MK1 oven Build

[MK1]

Well my oven build is coming along, a little slow as my professional life keeps interfering with my personal life. I hate when that happens.
I don't know if I have the courage to fully chronicle my mistakes, but everyone here is so great, I'll try, or maybe claim it's a feature and intentional. I've mainly been cutting and dry stacking so there's only one picture of the oven. I took the liberty of including a picture of my bridge I built a few years ago.

Mark

[Les]

Re: MK1 oven Build

Mark - that bridge is awesome. If you can design / create something of that caliber - you are going to be golden!

Les...

[MK1]

Re: MK1 oven Build

Les,
Thanks, but I have to say my bridge design owes a little to Inigo Jones and a bridge he designed a long time ago in England. I wish you could let my wife know the oven will be something other than an eyesore. My theme for the igloo is turn of the last century iron age, rusty Bessemer riveted steel. She says that's stupid, stupid, stupid...

Mark

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: MK1 oven Build

Mark, nice work on the dome. The cuts and angles look nicely done. I love your bridge. Very nice setting. Your "last century iron age" igloo sounds beautiful too. I can't wait to see it. Thanks for posting. -Dino

[Frances]

Re: MK1 oven Build

What a lovely setting... the bridge reminds me very much of those Monet paintings, very cool!

[MK1]

Re: MK1 oven Build

Dino, I regularly check in on yours, hard to believe you're a first-timer in the masonry dept. It must be getting mighty tense being so close to functionality!
Frances, your mosaic has been viewed buy all those who can't avoid me. Exceptional.

Mark

[MK1]

Re: MK1 oven Build

Don't laugh, I've been working on El Duomo. What I'm most happy about is using only 2/3 of a bag of Heat Stop 50. I've done a # of things not by plan, and I'm blaming the help. I have a bunch of vertical joints that line up but my reasoning is the chains are what counts. A real god send has been the diamond cup grinder from harbor freight (about $30) I let the last chain set for a day and the run the grinder on the top to even up any discrepancies. I find that the mortar is best mixed fairly wet as per the masonry heater guy link that Dmun provided. Thanks. I decided to not go motarless as every tree I've planted for my wife I've had to move it two weeks later. My reinforced slab sets on 4 pillars so I can lift it off and move it as required. I consulted her for the current location, but I'm taking so long to build it that I might have to move it before I'm finished.

Mark

[Bandrasco]

Re: MK1 oven Build

Mark,

Your oven is off to a great start and your theme sounds great. Nothing like rusty steel, rivets, straps, etc. Very old world.

By looking at your bridge there's no question that you have a solid understanding of applied physics. You'll have no problem with your oven.

Keep up the good work and post as many pictures as you can. It's a blast to go back and review them after you've completed it. In my case it was entertainment for the whole family...

[MK1]

Re: MK1 oven Build

Check this out. Digital Thermometer for K Type Thermocouples: Virtual Village - US
I am installing two thermocouples in my oven, mainly to do a closely monitored cure with a propane burner, and to establish a baseline when I first start using the oven. I figure it will speed the learning curve a little. I understand they become unnecessary with experience but I'm only adding about $40.00 to my costs so I'll give it a go.

Mark

[MK1]

Re: MK1 oven Build

I've got the oven closed in, added about 1.5" of home brew refractory mortar (bread baking) to the outside, (I hope this isn't a mistake as I've never been clear about it's efficacy).
I decided to follow my idiot impulse to add a stainless vapor barrier between the masonry and the insulation. I learned alot. Mainly, that I'll need to use the english wheel on my exterior metal dome.

Mark

[MK1]

Re: MK1 oven Build

I know it's been awhile, but it's just about done. I'm waiting for the rust to develop on the more recent metal work (6 months ago) before I stop it. The oven gets quite a bit of use. I'll enclose the bottom when time permits and maybe lightning strikes. Thanks to James, Les, Dmun, and all the great builders who have gone before!


By mk1brew at 2012-05-21

I have incorporated an articulated cap:

By mk1brew at 2012-05-21


By mk1brew at 2012-05-21

[Les]

Re: MK1 oven Build

Awesome work Mark - it's a thing of beauty!

[gmchm]

Re: MK1 oven Build

A beautiful job! The bridge, the setting, and the oven are worthy of a painting by Monet. I hope your wife has changed her opinion. Gary

[deejayoh]

Re: MK1 oven Build

Very cool! That's like a steampunk oven!

[Amac]

Re: MK1 oven Build

Beautiful work - I also love the "monet" bridge - is that little "knob" thingy at the apex of the dome functional (i.e a sort of valve to release moisture) or purely decorative?