New oven But no heat 😬

[shmoo76]

Hello guys really need some advice here. So we've built an oven with all the right materials, we think ( fire bricks fire cement insulation good strong base ect...) BUT it's not holding heat it's not even getting to a high temp.  The firebricks on the base of the oven I think are the problem as they are not getting super hot,  would it be a good idea to screed a base of fire cement onto the oven floor?
thank you in advance beautiful people. 

[Thomobigands]

How many fires have you had? Takes time to work your way up and drive all the moisture out. I was surprised how long it took before I starting getting some real heat back.

[devontiger]

Hi shmoo, first did you Insulate under the Oven base?
Second, chimney in centre top of dome not so good as lets heat up chimney.
Do you have a damper Slider for the chimney to control the heat from rising?
Third, when you have the fire going, pull the fire right over the base of the oven to heat up the base.
You will need to feed this for a while. When ready to cook, push fire back to one side. Dust base, place pizza on base.
Plus how many fires have you had to cure the oven. You will need several building up each time.

If you have a thermometer this will give you some idea how hot the base is getting. Approx 400 +

[shmoo76]

Thanks for the speedy response.

So yeah has only been fired up once (last night)

I'll stick a rain cap (damp slider) on it.

We did actually put a white slab insulation thing in the base.

So probably best to hold of screeding the oven floor.

Thank you I'll get the oven blazing for the next few days( fingers crossed)

[devontiger]

Ok. So over the next week you will need to get the fires larger & hotter each time.
Start off slow, gentle heat. Then build up each time.



Buy the end of the week you will need Good fires going to dry the oven out.

Dont forget to drag your fire over the whole base.

[chas]

As per devontiger, make haste slowly with the drying fires, and leave the cap/damper off to aid circulation and evacuation of residual dampness. Maybe get a cheap dampmeter from eBay. When you do decide to cook, that's the time to seal the flue. The flue just diverts smoke up rather than at you, it's not essential.
Chas

[devontiger]

If it gets to this, Open the Damper. The flue just diverts smoke up rather than at you,
Yeh right

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