Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

[dmun]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

I think you'll be fine. I don't think you should plaster over the notch with refractory mortar, or bits of firebrick, that could cause pieces of mortar to pop out, as that's a high heat area of the oven.

[egalecki]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

I think you'll be ok like it is. I had gaps behind mine too. I haven't noticed that it's a problem with smoke. I have more trouble with smoke when the wind's wrong than anything else. Also when my wood's not as dry as I'd like (since we're in monsoon season currently, that's unfortunately easy to achieve) I get more smoking on startup. Once it's really going, I don't notice much smoke at all- it's just too hot to smoke much.

Dmun's right about the high heat area, too. The inside edge of your inner arch will also turn white- so it's hotter than @#$% there!

[Les]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Dino - you're going to be good. I had something similar as well (you can see a pic on the forth page in the photo gallery). It's not causing me any issues as far as I can tell.

Les...

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Thanks everyone, didn't know that's a high heat area and I wouldn't want those pieces falling out. Besides they're difficult to cut and place.

I sure hope I can get a couple rings done this weekend. Been very busy at work (should be thankful) and having non-WFO fun last few weekends. Thanks for the info, I'll leave the square block edges alone.

[Ken524]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Dino,

Here's a picture of my oven in the same trouble-spot:



Your work looks better than mine. As the others have said, you are definitely good to go. You won't have any issues with exhaust flow. The smoke and hot gasses are pretty clever and will find their way out .

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Thanks Ken, all your pics really help. I'm going to go home now and face the "I told you so" now that you've all convinced me to leave it be. Dino

[geisen]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Dino
my favorite tool is a 4.5" electric grinder. If you are really worried about the pointy bricks, cut them off. ;-)
Greg

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Good point Greg, I just might do that a tiny bit. Thanks, Dino

[Ken524]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

The pointy bricks aren't going to hurt anything. You won't see them, you won't feel them, you'll forget they're there in 3 months.

If you go after them with a grinder, you risk vibrating stuff loose. Your mortar is still very fresh. I wouldn't mess with them.

[geisen]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

But Dino will Know they are there

[egalecki]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Unless you stick your head inside a lot, you really do forget they're there. You're just so glad it works well and it's such fun to use, the flaws in construction just sort of fade...

And this is coming from one who did no extra cutting, so I have some real "pointy spots"!

And besides, when he's finished with the dome, then there's the door to consider... I spend much more time these days plotting about a new door. The handles came off mine..

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

OK, I've come accept and love my "pointy-bits" and will leave them be. They're kinda cool looking in the pics.

I've finished ROW 8. These are my 1st almost "vertical" bricks. With 2 people it's not hard to do. 1 just has to hold 2 bricks while I mortar the 3rd and by then they are holding fine. My 9th row will be only 22 3rd cut bricks (LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL!!!)

I'm running out of my 4th bag of Refmix so I decided to make the extra angle cuts to reduce the mortar to make sure I had enough for these rows.

And Elizabeth is correct: I've got worry about what to do for a door. So many of you had extra ceramic insulation board to play with and make a door built with that sandwiched between other materials but I have non left.

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

I just called Forno Bravo to check on my Refmix order and they said it will be 2-3 weeks before their next shipment. UGGGH! I was hoping on closing my dome up this weekend.

I've called 3 dozen places in Los Angeles and Orange counties and nobody caries Heat Stop. Has anyone purchased any Heat Stop in southern California? I'll keep Googling and making more calls.

Thanks, Dino

[jrparks]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Here is a list of all Heat Stop dealers in California.
Google is a great tool!
Heat Stop - High Temperature Resistent Refractory Mortar

[exceloven]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Dino,
Making the homemade stuff is easy and a whole lot cheaper. I thought it worked great. Waiting 2 weeks could get frustrating. By the way, your dome is looking great!

Mark