Bricky situation

[devon961]

Hi every one im looking to build My oven this year 2019
Iv found a blog called the gardengeek, he build his dome out of standard bricks gardengeek.net/category/pizza-oven/

Like every one trying not to go made and spend thousands on are diy projects,
Does the dome bricks have to be fire bricks or will you get away with standard bricks with good insolation
If you could give me some pros and cons of both fire & standard bricks please or any problem that could come up using standard brick
Thanks

[oblertone]

Standard building bricks will be just fine as they are made predominately from clay, which is the go-to material if you're not using bricks.

The major advantage of using building bricks is cost.

Firebricks are consistent and can be shaped with a wet saw to the perfect angle to fit together.

A half-brick set end-on (as in your example) will give a dome about 4" thick which is about standard for a built dome.

When sourcing bricks you may find half-bricks are given away because they are of limited use to a builder but they're what you need.

Try and find old bricks without 'frogs' (indents); reclamation yards are good hunting grounds.

Using firebricks for the floor may give an advantage, but storage heater blocks are an economical alternative.

Use Homebrew cement (Sand-cement-clay-lime in ratio 3-1-1-1 by volume) to build your dome; avoid expensive Fire Cement, you don't need it.

See my build thread below for a brick dome over heater blocks; works very well.

[crammy]

I was advised on here that normal bricks were not a good idea as they are not designed to take the heat and can therefore spit lumps off. I had read both accounts however like above, where they are fine but i didnt want to take a chance as my mates seem to bring their kids round for pizza so i opted for firebricks

[chas]

Well, there’s ‘normal’ and ‘normal’... Flettons are a ‘common’ brick, very hard - and unsuitable cos they ‘spall’ in the extreme heat, the surface flakes. Round here ‘normal’ is a red clay brick perfectly suitable and generally soft.
Use soft red bricks and you’ll be ok.

Cheers,
Chas.

[downunderdave]

Dec 4, 2018 18:29:46 GMT devon961 said:

Hi every one im looking to build My oven this year 2019
Iv found a blog called the gardengeek, he build his dome out of standard bricks gardengeek.net/category/pizza-oven/

Like every one trying not to go made and spend thousands on are diy projects,
Does the dome bricks have to be fire bricks or will you get away with standard bricks with good insolation
If you could give me some pros and cons of both fire & standard bricks please or any problem that could come up using standard brick
Thanks

If you use standard house bricks you will have no idea how refractory they are. They might work they might not. These pics show some failed bricks in old fireplaces. The floor takes the greatest beating so it is best to use firebricks there whilst the dome sees lower temperatures where you have a better chance of getting away with lower quality bricks.