Advice on oven choice

[jez]

Hi, i'm new here and would like to ask two questions if possible?

Firstly, i am undecided which route to go regarding purchasing either a complete made 'clay' oven as advertised on ebay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180885200138?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT) or go with the Italiano Forni modular oven and build it how i like.Has anybody bought one of these and do they rate it??

Secondly, i prefer the dome to be brick rather than rendered, so if i build the Italiano Forni modular oven which comes with the kit to rendered the outer dome, can i brick over this? If this is possible do i have to leave an air gap between the dome and the brick outer shell, or can i brick right up to the dome and follow its curve? I'm just thinking of expansion/contraction etc. I much prefer the brick dome, hence the questions. Many thanks in advance

[downunderdave]

Jun 21, 2016 7:53:00 GMT jez said:

Hi, i'm new here and would like to ask two questions if possible?

Firstly, i am undecided which route to go regarding purchasing either a complete made 'clay' oven as advertised on ebay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180885200138?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT) or go with the Italiano Forni modular oven and build it how i like.Has anybody bought one of these and do they rate it??

Secondly, i prefer the dome to be brick rather than rendered, so if i build the Italiano Forni modular oven which comes with the kit to rendered the outer dome, can i brick over this? If this is possible do i have to leave an air gap between the dome and the brick outer shell, or can i brick right up to the dome and follow its curve? I'm just thinking of expansion/contraction etc. I much prefer the brick dome, hence the questions. Many thanks in advance

Can't help you with the first question, but for the second one it depends on what comes with the kit. Does it come with ceramic blanket? You need to insulate the inner dome. To brick directly against it is not a good idea. If you lay a second layer of brick directly against the first one you make the dome really thick. It will then suck the heat out of the first layer causing slower heat up, greater fuel consumption and faster heat loss as the heat in the outside layer is in ambient air and you lose it to the cooler atmosphere. You really want to hold the heat in the inner layer. What ever way you go you need to insulate the inner oven. If the kit comes with insulating blanket you could give this a thin coat of render, say around 8 mm, just enough to give you a firm surface to sit the outer brick layer against.

[jez]

Hi downunderdave, thanks for the reply. The kit does come with a thermal blanket and wire to wrap it so yes, I might do as you suggest. Thanks mate