4 years in the making - 42" dome

[C5dad]

OK, after 4 years of house building and business start up (and subsequent shutdown) I am finally getting going on my oven (start sound of a heavenly choir!) The kids are pumped and my 12 year old went to HD with me today to purchase the concrete and misc supplies (Dad, can I have some work gloves too!)

Soo, Yesterday I unstacked all of the cinder blocks and cleaned the slab area I had poured when the house was under construction - 6 inch reinforced with 5000 psi concrete.

Restacked the blocks and this morning filled the cavities. Hopefully tonight I will be able to get to placing the deck for the hearth pour - rebar tomorrow and concrete next Saturday. I am planning on using cement board (thanks forthe idea Christo!)

I will be posting some not so good pictures later. I can smell the 'Za cooking now.

As for costs:

Block: $65
Cement purchased to date: $73.00
Tester fire bricks: $8.00
Misc supplies: $4.00
total $150


CW

[krosskraft]

Re: 4 years in the making - 42" dome

I'm glad you are taking the time to count the cost. I just jumped in and didn't look back until it was done. These puppies aren't cheap, but they are worth it. Good luck

[asudavew]

Re: 4 years in the making - 42" dome

Good luck to you and happy building!
Don't forget pictures.

Google has web based spread sheets, that will help you keep up with the costs.
But that's only if you REALLY want to know the final cost!

Dave

[christo]

Re: 4 years in the making - 42" dome

Getting started was the hardest part for me. Preparing the base and pouring the slab was probably the second and you are already past that!

Try to be careful not to do what I did and keep adding to the plan as you go along. Makes for an awfully long build!

Best of luck - and yeah - lots of pics!!!

Christo

BTW - I'm happy to have helped!!! (I'm pretty sure there were others before me that used the concrete board - but thanks for the shout out!

[brakeforbread]

Re: 4 years in the making - 42" dome

Looking forward to following another build. And if you keep up a spreadsheet on costs, that would be great. Best luck!

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: 4 years in the making - 42" dome

Looking forward to your oven build!

[C5dad]

Re: 4 years in the making - 42" dome

OK, its been a bit!

The forms were placed a few months ago and I did not want to pour concrete in the heat of the summer in Phoenix! Plus with my travel schedule for work, I have been really sleepy.

I finally poured the hearth today- my neighbor with the mixer was out of town so we had to mix each of the bags by hand.15 -80 lb bags and 2-60 lb bags. Ohhh my back (and thank goodness for a teenage football player - "thanks for the workout Dad!" is what he seriously said.)

Thank goodness that Lowes is around the corner, I mis- calced the cement needed - had to get another 3 bags! As for a cost update
Add:
$20 for concrete
$24 for rebar
$30 for vermiculite
$10 for a bag of portland

Running Total - $230

I am scoring firebricks and possibly some mortar for free from a company I used to work for. Bricks do not have heavy metals in them (tested by a laboratory!) That will save me about $300!

[christo]

Re: 4 years in the making - 42" dome

Sweet!!! Back in the game!

I've spent some time in Phoenix - I can see not wanting to build an oven in August for sure.

We need some pictures.....

Christo

[C5dad]

Re: 4 years in the making - 42" dome

Will Do - my camera with all the pics is at a job site and I cannot get it until wed Although the patio is alot cleaner since I had time today to pressurize since all the birds have been stopping by for a visit to the dogs food and to mock my lack of progress.

Today was gorgeous (about 80 F) so I could not pass up the weather.

I am glad I used the cement board trick you suggested. I also used my rebar on 6 inch centers (did not get a picture since I was in such a rush this am to get going!)

Has anyone used field stones to face their oven? I have found a source of nice looking granite that I was looking at using. Any advice on the mortering? I know - get the dome done first.

[jmhepworth]

Re: 4 years in the making - 42" dome

Keep at it. My dream of a WFO started when we lived in Gilbert. My kids all graduated from Highland High School. Have fun building.

Joe

[C5dad]

Re: 4 years in the making - 42" dome

Thanks Joe! My kids are stoked up and griping about when it will be done. As the father figure said - one step at a time. Just hope the boss, er, wife cuts some slack on this thing!

[jmhepworth]

Re: 4 years in the making - 42" dome

My kids are all out of the house, so they are asking why I didn't do this a long time ago. Now it's pizza for grandkids.

Joe

[Roadkyng]

Re: 4 years in the making - 42" dome

Got my son involved. He has helped cut brick chips with a hammer and brick chisel to fill in gaps and now I have him pre-butter the chain bricks for me as I am building up. He really feels involved.

[C5dad]

Re: 4 years in the making - 42" dome

AHHHH

One bag of coarse and one bag of fine vermiculite. I really am starting to hate the guys at ThermoRock West. Both bags are supposed to be coarse. Two more bags to get my 4 inche depth now. Bricks get picked up starting Wednesday - Yipee

[oventhusiast]

Re: 4 years in the making - 42" dome

C5dad,
Someday in the near future, you'll be sitting with friends, eating pizza, smiling and telling them to check their vermiculite before leaving the store!!! It's how we ALL learn good help is rare these days!
Best of luck on the build,
Rick