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Post by jimmymac on Apr 14, 2020 14:46:09 GMT
Hi, New to the forum. Hoping someone will be able to help me!  Me and my wife bought our house over 2 years ago, and with it we inherited a pizza oven! We've used it a few times and it's been good fun to use and also with parties etc. However I have noticed big cracks forming at the top. I have tried fixing it with fire putty, as you can see from the photos, however this hasn't seemed to work! Unfortunately the cracks let a lot of smoke out and also, with these getting bigger, I'm worried that the whole thing is going to fall apart the next time cooking haha. Thought this would be the best time to get suggestions, tips and advice as the whole world is in lock-down, and I have a lot of spare time to fill. I'm not very experienced in this sort of thing, so any 'dumbed-down' advice would be appreciated. Many thanks and stay safe. James    |
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Post by Thomobigands on Apr 14, 2020 16:50:30 GMT
Hi there,
I love the fact you are using the oven having only inherited it. Fair play.
Cracks are not an issue and shouldn't be cause for worry. The fact that they are letting out smoke is slightly more concerning. There doesn't look to be much insulation on the oven but what there is could be wet. Or it could be that it's so thin it is simply escaping.
Wet insulation needs to be teased out with small fires over time.
If it's operating ok you could just keep using it.
If you wanted to enhance it you could add more insulation and render it again.
Personally, I would just have fun with it for now and see what happens but I am a loose pizza canon......
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Post by downunderdave on Apr 14, 2020 21:23:38 GMT
Hi, New to the forum. Hoping someone will be able to help me! Me and my wife bought our house over 2 years ago, and with it we inherited a pizza oven! We've used it a few times and it's been good fun to use and also with parties etc. However I have noticed big cracks forming at the top. I have tried fixing it with fire putty, as you can see from the photos, however this hasn't seemed to work! Unfortunately the cracks let a lot of smoke out and also, with these getting bigger, I'm worried that the whole thing is going to fall apart the next time cooking haha. Thought this would be the best time to get suggestions, tips and advice as the whole world is in lock-down, and I have a lot of spare time to fill. I'm not very experienced in this sort of thing, so any 'dumbed-down' advice would be appreciated. Many thanks and stay safe. James The casting has cracked because it is not insulated. There is enormous thermal stress on it when you heat the inside side up at around 300C/hr and the outside is at ambient. Expect the cracks to grow unless you insulate. |
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Post by jimmymac on Apr 15, 2020 10:46:40 GMT
Yes! It has been great fun, only used it for Pizzas so far and they have come out brilliant! Might try cooking other bits in it as well when I get a bit more confident.
OK. Cool. Thank you both for your advice. So do you think its worth putting another layer of this fire putty to insulate, or could you recommend a good insulator to buy?
Cheers
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Post by downunderdave on Apr 15, 2020 15:24:25 GMT
Yes! It has been great fun, only used it for Pizzas so far and they have come out brilliant! Might try cooking other bits in it as well when I get a bit more confident. OK. Cool. Thank you both for your advice. So do you think its worth putting another layer of this fire putty to insulate, or could you recommend a good insulator to buy? Cheers Ceramic fibre blanket would be the best solution, but if the price frightens you too much you can cover it with a minimum of 2” of 1;1 vermicrete. That is 10 parts vermiculite to 1 part cement mixed with 3 parts water by volume. Over this layer after a week of drying you can coat it with a standard render mix. |
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Post by oblertone on Apr 16, 2020 12:35:17 GMT
As others have said the lack of insulation is an issue, especially if you want to extend the cooking times for roasts, stews and bread. The main problem I foresee with adding insulation is the lack of a base to support the next layer, there are several ways around this but a temporary wooden 'collar' around the base would be quickest, an outer layer of blockwork would be more stable.
Filling the existing cracks with small amounts of high temp putty will just crack again, take a small grinder or chisel to the cracks and widen them in a 'V' so a substantial amount of your repair paste will adhere, then cover the lot with an insulation layer as suggested.
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