questions.

Thanks George. I could have done a better job documenting but sometimes you just forget to take pictures or get too lazy. Also, seems the sun is always where you don’t want it when taking pics.. Below are my answers... hope they help you!


You mentioned you have 13 inches from your inner arch to the edge of your outer arch but would have wanted more.
What would you do with the extra depth?

I think the extra depth would have allowed for the outside edge and inner edge bricks of the vent arch to be bigger in size. Probably not a big deal concerning strength but it was my thought. When I went back and measured for the mock up I found that I’m actually 12 5/8” deep including my little heat break at the oven’s opening. Those bricks a pretty small. I have attached pictures.
Are you making your flu 8 inches deep (front to back)?

Yes, the inside dimension is 8”. The picture I attached should show what I mean. The next order of business is to mortar the inside “L” brick in completely, then I will work my way up. The outside bricks of the vent arch will be last. I plan to let these cure a few days between phases so I don’t knock something loose.

How wide are you making your outer arch bricks? The ones that form the complete arch?

The ones closest to the dome are 1 1/2”. The outside bricks are 3”... That leaves me with the 8” opening for the vent area. Pretty small, huh? That’s why I would make the landing area 14” if there was ever a next time.

A broader question to all those following with completed ovens: How deep is your flu gallery and does the depth hamper your ability to work pizzas or get things in and out of the oven?

If I understand your question correctly the distance from my oven entry (outside of the dome arch/door reveal) to the outside entry after the decorative arch will be less than 14”. I’ve stuck a peel in there and it’s easy to get to anywhere in the oven.

Thanks again. Good work. And another thanks to JRPizza for your flu design.I was going to close the arch to 8 inches then go straight up. Yours is incredible.

-George

Really hope this helps... feel free to ask anything. If I can be of help I will. Thanks for checking in.
Mikie V.

my Build: https://community.fornobravo.com/for...mente-ca-build

[modified9v]

OK... I think this is really important or I’m an idiot. I have been looking at the format for our Forno Bravo community all wrong. Not sure the right person will see this post but it’s really, really important to have one setting, in particular, CORRECT... I was in the wrong mode the whole time..

Just above the “POST” button there is one that says “POSTS” and the one to the right says “Latest Activities”. Make sure you are on “POSTS”. It makes a world of difference and would have made it a little easier... funny, in “latest activities” mode you have no idea what post number someone is referring to.

Sorry to those giving help and referencing post #’s... I just never seen it and figured it was just a screw up on someone else’s bench. It was my bench.

Ugggh,
Mikie V.

[Gulf]

Sorry Mike,

I'm not quite following you on this? From which page(s) are selecting this "mode"?

[modified9v]

Maybe this picture helps. Where I have it circled. See where it says “Latest Activity”? I was accidentally in that mode and it really messes with the forum.

[Gulf]

Thanks Mike,

That is a different view from what I have as my start page for the forum. I have been using the link: Search for new posts on Forno Bravo.

[JRPizza]

Not sure why but I also had a different view. Thanks for the link Joe!

[modified9v]

Made some progress today. The stupid little “L” shape brick are in. I did round the edge of them to aid the smoke into the vent chamber. The backyard is taking shape. Notes about each photo are in the photo.

I have a big block of styrofoam that I will use as a jig for the vent chamber. I am going to do this out of brick, not casting.

Thanks for following along

[modified9v]

Long over due. Made some great progress working around the contractor and weather. Almost there.