Greg's Pompeii 42" - San Diego

[geisen]

Re: Greg's Pompeii 42" - San Diego

Tim
Here ya go.
Any other measuremuents you need?
Greg

[Tim M]

Re: Greg's Pompeii 42" - San Diego

Thanks for that Greg, big help!

You wouldn't be able to also post the measurements for your initial cooking floor layout through to the oven landing area as well?

Your oven is looking the goods!

Cheers,

Tim

[geisen]

Re: Greg's Pompeii 42" - San Diego

Tim
Hopefully these drawings will help.
regards
Greg

[geisen]

Re: Greg's Pompeii 42" - San Diego

Been a busy month. Haven't had much time to post pictures. Here are some shots of the vent.

[geisen]

Re: Greg's Pompeii 42" - San Diego

The first of the curing fires lit by my daughter Monique.

[geisen]

Re: Greg's Pompeii 42" - San Diego

After my 5th curing fire, I wanted an alternative to all the smoke and ash created by the paper. I was trying to keep the fires small for a slow curing process and the flames kept dyng out causing a lot of smoke. So I invented "Greg's Magical Fire Stick". I tapped into my BBQ natural gas line, added a couple of cut off valves, a quick connect 10' gas hose and a 3' section of 1/2" gas pipe. I drilled two dozen holes an inch apart in the last 12" of the pipe and capped the end. With the pipe in the oven, I built a inverted pile of wood on top of the pipe, lit the gas and tada. I left the pipe in for about three minutes and that was all it needed. two pictures of valve cracked and with valve fully open. This would have been a great way to control curing tempatures. But I definately would never leave it unattended. Gas build up inside the dome would be BAD.

[geisen]

Re: Greg's Pompeii 42" - San Diego

I had a 1/2 cord of Red Oak delivered over last weekend. $150USD delivered and stacked. In order to store the wood near the WFO I needed to put it along the house without a lot of space. Quick trip to HD for some basic chain link fence parts put together in a slightly unusual way and a 8' x 4' x 18" wood rack was born. worked like a charm.

[geisen]

Re: Greg's Pompeii 42" - San Diego

AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!
CRAAAAAKKKKKSSS!!!!
Two cracks showed up after the 5th curing fire. Must have been too hot. They run from top to bottom on the outside at the 10 and 2 position if the back of the dome is 12. They aren't too wide. but definately frustrating. No smoke or heat seems to be coming out of them. I was curing the oven when I noticed them so could see if they are visible on the inside. I'll check in the morning.

Of probably bigger concern is the cracks that showed up along the chimminey and in one of the bricks of my outer arch. the mortar seems to have pulled away completely from the brick. I think it was due to the FB mortar I was using towards the end. It doesn't seem to be wearing well.
The RefMix refractory mortar worked great and bonded well. But James asked me to try a new FB mix and I think it needs a little more refinement.

[geisen]

Re: Greg's Pompeii 42" - San Diego

Like magic, the two dome cracks are gone......Ok, i covered them with 3" of insulation blanket, but at least I can't see them

The dome cracks don't bother me too much based on what everyone else has said in the forum. I was hoping not to get any cracks but wasn't overly surprised to see them.

The crack on my arch has me concerned, I can actually move the brick a little. Hopefully, our good friend gravity will keep it all together.

Any suggestions out there??

[geisen]

Re: Greg's Pompeii 42" - San Diego

Got my Inf Red Thermo today.......ready to go.

[Frances]

Re: Greg's Pompeii 42" - San Diego

I love the way you got rid of your dome cracks. That'll work, those blighters won't bother you ever again...

I'll chime in on all the advice you got for your archway crack, too, shall I? Not that I'm an experienced builder or anything, but for what its worth it looks a bit like one of the cracks I've got. So I think you should be fine.

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: Greg's Pompeii 42" - San Diego

Wow Greg, looks fantastic.
Sorry about the cracks, they don't look bad, really. Your transition looks big. It's gonna draw air well. I just love your big entry. Looks way cool. Can't wait to see it finished.
Your brick work is pretty good, you've shaped the arch bricks property so the cracks shouldn't (IMO) move the brick. Like you said gravity and the good cuts you made will hold it together. I think our ovens can sustain a certain percentage of cracks (even semi-serious ones) and hold up just fine.
Cheers, Dino

[geisen]

Re: Greg's Pompeii 42" - San Diego

Dino and Frances
thanks for the reassurance and compliments. I figured the amount of pain and suffering it would take to fix the cracks would be tremendous; and why bother if it works and nothing falls down. When the arch collapses, my great-great-grandson can fix it.
Putting My Head Back In the Sand,
Greg

[KINGRIUS]

Re: Greg's Pompeii 42" - San Diego

Awesome brickwork! I might have to invest in an economic wet saw from Harbor Freight. Greg, have you taken your infrared readings yet? I am leaning towards a napoleon style oven for better pizza and I'm curious about your measurements.
-Darius

[RTflorida]

Re: Greg's Pompeii 42" - San Diego

Too bad about the cracks, sad to say - they are gonna happen.
Good luck with that arch crack...I've dug mine out for the 4th time and will fill again as soon as the daily rains subside. I know it does not really affect anything.....it just drives me crazy, staring me in the face.

RT