BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

[Bandrasco]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

Thanks Christo,

The insulation I used was made by Thermal Dynamics and has a very good rating; a lot better than most I've seen. I also was able to get 3 full inches of it along with an inch of vermicucrete so I'm assuming thats why it's holding temps so good. I just checked it and it's still at 375f with firebricks as a door. I let the fire go to small coals and then placed the brick in front of the door.

This is way cool, thanks again!

[Bandrasco]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

Very cool chimney. I love the brick.

Thanks Mike, I'm relieved that the hard part is done. I'm so ready to start cooking.

[Bandrasco]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

I decided to make use of the wood fire last night and prepared some olive oil and roasted garlic chicken breast.

It was cool seeing the dome start turning white. And using the laser infrared thermometer is addicting!

Yummy! It took just around 30 mins.

Later we roasted marshmallows and watched the fire. I'm very glad I made the archway/vent area flare out as much as I did. The view is awesome from a wide angle. The entire dome turned white and it was such a cool feeling. Especially since it's still standing

[egalecki]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

Yeah, the "still standing' part is pretty cool, I must say. I'm amazed every time I use it that it didn't fall down the first time! It's by far the coolest thing I've ever made.

[amber]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

I feel the same way. Every time I go by it, I stop and marvel that I didn't manage to somehow f it up. It's like my baby now.

[christo]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

I really love the flared opening on my oven as well.

I haven't used an oven with a straight opening, but it's nice to have a couple of angles of attack on a pizza or fire.

I'm still amazed mine is still standing - I remember how freaked out I go when I saw my cracks.... We did not talk about them much in those days... I thought I was the only one.

Becareful when you make cookies after pizza - even placed in the entryway I managed to burn my first batch!

Christo

[Frances]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

Me too also, amazed.

You spend all this time on the forum, reading all the WFO geeks raving about their ovens... But then it actually works in your own back garden and its like WOW! How the heck did I manage that?

Well done Bill, your first white oven is something to be proud of!

[amber]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

I'm amazed by Frances' mosaic work! You make me look like a total pleeb Honestly though, my bargain with my mother is that I build it at her and Dad's house since I have a condo and I don't have to decorate it. An amicable solution all around. I'd do something totally symmetrical and pattern oriented and she'd be horrified. She has the same artistic sensiblities as you, Frances. I envy but I can't copy!

[Frances]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

Thank you amber. I just love how every oven turns out different and everyone adds their own area of expertise to the build.

That sounds like a good agreement you've got there. You'll still be posting the finished oven though, won't you?

[amber]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

Frances, of course I will! I'm as proud of my mama as any Southern girl! Just because I don't want to 'finish' it doesn't mean it's not my oven! It just makes it a family project, which is even better. Actually, Dad and I were finishing up the dome over Thanksgiving and my brother was watching us work. He made sure he helped a little so that he can claim it as his, also.

[Bandrasco]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

Ok everyone,

Thank you Forno Bravo, and thank you all for your help and ideas through out this build. There is no way on God's green earth I would have been able to do this without all of your help.

I had my annual Christmas party on Saturday and it was a huge success! And although we didn't cook pizzas most of the 25+ people for some reason decided to sit around the inferno that was blazin in awe.

It was a great moment for everyone to finally see what was keeping so busy for the last month or so. Only a few knew that you could actually cook in it; when the light bulb went off in their heads and said "hey, thats what's at the pizza places" I just smiled. Of course the next comment was "when are we all coming over for pizzas?".

This weekend we are going to attempt our first pizzas, bread, etc. With the amount of heat that these retain for so long you almost have to have a cook plan. Pizza first night, roast the next, bread the next day, and then maybe dehydrate some fruits and veggies the last.

I'll post a few pictures of the completed oven in the photo section. I still have to brick the exterior dome but the chimney/brick work is completed and my granite top should be ready this week.

Thank you all again,

[christo]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

How did your little man in the niche hold up? no signs of melting?

I keep picturing a Grecco/Roman version of the witch melting in the Wizard of Oz..... (I'll get you Brutus and your little <whatever they had> too!)

Looks really great - Dome looks white, too - just no time for pizza or you did not want to experiement on your friends (first impressions being so important probably good to wait....) We had one pizza disaster during an early run and my buddy busted me forever about all that work for a blackend pizza.

Christo

[amber]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

And I hope you've refused to invite him back I'm a bit nervous because we're going to do the first pizzas when my brother comes back for Christmas on Tuesday and if we blacken one, he'll bust us about it, too. In all fairness, though, I'd probably do the same to him...

[Bandrasco]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

Hi Christo,

The little man help up very well. After the dome was over 1000f for a few hours the niche temp was not even 95f. It only has one layer of the insulation behind it along with a little air space. Later, after at least 7 hours of constant fire it was just under 100f. I'm very happy with the insulation performance. The dome was white very quickly, it definitely improved each day.

Regarding the pizzas, both reasons apply. I didn't want to experiment with a crowd that big, not that they would give me a hard time but it was an annual Christmas party and making pizzas just didn't fit the schedule of events I had. Plus it gave me a reason to have another party! Not that I actually need a reason.

Thanks for your help during the build; pizzas start this weekend.

Take care,

[bturton]

Re: BA's Dome! Let the games Begin!

Congratulations. It looks great. Just in time for the holidays. I can totally sympathize with the masses not knowing that you can cook in it. I'm all about a new New Year's pizza tradition!