36" Corner Build in Minnesota

[MarkJerling]

Unfortunately i don't think that the people who bought my old house have ever used the oven.

That's just sad Randy! Their loss!

[Chach]

Yes! A monumental day with the completion of the dome. A lot more work to do with the outer arch, chimney and enclosure but I’m going to celebrate an important milestone.

I did the date with my kids initials above...Maybe someday in the future when we are all gone some one will redo the enclosure and insulation and see it...But good luck will the snow storm of perlite that they will get when they open the enclosure. It's almost ashame I won't be ae to see it. LOL

[MnDude45]

You bring up a question that I have been pondering. I plan to build an enclosure around the dome with >=3in of fiber blanket insulation. Is it necessary to fill the remaining space around the insulated dome with vermiculite/perlite? It seems that it would be redundant insulation.

Thoughts??

[RandyJ]

It comes down to what you can afford. It is a law of diminishing returns. It definitely helps retain heat but if it will break your budget then don't worry about it.

[MnDude45]

Thanks, Randy. I appreciate the feedback.

Today I got the mortar that caked under my platform scrapped off, cleaned and the gaps filled on the top of the dome. It’s definitely not perfect but at this point I don’t think it matters. Also, I got the outer arch form completed while it rained.

More steady progress but won’t be able to progress much again until next weekend.

[MarkJerling]

Chris, that may not be perfect, but it looks fantastic to me. Well done.

[RandyJ]

That's just sad Randy! Their loss!

I know right. I was told by them that the oven was a big reason they wanted the house. Oh well their loss. I gave them all the resources to learn how to use it and offered to stop back and teach them how it works. I even have a friend who is a executive chef who i said i would bring with.

[MnDude45]

I had a change of plans today so I was able to work on the outer arch bricks. I have to work on spacing but a good start.

[NCMan]

Lookin' good!!

[Sixto]

Looks really good! How much of a reveal are you getting between the dome arch opening and the gallery arch? Is that the full depth of the gallery (including flue?) or are you doing another arch in front? These are all questions I'm considering for my build, I'm about one month behind you...

thanks! Sixto.

[UtahBeehiver]

Once you have the dry fit complete, be sure to mark the centerline of the mortar joint on the plywood form. This will help you from getting "mortar joint" creep as you lay you arch.

[MnDude45]

Sixto - I have left 1.25 inch offset on each side of the inner arch for the outer arch. The outer arch will extend out 1 brick from inner arch while extending up from the outer arch leaving a 6" gap for the chimney flue. The chimney stack will rest on both the inner arch and outer arch with a gap for insulation cord and fiberfrax (see Utahbeehiver's build). I am not planning to another extension of the outer arch as it will be covered by the enclosure.

Best of luck going forward. I'm following your progress and it looks great so far!

[MnDude45]

UtahBeehiver - Thanks for the tip. I will use that one to keep on track once I get the spacing locked in with the shims

[MnDude45]

UtahBeehiver - I am planning to do a inner to outer arch transition which will be similar to yours where the chimney vent will rest on both the inner and outer arch (see below). I plan to cut back the outer arch bricks to allow some space for insulation cord.

My question is about implications of the chimney vent resting directly on the inner arch without any insulation and potential heat loss in the transfer from inner arch to chimney vent. If you were to it over, would you make any changes?

Thanks

[UtahBeehiver]

I tapered the bricks to minimize vent/inner arch contact as reduce heat transmission, how well it works, beats me, did not take any measurements. If I were going to build another, I would go with an "L" shape interface stuffed with insulation rope and sealed (like Gulf's build). Heat breaks are a controversial topic, is it worth the effort? Depends on how you are going to use the oven, If you are going to have a pizza party and maybe cook something the next day, a well insulated door, IMHO, gives you more bang for the buck. If you are after multiday cooking an need every BTU you can make then maybe thermo breaks are a good option.