Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

[Neil2]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

This has been a great thread. Especially the pictures. I wish I had taken more pictures while I was building.

[gbohnstedt]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Dino,

Amazing work, man. I've just been through your pictures and the spreadsheet. It is incredibly helpful. It's a good thing Mike was handy with the camera or I'm betting the photos would have been pretty sparse. I've got to hand it to you, undertaking the whole project, nice finish. I've been down that road before, having built my own teardrop trailer from scratch, it ain't easy, but it is definitely worth it.

I've decided to have a mason do the actual oven for mine, since my anklebiters will keep me from spending the time on it I need to. I'll be starting quite soon, and will be much better prepared thanks to your work, so thank you again.

Greg Bohnstedt

[eprante]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Hey Dino,
I am also looking forward to PDT. It isn't any fun working in the dark.
The cobblestone arch is going to look awesome.

Eric

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Hey thanks John! Me too, it feels like watching paint dry to me so I'm sure it seems even slower to everyone else. I can't wait until we "Spring Foreword" and I have time during the week.
The stone I bought is called Italian Cobblestone and it's like colored granite all the way thru, so I don't know if it's really from Italia, but I'll pretend -Dino

[GianniFocaccia]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Great choice, Dino. Can't wait to see it when it's completed!
John

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Thanks Mike and Dave. I tried the whole cobblestone and it seemed too thick. After your message Dave, I went out tonight and measured since you made a good point. Cutting it in half still makes it 1/4" to 1/2" (occasionally about even since the facade stone is irregular) so I think they will have a little, but enough depth or relief to distinguish themselves from the facade stone.
Thanks guys, -Dino

[DaveW]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

I like it, but are you sure you don't want to use the whole cobblestone? Once you put the veneer on the oven, a little extra relief might look good.
Either way, beautiful.
Dave

[mfiore]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

It's going to look great, Dino! Good find!

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

I've been searching for the just the right outer arch finish for weeks and found a brick yard that sold cobblestone. I purchased 4 of these things (about 4-5" square and red or burgundy in color) and they seemed too big. I then pulled out my HF wet saw that's been gathering moss since I cut my oven plug. It still works and I cut the cobblestones in half and they are the perfect size now.

I stacked a few without mortar to see if looks right. I'll have to go buy a few more now and once I mortar them in, I can go to town on the ovens exterior.

[John K]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Thanks for your thoughts Dino,

I guess I will have to decide shortly and see how I go.

cheers

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Thanks John!
Re: clay pipe vs double-walled steel. The double walled, insulation stuffed steel pipe (like a durateck I used) is simple, 1 piece, is already insulated so it doesn't loose heat but heats up inside and helps the draft. However it's expensive, it has to be delivered & I know 2 of us that sent it back 1-2 times because it got dented along the way.

The rectangular clay pipe you cut in half at an angle and re-mortar after flipping 1 half, has a built in smoke constrictor (a good thing that accelerates draft): it's a big rectangle at the bottom and a smaller square at the top. Makes for great draft if IMO you have an almost equally sized vent opening (or close to it) to start with. It is cheaper but you really should wrap the base in insulating blanket.The work may be about the same when you consider mortaring in the anchor plate.

In next oven (in my next life ) I would go steel again unless the local brick yard had the right size clay pipe. I would ALWAYS-ALWAYS-ALWAYS build my vent-opening-flu-box the exact same size and way. Here is a pic again of the opening and how I did it. I THINK I could have been an inch shorter in 1 of the directions and still been fine, but it draws smoke so well. A clay pipe could mimic what I've done if installed properly. Mike (mfiore) did the clay pipe well, you check his photos out). Good luck, I'll check out your build to see how it goes, Cheers, Dino

[John K]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Hi Dino,

Your oven looks amazing, I have been following your build over the past 6 months and love your workmanship.

I will be starting on my Chimney/Flue construction in the next month or so and am unsure whether to go with a full brick Flue or Stainless Flue.

If you could rebuild your chimney would you leave the design/throat size the same or make some amendments?

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Thanks Tom and Les. And Daren, I've taken so much of what my oven looks like from yours so I really appreciate the encouragement!

I only have one thing left to do before I put on the facade stone now. I can't put it on until I put on the decorative outer arch and phony keystone. Did (or do) you all know what yours will look like before you get there? I really don't although I have this image in my mind, it still is different from reality and what's available. I'm going to hit the tile stores and stone yards next week and maybe think of painting my fascia boards one of the 2 colors of my house for continuity. I really want to just light a fire and eat pizza margarita !

[dbhansen]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Very nice, Dino!
Daren

[Les]

Re: Dino's 42" Pizza Oven Starts

Dino,
That looks very nice, and a great idea as well.

Les...