Dave's Northern Virginia Build

[DaveW]

Re: Dave's Northern Virginia Build

Dave,

you should have dropped your sand pattern as soon as you put in your keystone blocks.
...
Neill

Neil,
How right you are. I hadn't counted on the sand sucking the moisture out of the mortar. In this cold temperature, after two days, the mortar is usually fairly soft. When I dropped the sand, the mortar was everywhere and hard as a rock. It took two hours with a pneumatic chisel, followed by the power washer to make it presentable. The top half of the oven now looks like an ancient Roman ruin with the bricks chipped to bits. I wish I had posted my sand idea before I actually did it. Oh well, I keep thinking how much better my next oven will be.

Dave

[dsgreco]

Re: Dave's Northern Virginia Build

it looks great.

[DaveW]

Re: Dave's Northern Virginia Build

it looks great.

Thanks,
I was a little disappointed with the results but definitely it could have been worse.
Dave

[dmun]

Re: Dave's Northern Virginia Build

That's why builders have gone to suppports rather than forms: It's a lot easier to clean while it's still not set.

Still, it looks great.

[trockyh]

Re: Dave's Northern Virginia Build

Neil,
Oh well, I keep thinking how much better my next oven will be.

Dave

Going into business Dave?
Seriously, it looks great! Thanks for posting all your pictures, it is a help to me.

Tom

[DaveW]

Re: Dave's Northern Virginia Build

Going into business Dave?
Seriously, it looks great! Thanks for posting all your pictures, it is a help to me.

Tom

Thanks Tom,
Not going into buisness but I keep thinking about moving to a warmer climate.

Dave

[DaveW]

Re: Dave's Northern Virginia Build

I think I will quit for the season in a few days. The mortar I have been setting for the chimney flue is cracking in spite of (or because of) the heat lamp at night. But, one way or another, I will have pizza for Christmas.
Dave

[DaveW]

Re: Dave's Northern Virginia Build

The flue is done. I think it will draft pretty well. At no point is the flue area less than inside the pipe.

Weather permitting, tomorrow I will add some mass to the dome.

Then I will start reading threads about curing. I probably won't insulate until next year when I finish the enclosure.

[trockyh]

Re: Dave's Northern Virginia Build

Looks good Dave. I'm not sure because I haven't done it yet, but I think I've read where it is best to cure with insulation. I'm thinking the temp difference between inside the dome and the outside of the dome might/will cause cracks. But, I'm sure the people in the know will chime in..

Tom

[DaveW]

Re: Dave's Northern Virginia Build

Looks good Dave. I'm not sure because I haven't done it yet, but I think I've read where it is best to cure with insulation. I'm thinking the temp difference between inside the dome and the outside of the dome might/will cause cracks. But, I'm sure the people in the know will chime in..

Tom

I hadn't thought of that. I assumed the recommendation was mainly from an efficiency standpoint. We have family coming for Christmas and I really want to cook a pizza for them. But, not at the expense of the dome.
Dave

[DaveW]

Re: Dave's Northern Virginia Build

I just ordered the insulating blanket from FB. My original plan was to put loose vermiculite over the exposed blanket within the enclosure. Any reason not to go ahead and coat the blanket with a stucco making an igloo oven for the winter and to enclose it in the spring?

Dave

[DaveW]

Re: Dave's Northern Virginia Build

Is it just me or is this thing cute?

Dave

[Fish Wheels]

Re: Dave's Northern Virginia Build

It's just you

Just kidding looks good, hope it works as well as it looks in the picture

Good Luck
Rod

[pizza_bob]

Re: Dave's Northern Virginia Build

Is it just me or is this thing cute?

Dave

Dave,

Nice job! You passed me as if I were standing still with my build! Ummm...I was standing still.
I am extremely impressed with your determination to have Christmas pizza and the speed at which you finished your oven. I was cleaning snow off of my canopy and tarp today...6 inches in Connecticut this morning! Ugh...

Good luck with the curing and take your time with it.

Regards,
Bob

[DaveW]

Re: Dave's Northern Virginia Build

Thanks Bob/Rod,
I cut some corners to get this far which I may regret later. Fortunately, I got the last of the mortar on it just ahead of the really cold weather.
Dave