Stainless steel barrel WFO

[dookeymon]

Hello, just joined as I'm planning a wood fired/pizza oven build, research has shown me that there's a lot more to these ovens than meets the eye, I've found mention of using old oil drums which was dismissed due to rusting but I've not found anything about 316 grade stainless steel drums, which I would like to form the inner surface with and add thermal mass to the outer with insulation over, a fire brick hearth standing on a concrete/brick base, I'm not sure if the internal surface would reflect the heat too much into the hearth and prevent to vault roof from gaining heat?, Any help would be appreciated, cheers Andy in Leicestershire

[richied]

Hi, and welcome to the forum. Instead of using a metal barrel. why not just use an arch former to create a brick arch for your oven? It's really not that difficult and should achieve exactly what you need. By using a metal barrel, you would effectively be placing a metal heat shield between the fire and your thermal mass, which would mean lots of heat reflected from the fire, but no heat sustained, thus significantly reducing the efficiency. I'm also in Leicestershire, so if you're local I'd be happy to show you my brick oven, which is 99% complete.

[dookeymon]

Hello and thanks for replying, this is exactly what I thought would be the issue. It would put heat into the hearth but not the roof, the barrel is a left over from when my build evolved from a bbq to a WFO, looks like I will be going down the traditional route for a barrel oven. Concrete is now setting on a 3ton slab I laid yesterday, then got to fit new recessed manhole covers and block paving, who did you use for your supplies - luckily close are kiln linings in Derby and pottery pro in Newark. Have you used either? Cheers Andy

[richied]

I've used pottery pro...they're pretty good. I have three unused bags of refractory mortar left over if you need some. I also have a bag of fire clay, lime and other bits if you want to make you're own homebrew mortar. If you speak to pottery pro, ask them about calcium silicate insulation board offcuts...they will save you a lot of money. 

[dookeymon]

Was planning on using the pre mixed wet fire cement as I want to use tapered fire bricks and only a thin layer of adjesive, either cutting or buying pre cut. Don't think I'll need the refractory cement. But things might change as progress and find out more. Started on the base walls now and ordered 80mm box section to make a frame/roof over

[richied]

Hi, pre-mixed cement is the same as refractory mortar. I have three bags of dry (just add water) and a 25kg tub of wet mixed stuff.

[dookeymon]

Cheers, will near that in mind when I sort the oven build out