DANTE - 36" (92cm) Pompei oven - Luxembourg / Italy

[JohnHarrelson]

I honestly don’t know because vermicrete is not absorbing water as the calcium silicate boards, if the concrete hearth is flat and leveled you don’t have to worry about any water stagnation under the oven. But you can find many solutions on this forum

[Chach]

Ricky,
That is still a good deal imo. There unreputable people reselling them on Amazon and Ebay for much more.

John,
Yes, both the handle assemblies are easy to remove. I reinstal the side handle from time to time for use on my regular charcoal grills. My intentions were to remove the wood portions and leave the metal portions of the hanles in place. But, I haven't gotten around to that yet.

Exactly...I seen them for $40 plus shipping.

[Gulf]

Ricky,
That is still a good deal imo. There unreputable people reselling them on Amazon and Ebay for much more.

John,
Yes, both the handle assemblies are easy to remove. I reinstal the side handle from time to time for use on my regular charcoal grills. My intentions were to remove the wood portions and leave the metal portions of the hanles in place. But, I haven't gotten around to that yet.

[CapePizza]

Gulf ... Joe, regarding that Oklahoma fire starter ... I'm assuming you removed the handles, or at least the parts of the handle that are other than metal? Yes?? Thanks

[Chach]

I found that one at Academy Sports. It's an Oklahoma Joe's Half-Time Charcoal Starter XL. Not a bad deal @ 20 bucks. I'm going to get another one next time I'm in town.

I just ordered one online from there its $19.99 plus $5.00 shipping..I don't have one of those stores by me so I had to order it like this but $5 shipping not too bad.

Ricky

[Gulf]

A small fire will help, if you can resist the temptation of overloading the oven. Many could not! The briquettes alone will work if done correctly. The first few starter fulls will have to be fully fired before placement inside the oven. As the drying advances, they can be partially fired since the draw of fresh air from the oven has been established to feed the burning coals. Once the oven gets hotter a door can be placed partially closed, the draw will still fire the coals with O2 and it will hold more of the heat in. I haven't seen the blast door concept mentioned lately. But this was mine that I used during the drying process. The temp guage helped a lot ito keep up with the progress imo.

[MarkDLxu]

Sounds like it's too late now,

i did like this at the very end

[david s]

Yesterday the calcium silicate boards arrived and today I today I put them on the hearth, covered with aluminum foil and on top some tiles. After that, I pour the perlite/concrete layer, about 4 cm

Sounds like it's too late now, but the higher quality insulation is best placed closest to the fire. Covering the tiles with a layer of vermicrete will fill the little channels between the tiles unless you have covered the tiles with something like weed mat or shade cloth.. The tiles are better placed on top of the supporting slab where their channels connect with the weep holes in the supporting slab. Cal sitl board, although dry when placed is just as absorbent as
Also most builders find it better to loose lay the firebricks to allow them to expand and contract individually as well as making them easy to replace if required down the track.

[david s]

"Yesterday I've tried with briquettes.... after a first round of small flames, they last just 20-25 minutes ... cannot imagine how to manage 7 hours "
i need to take holidays ovens are often pretty damp and keeping a fire alight is sometimes difficult. Sounds like your briquettes are going out. That is why I recommend also using some kindling, enough to keep the briquettes alight, but not enough to create impinging flame on the oven dome.

[Gulf]

Sorry that the charcoal ain't working out for you. I get a lot longer heat time than that. Are they completely burning up or are the coals dying before beinsg fully spent? Are you using a chimney starter to get them started before placing them in the oven?

[MarkDLxu]

Here's my recommendation.

(The reference to heat beads which are a barbecue fuel used in Australia equivalent to what are sometimes called briquettes.)

Yesterday I've tried with briquettes.... after a first round of small flames, they last just 20-25 minutes ... cannot imagine how to manage 7 hours
i need to take holidays

[MarkDLxu]

Thermocouples for the Smart Oven 3.0 dome !
Tomorrow i start the curing fire !!!!
I’m so excited!!!!

[Gulf]

I found that one at Academy Sports. It's an Oklahoma Joe's Half-Time Charcoal Starter XL. Not a bad deal @ 20 bucks. I'm going to get another one next time I'm in town.

[Chach]

Not at all. I use it in an oven on the decline "to add a little extra heat for certain cooks." If I have an oven on the decline that is about 250F to 275F, and wanted a 350F oven for a 3 hour cook, I will place a full starter in there with the insulated door partially closed until it burns down. Usually about an hour. I then remove the starter and close the insulated door for about 15 to 20 minutes and then check the temp.

For the wings above, the oven was probably about the same temp. I cook chicken hot and fast. I started about half a chimney starter full and placed it in the oven with the wings and the door partially open. I probably rotated the broiler pan a couple of times for an even cook. I have a 44" oven. Your mileage may vary .

Where did you get your stainless steel starter chimney..I really like the way it looks.

[Gulf]

What would be your ideal curing fire plan?
7 days increasing from charcoal to wood ?

Pretty much like david s or the Forrno Bravo Curing Schedule (though it will advise against charcoal, that is a long story) suggests. Just replace the first couple or 3 days with charcoal. At the very least, the charcoal (heat bead) method will help guard against over stoking the oven too early imo.