Michael's 42in Pompeii Oven, Sydney Australia.

[MikeyMann]

Re: Michael's 42in Pompeii Oven, Sydney Australia.

I forgot to add... I think i'm clever by adding a power cable through conduit... I get a power point on the far left of the oven. Happy chappy!

[MikeyMann]

Re: Michael's 42in Pompeii Oven, Sydney Australia.

OK, so I worked all day tuesday to finish the block stand with a nice storage area for timber and added support for the hearth. I ended up filling every second block with concrete, and the others with bricks with the odd splash of concrete.

I finished the formwork using MDF and 4*2 pine. I coated it all in a splash of water.

I then started pouring the structural hearth with 100mm concrete mixed by shovel in a wheelbarrow. 3:2:1 (gravel:sand:cement)

Midway through I placed the reinforcement mesh and 12mm rebar.

My only fear is that mixing the concrete by hand was too slow and the hearth began to set before I was ready to screed. The result was too much gravel being right at the surface of the concrete. Some of it is chipping away.

My only saving grace is that I will perform a second pour around a central layer of insulation brick.

Can anyone foresee disaster with this?

cheers

M

[MikeyMann]

Re: Michael's 42in Pompeii Oven, Sydney Australia.

After the first row was level and plumb I continued dry stacking, but placing a 10mm gap between them. I did this because the besser blocks are 390mm, and I need the 400mm to get the required 1800mm total.

I used a weaker mortar (5:1) for this as it's only for spacing. You can see the colour is very sandy. Sand is cheaper than cement!

I eventually filled all the cavities. I would alternate 3:2:1 concrete followed by crushed brick/sand & cement.

In one of the pictures you can see me emptying the remainder of this 5:1 into the cavity of the blocks. A convenient way to dispose of unwanted cement mix. I mixed this with crushed brick.

I will post a photo tomorrow of the completed block stand.

Next step is the concrete hearth.

[MikeyMann]

Re: Michael's 42in Pompeii Oven, Sydney Australia.

My solution was to lay a bed of strong mortar (2:1 sand/cement). After spending much time with the spirit level, the first course was level and plumb.

Incidentally, I seem to have a visitor.

[MikeyMann]

Re: Michael's 42in Pompeii Oven, Sydney Australia.

OK, so after a crazy weekend of earth moving, bricklaying and deciding how to deal with the 30 minute DELUGE of rain (3 inches in 30 mins... !!!) I managed to get the following done:

Moved 3 tonnes of soil and bricks into the skip bin to make way in the yard.

I laid the foundation blocks, only to discover that my concrete slab wasn't as flat as I wanted. Notice in the picture how one block is obviously leaning.

[MikeyMann]

Re: Michael's 42in Pompeii Oven, Sydney Australia.

thanks for the tip mate... but unfortunately we are about 2 hours late for this... as I speak there is a crane truck delivering a full palette of blocks. Got them for a good price.. $2.84 per block. Many landscaping places charge $3.50 + for a block.

But anyways... this sunday I start the blocks and hearth slab. Ready for a longgggg day....

cheers...

M

[Knackers]

Re: Michael's 42in Pompeii Oven, Sydney Australia.

should use formblocks....you can buy them from adbri masonry.

just look here Formblock? by Global Building Systems they are mortarless and ya just pour concrete into them. they have plastic bridges in them that hold the blocks togeather and also hold the steel in place. DONT be fooled by other blocks that are mortarless these move when you pour concrete into them.

I used them on my build & on other jobs I have done since them IE retaining walls etc. & they are the bomb. if your slab is as level as you say it is then you should be able to just lay them on the slab & use the plastic wedge that comes with the bridge to level it up b4 you start the next course.


Well worth it.

Good luck

[John K]

Re: Michael's 42in Pompeii Oven, Sydney Australia.

Michael,

Congratulations on the start
Let the fun begin!

[paulyboy]

Re: Michael's 42in Pompeii Oven, Sydney Australia.

Hey great start Michael. You and I will be going side by side as I have also just poured the slab for my outdoor kitchen, including footings for my oven.
Good luck with it mate!
Paul

[MikeyMann]

Re: Michael's 42in Pompeii Oven, Sydney Australia.

First thing was to remove a an outdoor garden bed. Total was 2 tonnes of soil, 1 tonne of bricks. Lucky for me I had a 15 year old to help me. (he belongs to my mate).

My formwork was old timber floor boards, so they don't look that great...however I figured they would do for something i'll never see again.

I reinforced it with 12mm rebar and wire mesh, more towards the bottom of the slab.

I kept it covered under plastic so it remained damp for 3-4 days.

Turned out to be flat, level and cured nicely. Next step is the besser blocks.

[Alter ego]

Re: Michael's 42in Pompeii Oven, Sydney Australia.

Michael,

Welcome I am sure that you will have fun along the way! Have far have you got with your build?

Paul

[mluttropp]

Re: Michael's 42in Pompeii Oven, Sydney Australia.

Welcome and post some pictures as soon as you can. We always like to see how others build their ovens.

[MikeyMann]

Hi everyone,

I've just started building my oven and have decided to post a thread for those interested.

In Summary it will be a corner design 42 inch oven, with an outdoor kitchen design next to it.

Let me say thanks to all who have shared their advice and photos. I will post them as I get going. I have spent many weeks drawing and designing the backyard with my wife, and now am ready to build.

Hope you enjoy...

Michael.