36" vs 42"

[blacknoir]

I'm leaning towards the 42" but wondering if I really need that extra space? Thought I'd see what everyone else has done.

[exceloven]

Re: 36" vs 42"

42" 42" 42"...... I really think the extra size is beneficial. If you push an active fire around the rim it does take up space. Just my biased opinion!

Mark

[blacknoir]

Re: 36" vs 42"

I'm sold, it's going to be a 42"

[thebadger]

Re: 36" vs 42"

Noir,

I think you'll be happy with either but my 36 is just fine. I can easily cook 2 10-12 in pizzas - I don't see how I could cook any more than 2 at a time anyway due to the high heat. I actually cook one at a time anway.

You need to balance, heat up times, amount of wood needed, amount of cooking area and decide. I also didn't want it to be any larger than it needed to be.

I was worried that my 36" would be too small but I'm VERY HAPPY with it.

Good luck.
Dick

[Frances]

Re: 36" vs 42"

Why is it always a question of either big or small?!

There are so many sizes in between, so go the middle way and get the best of both worlds... My oven is 1m in diameter (or 39.4 inches) and like Dick and Mark's ovens, its just the right size.

[Rastys]

Re: 36" vs 42"

Bigger is not always better!
I'm with Frances as mine is a metre diameter.
You always need to establish what is best for your situation,
? area/room to accommodate the oven,
? ultimate intended useage,
? access to firewood and the cost if applicable, and
? Cost.
Yes, a larger one is better but only when you have a rather large group to cook with, or cooking for a large group, but it comes at a cost as above.
A smaller one will always do what you want but might take a little longer but cost less.
My thoughts anyway.

Rastys

[Cypress]

Re: 36" vs 42"

Mine is 40"

[blacknoir]

Re: 36" vs 42"

well crap.. now i'm on the fence again..

btw, am I the only one catching the 'it's how you use it' innuendo?

[papavino]

Re: 36" vs 42"

I almost went for a 32" oven, but then decided just to do the 36". I like the suggestions of Frances and Rastys. Just go metric!

[Frances]

Re: 36" vs 42"

btw, am I the only one catching the 'it's how you use it' innuendo?

I can't immagine what you're talking about...!

[thebadger]

Re: 36" vs 42"

I agree with Frances...

I think though you can get too small i.e., there is a min size given a roaring fire and room for a pizza. I think you don't want to go any smaller than a 30 or 24" if I'm remembering correctly.

Thanks
Dick

[egalecki]

Re: 36" vs 42"

Mine's a 36, and it's just right for nearly everything I do. The only time I've wished I had a bigger oven was when I had gotten particularly ambitious with loaves of bread.

A 42 would take longer to heat up, for sure. While there's plenty of room in the 36 for two or even three pizzas, I never do more than one at a time. They cook so fast I'd burn one for sure if I tried more than one at a time!

[christo]

Re: 36" vs 42"

Mine started life planned as a 36, but grew it to 40 as full size drawings seem a bit small. I'm in the middle but voted as a 42.

The larger size was helpful when I started to crawl in on my back to clean up the bricks after mortaring!!!!

It's not too often we cook more than one pizza at a time, but with the huge turkey and ham at holidays, we fill up the oven to the max. We have given it a workout loaded with Breads the next day as well.

Christo

[pizza_bob]

Re: 36" vs 42"

I am cutting my hearth bricks now for my 42" oven. I am 6'6" so it's not true what they say about tall people!

[Wiley]

Re: 36" vs 42"

I'm with Christo and the others with a 40 inch dome (and basically Frances and as a meter and 40 inches is pretty close). 40 inch has accommodated everything I have wanted to cook so far and doesn't take a huge amount of wood to fire, which IMHO should be a consideration especially if you're going to be purchasing wood.

Bests,

Wiley