Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

[Dino_Pizza]

Duratec anchor plate sandwitched

I was thinking about not fully mortaring my anchor plate (8" duratec) nor going with the tap-cons screwed in. I already cut out (actually tin snipped half-and hammered back and flat) the 1/2" collar that sticks out below the anchor plate. I thought that I would sandwich the flange between 2 bricks maybe using a brick split for the top part of the "sandwich" but I would not mortar the 2 bricks really solidly across them. I would stop about 1/2" from the edge of the flange and make my mortar about 1/4" thick so that the flange and 8" durateck pipe could expand and not put any pressure on the bricks but still be locked in place. Here's a picture of what I'm trying to explain.
Or is this not an issue if I've trimmed away the collar and keep the mortor away from the round chimeny so it can expand even with the tap-cons into the brick?
Any other suggestions are welcomed. Thanks!

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

I've finally completed my 6th ring. I BELIEVE I "hung" it on the arch. I was able to avoid the dreaded "droop" however I couldn't avoid the "drunken zig-zag". The 5 bricks that span the arch fit very well together even though the 3 in the middle do rise and fall slightly. But, it is really solidly sitting on the arch. I happy and relieved to have gotten thru this small milestone.

I'm still at 21" from the center so my 7th and 8th course will hopefully flatten it out to 20" somehow. Well, that's the goal.
Cheers, Dino

[Calabrese]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Dino,

Your 6th row looks great! Really tight and clean mortar joints, nice job. I don't think the zig-vag is a concern at all - you will never see it after the next course. On to the home stretch...I'll bet your very excited.

Congratulations,

Joe

[jrparks]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Looks great and the pizza's will not mind the zig zag!

[exceloven]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Dino,
I can't believe no one has commented on the pic with the cat! Is that photo shopped. Can you really fit inside the oven? Am I missing something? I know you are building a 42" pompeii.

Mark

[Ken524]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Dino,

Really nice work. You got through the hardest part quite nicely! I'm curious about the pic with the cat too! Is that you in there??

[bbell]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

How the hell did you fit in there?!?

[Les]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

How the hell did you fit in there?!?

I cringed when I saw it... Has to be Photoshopped.

[mfiore]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

I keep imagining being cramped in that oven, and the damn cat sneaks up on you like that. I'd totally crack my head open.

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Oh, you guys are funny. Yes that really is me playing cat and mouse (I'm the mouse in the oven hole). I don't think I'll be able to do that trick again once the next row goes in. I was checking out my rings from the inside when the cat wanted to play. I'm 5-11-ish but it wasn't too difficult but now I've got a case of claustrophobia thanks to you guys. Dino

[Wiley]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Dino,

I'm with you, build an oven big enough to be repaired.

If one cannot physically get inside their oven then how does one make repairs when the need arises? Looking at the photographs of "ancient" ovens it is not uncommon to see repairs that have been made...and made back when the ovens were still being used. One needs to at least be able to get head, shoulders and arms inside thru the entrance or at least enough of their body to perform repairs. Although this is probably less of an issue with those WFOs built with little to no mortar joins.

If one builds an oven that one cannot get into to repair from the inside one has to open it from the outside. How many of us would enjoy tearing thru all the exterior to remortar a brick or perform some other repair that could fairly easily be made if one could access it from the inside of the oven?

Nice work, pizza is not far off!

Wiley

[exceloven]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Wiley,
There is a difference between getting your torso and arms in the oven to make a repair and getting your WHOLE FRIKKIN BODY in there. LOL Unless you plan on making repairs with your toes, the upper body and arms should suffice. By the way Wiley I'm just messing with you.....but still.
Dino,
You're doing a great job! Keep it up.

Mark

[Wiley]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Hey Mark,
Here's me inside my WFO during construction. Lot's of room inside a 40 inch diameter dome!

:-)
Wiley

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Wiley, I can't believe I missed this photo of you last year! That looks scary-funny.
I've got a mental list going of some of the great, goofy photos I've seen on the forum:
Jamesdifede being swallowed by his dome while his pug sits between his legs; Acoma's daughter sitting in the completed oven;
And don't get me started on AusyDav's antics.

Thanks for sharing , Dino

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

I was looking at lots of other oven builders pictures of the inside of their dome and I think my 3 rings that attach to the arch are either not quite right or I need to do more work on them.

I was so concentrated on cutting out the angles so the rows sit on the inner arch, I didn't pay attention to any additional angle-cuts I might make so the rings "blend" into the arch where they curve.
Here are 2 pictures: 1 is how it looks now. You can see the shadows where the square edges of the blocks end, 3 on each side of the arch. Should these be:
1. Left alone
2. Filled with Refmix to "smooth" it out.
3. Insert the triangulare pieces with mortor I have in the 2nd picture (I'm trying to hold the 3 pieces with my fingers while I snap the picture).

Will it hamper the smoke exiting the dome or cause turbulance in the smoke?

What should I do? Thanks, Dino