Post by webbaldo on Apr 12, 2012 12:44:27 GMT
After a request for information from a board member. I thought Id post this public as well to help people make an informed desicion about this oven. These are my own thoughts only!
Ive been using my bernito oven for about 2 months now on and off (maybe 6-7 firings). I picked it as it looked the cheapest to be honest for the size. It is the standard size off the website, 75cm internal floor.
Good points - Heats quickly (15min) and uses hardly any wood, personally I start it now with 1 firelighter and 4-5bits of 3inch thick hardwood, then use about 2 bits the same size every 20mins. I only start cooking when the firelighter has completely burnt away. Cooks pizza spot on and I also make burgers in an oven tray at the mouth of the oven as its alot cooler here (200degrees).
Its very light, im a 29yr old fit bloke so can manage it on my own but wouldn't want to manouver anywhere tight!, better with 2 people. I keep it in my shed when not in use. It keeps temp for a while (from 400 to about 170 after hour and half) so you could do basic bread or caseroles after its fired properly. I do burgers and potatoes this way.
Bad Points - I think it is fragile, (I mean as in fragile against shocks, the actual general strength is good) I wouldn't trust moving it about alot, ie. in the back of a car with bumpy roads. If you intended moving it around a car or trailer alot, id advise putting a duvet or something under it to cushion the blows. Despite what the owner told me, I dont think it would fair well outside during the winter even with a cover on. I think condensation could be a killer if it got inside. I'm lucky as my shed is big so it's not an issue for me. The build quality of the dome and oven floor is spot on, but the chimney I got and door look a little rushed as in the metal top was wonky and the door cement was cracked.
Factors to remember - Buy a pot of fire cement. As with all clay/cement ovens, small cracks can appear. I had a bigish one at the join with the mouth and dome of the oven. I fixed this second firing (just by smearing it with fire cement) and its been as new ever since. Also with using a metal peel, I have my concerns that the oven floor will eventually 'scrape away', but I can't see this happening for years. If it ever started, id just line the floor with thin heat tiles, like they do on the bigger bernito ovens.
Overall Im happy with the oven. Building one is way beond my bricky skills and brick ones take much longer and more wood to heat up, but you can leave them outside. If I was allowed, i'd have gone for a brick ready built one for £500 off ebay but due to the weight, getting it round my garden (limited access) would have been a right pain. Overall this oven was best for me.
Its probs still the lightest and cheapest (minus trolley) oven on the market for the size (80cm internally). And including delivery.
I reckon Ill get at least 4yr out of it without major maintenance providing I look out for cracks and patch where required.
As with any lightweight/clay/cement oven, its not just like a 'fire and forget gas bbq', they do need looking after and treated carefully.
Thing is even with my basic pizza dough, friends have commented its the best ones theyve ever had so it cant be bad!
Hope this review helps, its just my honest view of what ive learnt over the past 3 month or so.
Ive been using my bernito oven for about 2 months now on and off (maybe 6-7 firings). I picked it as it looked the cheapest to be honest for the size. It is the standard size off the website, 75cm internal floor.
Good points - Heats quickly (15min) and uses hardly any wood, personally I start it now with 1 firelighter and 4-5bits of 3inch thick hardwood, then use about 2 bits the same size every 20mins. I only start cooking when the firelighter has completely burnt away. Cooks pizza spot on and I also make burgers in an oven tray at the mouth of the oven as its alot cooler here (200degrees).
Its very light, im a 29yr old fit bloke so can manage it on my own but wouldn't want to manouver anywhere tight!, better with 2 people. I keep it in my shed when not in use. It keeps temp for a while (from 400 to about 170 after hour and half) so you could do basic bread or caseroles after its fired properly. I do burgers and potatoes this way.
Bad Points - I think it is fragile, (I mean as in fragile against shocks, the actual general strength is good) I wouldn't trust moving it about alot, ie. in the back of a car with bumpy roads. If you intended moving it around a car or trailer alot, id advise putting a duvet or something under it to cushion the blows. Despite what the owner told me, I dont think it would fair well outside during the winter even with a cover on. I think condensation could be a killer if it got inside. I'm lucky as my shed is big so it's not an issue for me. The build quality of the dome and oven floor is spot on, but the chimney I got and door look a little rushed as in the metal top was wonky and the door cement was cracked.
Factors to remember - Buy a pot of fire cement. As with all clay/cement ovens, small cracks can appear. I had a bigish one at the join with the mouth and dome of the oven. I fixed this second firing (just by smearing it with fire cement) and its been as new ever since. Also with using a metal peel, I have my concerns that the oven floor will eventually 'scrape away', but I can't see this happening for years. If it ever started, id just line the floor with thin heat tiles, like they do on the bigger bernito ovens.
Overall Im happy with the oven. Building one is way beond my bricky skills and brick ones take much longer and more wood to heat up, but you can leave them outside. If I was allowed, i'd have gone for a brick ready built one for £500 off ebay but due to the weight, getting it round my garden (limited access) would have been a right pain. Overall this oven was best for me.
Its probs still the lightest and cheapest (minus trolley) oven on the market for the size (80cm internally). And including delivery.
I reckon Ill get at least 4yr out of it without major maintenance providing I look out for cracks and patch where required.
As with any lightweight/clay/cement oven, its not just like a 'fire and forget gas bbq', they do need looking after and treated carefully.
Thing is even with my basic pizza dough, friends have commented its the best ones theyve ever had so it cant be bad!
Hope this review helps, its just my honest view of what ive learnt over the past 3 month or so.
