Italiano Forni Build - Timber Stand

[malcolmx]

Hi Guys,

Please take it easy as I'm a total newby who has taken a dive into the world of Wood Fired Ovens...!! ;D

I've always wanted one after tasting some amazing food cooked in them throughout europe, middle east & northern africa.

I managed to purchase a used Italiano Forni Modular oven off eBay recently, but been struggling to find some instructions on how to put it together. I did get in touch with Mark (Guy who owns the company) who unfortunately was not willing to help as I did not purchase directly from him and he was not willing to email anything as he feared people copying his ideas.

Well it's not end of the world as theres forums like this where there's vast amounts of experience willing to be shared

Anyways I have finally started building my stand and on the verge of completing it.

I decided to make a timber framed stand for the oven after coming across a post on another forum and despite being warned I wanted to take a shot as I am planning on having an extension in my rear garden in 2014 so didn't want to build a concrete / brick stand knowing I will be bringing it down in about a year or so.

I used treated fence posts (4x4) for legs of the stand and sleeps (6x2) for the joists and outer frame.

I will be adding some cross bracing and then some doors etc to kit it up, but please find below the progress with the stand....

[malcolmx]

The stand will have some concrete paving slabs on the joist which will then be covered by either:

a. Vermiculite Board
or
b. Ceramic Fibre Board
(Depending on which I can source locally)

The then the Fire Bricks which had been supplied with the oven.

Do you think this will be adequate insulation and most importantly enough to ensure the timber frame does not go down in flames...?

[turkey]

You can also use thermolite blocks to make an insulating layer, this will be more than sufficient to stop the stand going up in flames, its actually quite hard to get the hearth firebricks really hot so as long as its suitably insulated you should be fine.

Just make sure whatever insulation you put on there you seal it from the weather somehow as you don't want a damp wet layer under the oven, that will really hinder heating it up.

We have had some users on this forum with that oven Tom B I believe is one, he may be able to share images of the instructions, but I would expect it to go together fairly easily. Perhaps some pics of what you have?

[malcolmx]

May 8, 2013 10:34:12 GMT turkey said:

You can also use thermolite blocks to make an insulating layer, this will be more than sufficient to stop the stand going up in flames, its actually quite hard to get the hearth firebricks really hot so as long as its suitably insulated you should be fine.

Just make sure whatever insulation you put on there you seal it from the weather somehow as you don't want a damp wet layer under the oven, that will really hinder heating it up.

We have had some users on this forum with that oven Tom B I believe is one, he may be able to share images of the instructions, but I would expect it to go together fairly easily. Perhaps some pics of what you have?

Thanks Turkey,

So would you say that after I place my paving slabs on the timber frame I would be ok to just place Thermolie Blocks then the 1" fire bricks for the base of my oven?

Do you not think I need either a ceramic fibre board or vermiculite board below the firebricks?

I will upload some pics of the parts I have and I have seen the initial built pics from Tom B which have been usefull so far as my oven seems to be exactly same as his. I'm unsure on how to join the cast peices together though. I was assuming firecement would be adequate??

[malcolmx]

Ok,

So I have now got my Vermiculite Board (1.2m x 1m) and some Ceramic Fibre Blanket (128Kgs 50mm) so I can crack on with getting the oven together (weather dependant).

I also got a Calsil Board with my purchase which had been used by the previous owner under his Firebricks and wondering if I could also use this below my Vermiculite Board? It's currently in several pieces as it's a fragile board and I feel as though it's had some water / rain on it too (currently dry).

The Oven also came with the previous Ceramic Fibre Blanket which the owner used, which is in good condition so I may also add this on top of my newly purchased blanket.

Just need to confirm what the best method would be for the base above my timber stand, would some paving slabs with then the vermiculite board etc be sufficient?

Thanks

[nickynoo]

I have a timber frame supporting my oven (clay) and used celcon blocks & then 50mm of vermicrete on top of that and the timber gets barely luke warm after hours of firing so no worries about the base going up in smoke. I don't know anything about vermiculite board, best check with the manufacturer or hopefully another member can verify it. It's difficult to tell from the pics but your frame looks quite low, 850mm? Depending how tall you are you may want to add a layer of celcons under your verm board just to get the oven floor up to at least elbow height which will make the oven a lot nicer to operate and guarantee no heat gets to your frame.

Good luck
Nick.

[malcolmx]

Hi Nick,

Thanks for that mate, I'm glad to come accross someone else who has used a timber stand.

The stand is 1m high and then I anticipate another 6inches on top will all insulation, blocks etc.

The hight seems adequate after I add that amount, but you are right maybe slighlty higher would be easier whils cooking and keeping an eye on the pizza!!

The verm board states it can take heat upto 1100c, but its only 1inch thick so I was hoping I can use the calsil board too providing its properties haven't disappeared due to contact with water/rain?

Malcolm

[Tom B]

Hi Malcolm,
I've been busy for the past week or so and have just seen your post. I cemented the pieces of my oven together with a cement mixture containing fire clay. The formula, if memory serves, was 3 parts sand, 1 part cement, 1 part fireclay. It seems to have held the oven together quite well for a couple of years now. I did buy a tube of Vitcas high temperature resistant sealant with the intention of sealing any cracks in the joints, but I haven't needed to do so. I can't comment on a wooden stand for one of these ovens as mine is blockwork, but I will say that the finished product, with all the insulation and render coats is bloody heavy!
Let's see some pictures of your oven , mate.

[malcolmx]

Hi Tom,

Thanks for your post.

I'm glad you've posted as I know you own one of these ovens.

I do have some Fireclay (Powder Form) so will use that to join the moulds together (once I figure which goes where).

Also I read on one of your older posts that you insulated the flue, could you pease advice on the method you chose for this oven mate?

I will upload some pictures soon as this rain decides what it wants to do.

Thanks Again

[cannyfradock]

Malcolm

On top of my wooden stand I wanted to go.....25mm chipwood board, 10mm fire-board/ceramic fibre board, thermolite blocks, fire-brick hearth. As this was for a class, I ran out of time and didn't get the fire-board so I laid thermolite blocks directly on the timber then the fire-brick (storage heater bricks) on the blocks. The students were told it needs fire-board so as this was for demonstration only I carried on with the Clay oven build.

Once I get time I will still fire it up and see just how good those thermolite blocks act as a heat stop.

Terry

p.s.....I'll still post some pics of my wooden stand next week.

[malcolmx]

Thanks Terry,

I've priced up some thermolite blocks which are a good price from jewspns and being on offer work out cheaper than getting on the discount account you have set up too.

I'll get them and then place the vermiculite board which I hope should be sufficient.

I look forward to your pictures.

Malcolm

[cannyfradock]

Malcolm

Here are some pictures of my stand...







The stand was made so a fork lift could get it's forks under and between the two top pieces of timber. I managed to get a forklift to do this yesterday. Here's the Clay oven plonked unceremoniously on half a dozen insulation blocks..



I'll fire the clay oven up and might even try to sell them as a second hand stand and oven.

Terry