Bill's Northwest Pizza Oven

[bbell]

Re: Bill's Northwest Pizza Oven

Thanks to gorgeous weather time allowed the hearth slab to get poured. Mixing the concrete in a wheelbarrow instead of the mixer was a a lot more work!

[gjbingham]

Re: Bill's Northwest Pizza Oven

Heck of a nice afternoon yesterday! Good to see someone did something constructive with it.

You've got an interesting build going so far. I look forward to watching your progress.
G.

[bbell]

Re: Bill's Northwest Pizza Oven

A question.....

What does one use to lay the ceramic board onto the hearth slab? Is it necessary to glue or mortar it?

[gjbingham]

Re: Bill's Northwest Pizza Oven

I believe most people just lay it on there. If it is level, you're off and running.
(Others - please correct me if I am wrong.)

[jrparks]

Re: Bill's Northwest Pizza Oven

Great work on your slab Bill. Nice to have welder around to tack the rebar together.
Look like you got your hands on a wet saw. I got mine up an running yesterday. It works well except for it is cutting at a 4 deg off 90. I think I may cut off the cutting head to square it up and also reposition it so I'm able to cut large pieces of brick.
Looks like a good week for buying brick.
Cheers,

[bbell]

Re: Bill's Northwest Pizza Oven

You're right John, bricks are on the list, along with a little fireclay, a dash of sand, general helping of mortar and possibly some cement board if there's room.

Once this fog clears should be a great day.

Bill

[jrparks]

Re: Bill's Northwest Pizza Oven

Hi Bill,
Sounds like you beat me to the I-XL. I just picked up the first load (140) at lunch and they said I was not the first oven builder there today. Another load tomorrow with some mortar and I'll set to dome!
Cheers,

[bbell]

Re: Bill's Northwest Pizza Oven

John, Now that's a small world!

The guys at IXL were great an deven showed me an oven they had in the back which they use. Turns out they too sell a line of precast ovens.

Got 100 bricks and mortar. Went to Seattle Pottery Supply an got sand and fireclay. I was on a tear because tomorow's booked. I cut the hearth bricks and ceramic board. Will try and set the board and floor at the next opportunity. Let's hope the weather holds.

[bbell]

Re: Bill's Northwest Pizza Oven

I was able to cut out the hearth briks, lay the ceramic board and assemble the hearth floor on top.

There are some gaps between some of the bricks regardless of attempts to beat them into submisson with a rubber mallet. Did I read somewhere the you can take fireclay, or the sand, or the combo and sweep it dry over the hearth to fill any crevices? Has anyone done this to their hearth?

Once again, curious...

[Les]

Re: Bill's Northwest Pizza Oven

Bill - don't sweat it, they will fill with ash. The bigger concern is the flatness, did that go well?

Les...

[gjbingham]

Re: Bill's Northwest Pizza Oven

If you're not positive about the flatness, get or borrow a peel and test out your floor. Belt sanding the bricks is, in my book, a last resort to fixing a floor problem - (now that I've learned from my mistakes).

[bbell]

Re: Bill's Northwest Pizza Oven

THanks Les and Gjbingham,

I'll let the ash fall where it may and do a peel test. I've found that "flat' is realtive. Not quite ruffle potato chip yet not exactly still pond water either.

Should work just fine.

[gjbingham]

Re: Bill's Northwest Pizza Oven

I'll bet you're fine as is. Don't stop now. Pizza by March!

[bbell]

Re: Bill's Northwest Pizza Oven

I was able to get the soldier course done yesterday. I started the entry as well and was up three rows till I remembered the $#@%^ reveal! Instead spending time on a work around I took the entry/landing rows down to make sure I did it right. This is very uncharacteristic.... Today, I was able to start the rebuild, with the reveal this time and lay a couple of rows.

It's probably hard to tell from these pictures but but it's actually snowing ....

[Ellie]

Re: Bill's Northwest Pizza Oven

yeah, but you will feel better that is done right! What a pain though.

Looking good

Ellie