Bathurst Build 100cm ish

[Greenman]

Re: Bathurst Build 100cm ish

Most timber is good. Steer clear of camphor-laurel, black bean and the like and any treated timber is off the list but the majority of what is around is good provided it is properly dried.

I have been lucky with people having dead trees in their yard that they wanted felled and end up with a lot from that. I have been looking longingly at a mechanical splitter though because some of those old dead, dry eucalypts can get pretty tough to split.

Your fruit wood will be fine.

[seamad]

Re: Bathurst Build 100cm ish

I have been lucky with people having dead trees in their yard that they wanted felled and end up with a lot from that. I have been looking longingly at a mechanical splitter though because some of those old dead, dry eucalypts can get pretty tough to split.

A mate of mine bought one of the cheaper chinese ones ( do I dare say that after a recent thread ) and it's pretty useless with the hard stuff, which is of course when you want one. I just use a splitter and then wack the splitter with a lump hammer. It's good therapy and makes the pizzas tastier.

[Greenman]

Re: Bathurst Build 100cm ish

You are right about the therapy and it will be more pleasant doing such things when it cools off a bit.

You probably get what you pay for with splitters and there have been some advertised in the local paper here today for $1600 and $1400 rated at 34 and 32 ton respectively. I don't have a lot of real gnarley stuff.

I wonder if they do on site demo's?

[Wozza]

Re: Bathurst Build 100cm ish

I enjoy getting wood.

Ahem............

[Greenman]

Re: Bathurst Build 100cm ish

Isn't that spelled Amen?

Wazza - you need to get out more. Get in touch with nature, smell the eucalypt forest and enjoy what the wood chippers have come to destroy. Once you have done that smelling the pizza is raised to another level!

[SpottedFrog]

Re: Bathurst Build 100cm ish

Well after a near tragedy yesterday. My three year old hosed my IR thermometer. Amazing how well rice works. The dome partially cleared yesterday and has cleared more today. Was still hot inside this morning. Not searing but way more than warm. Things are looking good. I see how much easier the firing gets. Lots easier to get started and keep it going also lots less smoke. But definitely curbing through some wood keeping the fire going for such lone periods. Just used the thermometer to check and sitting around 380C. At the top of the dome. Can't see any cracks. I'll look under the blanket after the whole thing has cleared.

[SpottedFrog]

Re: Bathurst Build 100cm ish

Inside the dome at top 210C floor 170C outside near entrance 80C outside of blanket 30C but at the join in the blanket at the top of the dome 110C. And under the hearth 47C. Which worries me a little. But I know there is quite a lot of moisture in the bottom insulating layers. So hope that drops off considerably. There are two layers of blanket around the sides and three on top at this stage. Still have one roll to put on.
I put a dish of San Mazzano tomatoes in rubbed in oils with local garlic and home grown basil.

[SpottedFrog]

Re: Bathurst Build 100cm ish

The tomatoes roasted to perfection. Glad I checked them when I did. So excited.

[Greenman]

Re: Bathurst Build 100cm ish

It is all about slowly drying the whole oven. You are on the way.

Your tomatoes look good. It just gets better as you go along.

[cobblerdave]

Re: Bathurst Build 100cm ish

G'day
You doing the right thing, I know it's frustrating slow. But you've got this far the end is in sight.
http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrSb...i41sQR8X_yPcw-
Is a link to some nan bread. Nan bread has sugars and oils which would burn at the higher pizza temps but for lower ones nan bread is perfect. This is my favorite one, the dough is soft and easily handled. Scrap aside the coals cause that part of the damp hearth will be hotter, and when that cools move the coals and use the new spot.
Regards Dave
PS brush with melted butter and garlic ..... YummmmmOo

[SpottedFrog]

Re: Bathurst Build 100cm ish

funny thing. I thought that when you cleared the dome and then it cooled down it would get all sooty again, but that doesn't seem to be happening.

[SpottedFrog]

Re: Bathurst Build 100cm ish

I put another coolish fire in yesterday and the dome partially cleared. I kept that going for about four hours. But today it might rain, slight chance, a teeny bit this afternoon. But I have a plan. I have a spare chimney cap and I am going to place that on the top of the blanket and if it does sprinkle some rain on us I'll wrap the tarp around the oven and the chimney cap should let that very hot air/steam escape with out melting too much of the tarp, or letting too much of the blanket get damp. Last time I fired it up hot, it was 100C+ coming out of the join in the blanket, which definitely would have melted the tarp.

[SpottedFrog]

Re: Bathurst Build 100cm ish

arrgh. raining its pouring, six days straight rain forecasted, two down four to go, and the long weekend and friends visiting

[SpottedFrog]

Re: Bathurst Build 100cm ish

So the rain comes and goes and I'm half way up the side with the vermicrete/perlcrete. Totally weird stuff to work with. I have ended up with some jumbo boxes wrapped around the outside as rough formwork, it holds this layer in place without compacting it and means I have an even thickness. We are planning on smoothing the rough bits out after then rendering and then a final coat of ??? Something???? Not sure yet. That stuff you are using Colin looks great. I had though to use some stuff called Qpebble but they have changed the colour range and I can't see green or blue as the right colour.
I'll post some more photos soon.

[oasiscdm]

Re: Bathurst Build 100cm ish

Hi rosemary

Are brings memories. Dying and tempering remember to temper oven by creating grinning fires fast great up, slow heat up, for on for off. Retained heat high tell low temp.

I did this for about 2 months even one dried. Too this date I have zero cracking and oven now heat to temp and clears very very quickly. Can get roaring fire happening and cleared in an hour.

Well done liking forward to more photos