|
Post by beddy666 on Mar 18, 2014 13:54:28 GMT
I've never had a problem with lighting the fire, though I have had a bad batch of logs that were just very slow. I place a couple of split logs about 3-4" apart in parallel just inside the dome opening and scrunch up some paper and place it between the logs, then I put small pieces of kindling above the paper resting on the logs light the paper and gradually add more kindling, after about 5 minutes I push the small fire into the oven a bit and continue adding more and larger kindling and repeat until I've pushed the fire back to just beyond the centre and gradually build the fire. At this time of year, particularly if its first few fires there is a lot of moisture in the wfo and fires tend to be a little sluggish. Thanks for your help on this, I know its one of them things that's going to take practice and time to get going. I just thought I was doing something drastically wrong! I've got all the ideas for the parties, etc its the birthday nex Saturday so for the Sunday which is Mother's Day we wanted to try and do pizzas and cannelloni etc in the oven and nearly opted against it. I'm going to go and give it another go Sunday. If I get it right I'll be out there guaranteed once a week!
|
|
|
Post by bookemdanno on Mar 20, 2014 13:25:12 GMT
It is a temptation to fiddle and overload the fire. Let plenty of air get through to the flame, and give it time to do its thing with whats its got. you'll be fine once you get to know how your oven wants to work.
|
|
|
Post by beddy666 on Mar 31, 2014 15:49:02 GMT
Right guys thanks for the tips. It worked slowly with the upside down fire. And just couldn't hold the fire in the oven for some reason.
I have kept it going today for a good three hours.
But I struggled several times to get it going. So what I wondered was if there was anything like a firefighter for the pizza oven that you can use? As newspaper burns away to quickly before the kindling etc has taken properly.
|
|
|
Post by mattyb on Apr 1, 2014 20:03:44 GMT
Assume you meant Firelighters? I use natural firelighters in my oven, purchased about 24 boxes (nearly a thousand individual blocks) on Ebay for around £22. A box should only be a couple of quid I reckon.
Made of untreated wax and fine wood shavings they last well over five minutes, easy to light and only takes a matter of seconds to light.
Seen similar in Aldi (Blaze), try in there. Though any good DIY store / Garden Centre / Petrol Station should stock them. As long as you stay away from the usual chemical BBQ ones you'll be fine!
|
|
|
Post by beddy666 on Apr 1, 2014 21:27:29 GMT
Cool thanks Mattyb, it's all new to me this! Good fun, slightly different to my day job but still cooking!
I'll see what natural fire lighters I can find my way!
|
|
|
Post by bookemdanno on Apr 2, 2014 11:48:14 GMT
Lots of nice fine kindling of quarter inch, and even shavings from a hand plane, a plumbers blow torch, nice graded logs and leave plenty of air to penetrate. If you use paper, scrunch it up really well into balls, or twist into sticks. I set it all up, and give it a good couple of minutes with the blowtorch to really get a good flame and heat into it. Smoke is just unburnt fuel (gases) meaning that the fire isn't hot enough. When it gets rattling away, then the smoke clears as its burnt off. The sooner that you get it burning well, the less chances of annoyed neighbours!
|
|
|
Post by DuncanM on Apr 2, 2014 19:07:55 GMT
|
|
|
Post by mattyb on Apr 2, 2014 21:11:12 GMT
Lots of nice fine kindling of quarter inch, and even shavings from a hand plane, a plumbers blow torch, nice graded logs and leave plenty of air to penetrate. If you use paper, scrunch it up really well into balls, or twist into sticks. I set it all up, and give it a good couple of minutes with the blowtorch to really get a good flame and heat into it. Smoke is just unburnt fuel (gases) meaning that the fire isn't hot enough. When it gets rattling away, then the smoke clears as its burnt off. The sooner that you get it burning well, the less chances of annoyed neighbours! Great thread this. I'm interested to know more about the use of a blowtorch. Does this heat the wood more quickly and/or reduce initial smoking? Thanks Matt
|
|
|
Post by Bandit on May 6, 2014 19:02:40 GMT
I have struggled in the past dry kindling kept in a greenhouse sometimes a bugg*r to light.
We have an AGA but any electric oven should work , I am not sure about Gas though.
Get an old baking dish load with kindling, mine is generally pine and leave in a low oven for an hour or so.
I am currently using oak logs make a three sided shape say 14x14 inch with a log about 5x5inch making each of the three sides.
I make a lattice one layer lengthways then a layer cross ways of kindling with a generous inch between each piece ( size say 1 inch square) say 6 layers with two logs over the top.
I light using a small gas torch Camping Gas or Castolin Eutectic ( a welding supplier) one litre canisters and light.
With kindling dried in the oven it lights first time.
I did leave a pan of kindling in the oven overnight and it caught exceptionally well, do not leave unattended if you are not sure.
I like to heat up early to get an even heat say 4 hours or more before using, sometimes I damp down by almost closing the door and open the door when I want to increase the heat.
Depending on what I am cooking I have embers over the floor and then push to the left side so If I want to I can easily add a log onto a pile of embers.
When the oven is cooling down say less than 100deg C you can then dry kindling for the next time but in a damp atmosphere it will slowly absorb moisture in a damp climate.
|
|