John's 42inch Aussie WFO

[John K]

Re: John's 42inch Aussie WFO

Hi John,
When you say peanut butter consistancy with the mortor do you mean moist but not wet ?This might be half my trouble with the mortor being to wet and therfore takinging to long to set. I will try for a dryer mix and use clamps next time.

regards Gary

Yes thats right Gary as long as you soak your bricks for a couple of minutes prior to using them you can use a mix a slightly dryer than before and you will notice a big difference.

Cheers

[John K]

Re: John's 42inch Aussie WFO

Had a couple of hours to spare today and with the weather in Sydney getting a bit better than the last couple of weeks managed to cut and dry run my outside arch.



Question?

As I am using an 8 inch flue, What is the optimum distance between the inner and outer arch? 8-10 inches?

FYI the arch form looks as though it is not square but the peice I used was shorter on one side so all is okay lol.

[John K]

Re: John's 42inch Aussie WFO

With all the rain in sydney of late I managed to work on my oven for a few hours today and completed the outer arch

I can now begin work on the chimney.

I'm nearly there!!

[MikeyMann]

Re: John's 42inch Aussie WFO

great job man. love the precision in your arch work. Strangely enough, I originally was going to build the front arch as bricks like yours and then changed my mind! Great to see that yours worked out. When I look into your oven it looks remarkably like mine... I get to see it alot and I love it. Keep going....

[John K]

Re: John's 42inch Aussie WFO

Good to see you get alot of use out of your oven.

You started well after me and also finished well before me.

Between Work, Family and other activities I just cannot find time to work on the WFO.

Any way will eventually finish I hope

Cheers

[MikeyMann]

Re: John's 42inch Aussie WFO

Heya mate... don't rush it... take your time. I could spend time because I have very little work on over December/January, and I don't have kids yet. I admit that most of the work was completed over this two month period.

Your oven is looking first class. You'll absolutely love it when it's done. Something to be really proud of.

[Alter ego]

Re: John's 42inch Aussie WFO

It's looking Good John. If it has been as wet in Sydney as it has here I know what you mean about the lack of access to the pizza oven.

What sort of finish are you planning over the dome?

Paul

[John K]

Re: John's 42inch Aussie WFO

Hi Paul

Yes the past 3 weeks have been very wet but it was a good chance on catching up on other bits and pieces.

In relation to the finish I am caught between an exposed rendered dome or brick enclosed with a pitched roof

I already have 1 wall at the back of the oven so am already ahead if I decide to enclose everything however I have the open barbecue spit to the right of the WFO so this may cause some issues with water run off!!

I'd say more than likely I will end up going with a rendered and coloured dome like yours. I am not sure of the colour yet but may end up with a charcoal colour.

Will better know in a week or so once I complete the chimney section.

cheers

[John K]

Re: John's 42inch Aussie WFO

Some additional work on the facade

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: John's 42inch Aussie WFO

Super nice brick work John. The entry looks fantastic. The middle brick (and your brick colors) help us see the reveal going all the way around. I'm going make sure to remember your thread in explaining to others how to make the reveal go all the way around and over the top for a good door seal.
Keep up the good work, Cheers, Dino

[John K]

Re: John's 42inch Aussie WFO

Thanks Dino

Appreciate the compliment!.

Just caught in 2 minds whether to have an exposed rendered Finnish on the dome or go the extra yard and enclose the oven and also build a pitched roof at a much smaller scale to yours!!

Will sleep on it I guess

Your build is looking awesome!! talk about pain staking craftsmanship!! All I can say is that you have a lot of patience and great attention to detail, Well done!!

cheers

[John K]

Re: John's 42inch Aussie WFO

Hi all

Finished the chimney vent today and have decided that I will enclose the dome.

Purchased 150 bricks at 1.80 each!! It's highway robbery !!

Anyway will begin enclosing over the weekend

cheers

[Dino_Pizza]

Re: John's 42inch Aussie WFO

That vent transition looks great John. Now that you decided on enclosing it, it's going to get done fast. Did you put ceramic fiber insulation on it or are you going to use another material? (like vermicrete or something else?)

Cheers, Dino

[MikeyMann]

Re: John's 42inch Aussie WFO

Hey mate I decided to enclose mine too. Not sure why. I got to the finished dome and decided to go further. Glad I did... looks fantastic now. Made mostly out of bricks, with pitched roof; treated pine structure covered in slate.

Just an idea.. I decided to install some wiring inside cavity, away from the heat for some low voltage lights. Really happy with them... doesn't cost much and looks fantastic at night.

Another thing... I recommend curing the oven dome before you start building the enclosure. Before you put any ceramic blanket or vermiculite on. Much steam comes from the mortar. I spent about 3 days curing mine slowly with hot coals in the oven. If you enclose it first, then all that steam will get trapped in the ceramic blanket and possibly reduce it's ability to keep the heat in.

cheers

M

[John K]

Re: John's 42inch Aussie WFO

Did you put ceramic fiber insulation on it or are you going to use another material? (like vermicrete or something else?)

Cheers, Dino

Thanks Dino. I purchased 2 rolls of Ceramic Blanket which I have fixed in place. just tossing up whether I should by some Vermiculite and throw it in loose over the blanket? Would that be overkill?

I recommend curing the oven dome before you start building the enclosure. Before you put any ceramic blanket or vermiculite on. Much steam comes from the mortar. I spent about 3 days curing mine slowly with hot coals in the oven. If you enclose it first, then all that steam will get trapped in the ceramic blanket and possibly reduce it's ability to keep the heat in.M

Damn!! Michael I already covered the dome with Blanket and have already bricked 1 side of the enclosure!!. I am fairly sure that the guys at field furnace suggested I install the blanket then cure the over to ensure even heat distribution?. The good thing is that the dome was finished over 2 months ago so hopefully the moisture content won't be too high.

Will probably start the curing process next week.

cheers