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Hi Guys,
So I thought it was about time to start documenting my build. Many of you have helped already just by sharing your experience via this forum - so hoping people can take something from seeing my build (and inevitable problems) along the way!
I started out a few weeks back having done some research and watched several videos lumping for a vermiculite dome over a gym ball on a transportable stand. Dreams of spending less than £200, being done in a matter of weeks etc,etc. Well the more I read this forum, the more I considered how much I love pizza, and the more I realised there was something more I could build that would hopefully last longer and perform better - my plans changed and I decided to plunge into a full blown Pompeii brick oven. Unfortunately not before spending the best part of a weekend creating a gym ball dome jig I no longer need! (Pic below)
Anyway - Friday marks the day the concrete slab completes - frame is in place with wire mesh and rebar and I’ve scaled down some of the measurements from the plans supplied here to accommodate a 30inch internal dome. Our garden simply isn’t big enough to take much more and it will give me enough capacity to feed the family and the occasional friend (only the best ones!)
I don’t have a wealth of tools - although I really enjoy DIY I’ve mainly done woodwork to date so all the masonry stuff will be new learnings for me. Not having a compactor I made use of the paving slabs by putting them make down on top of the pea gravel for a few days - seems to have done a decent job of compacting.
Another lesson learnt is about dog-proofing the work area! You’ll see that I had fashioned a curvy mould for the foundation slab - just about where my feet will be when stood at the oven, but the dog managed to get it and rip that off! The wooden frame is fine - so I might be back to simple rectangular shapes unless I can re-make before the concrete guys appear on Friday.
Ive also sourced the bricks for the stand. Like someone else mentioned - with the lockdown I found it impossible to get the hollowed out blocks so I’m working with solid, but I think I’ve managed to plan a design with minimal cuts.
So - looking forward to sharing progress and asking questions as I go along. You guys have built some beautiful ovens already so appreciate your support!
Cheers
Sam
So I thought it was about time to start documenting my build. Many of you have helped already just by sharing your experience via this forum - so hoping people can take something from seeing my build (and inevitable problems) along the way!
I started out a few weeks back having done some research and watched several videos lumping for a vermiculite dome over a gym ball on a transportable stand. Dreams of spending less than £200, being done in a matter of weeks etc,etc. Well the more I read this forum, the more I considered how much I love pizza, and the more I realised there was something more I could build that would hopefully last longer and perform better - my plans changed and I decided to plunge into a full blown Pompeii brick oven. Unfortunately not before spending the best part of a weekend creating a gym ball dome jig I no longer need! (Pic below)
Anyway - Friday marks the day the concrete slab completes - frame is in place with wire mesh and rebar and I’ve scaled down some of the measurements from the plans supplied here to accommodate a 30inch internal dome. Our garden simply isn’t big enough to take much more and it will give me enough capacity to feed the family and the occasional friend (only the best ones!)
I don’t have a wealth of tools - although I really enjoy DIY I’ve mainly done woodwork to date so all the masonry stuff will be new learnings for me. Not having a compactor I made use of the paving slabs by putting them make down on top of the pea gravel for a few days - seems to have done a decent job of compacting.
Another lesson learnt is about dog-proofing the work area! You’ll see that I had fashioned a curvy mould for the foundation slab - just about where my feet will be when stood at the oven, but the dog managed to get it and rip that off! The wooden frame is fine - so I might be back to simple rectangular shapes unless I can re-make before the concrete guys appear on Friday.
Ive also sourced the bricks for the stand. Like someone else mentioned - with the lockdown I found it impossible to get the hollowed out blocks so I’m working with solid, but I think I’ve managed to plan a design with minimal cuts.
So - looking forward to sharing progress and asking questions as I go along. You guys have built some beautiful ovens already so appreciate your support!
Cheers
Sam
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