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Post by dodders on Jun 30, 2012 17:37:57 GMT
Was very pleased to find this forum- thanks for all the interesting and good advice. I've just embarked upon a self build pompei type oven. The former is made (I'm a cabinet maker) and I have red bricks, fire bricks, fire proof render, thermal insulation and even an old clay pipe scaveneged from a ditch for the flue. Very excited about the build and doing some brick work- makes a change from making sawdust.
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Post by faz on Jun 30, 2012 19:53:55 GMT
Welcome Dodders! Feel free to ask any questions you may have, there are plenty of people on here who will be able to help you. Oh, and make sure you post plenty of pictures of your build, we all love to look at them  |
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Post by dodders on Jul 1, 2012 16:46:38 GMT
Hi Faz, thanks for the welcome note. I'm planning to begin on site construction week after next; I shall take a few photos. My main concern is the construction at the point where the dome meets the entrance arch- going to be some awkward cuts to the bricks methinks.
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Post by turkey on Jul 1, 2012 21:10:20 GMT
a belated welcome, but its great to see more faces pop up for summer builds.
the transition is a bit of a nightmare for most builders . from my arch I think marking it out and if using an indespencible tool you can mark the angle of the ring above on the side of each brick to easily cut them so they make a flat ring to accept the transition. Its time and planning more than anything. The fact our UK domes are smaller than the us builds does make it a bit trickier I think but I feel it should not be so bad.
I would have used the tool to mark and cut but forgot as was rushing lol.
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Post by bookemdanno on Jul 2, 2012 12:40:35 GMT
Welcome Dodders!
That bit really had me scratching my head!
I think i made it harder for myself by opting for a full semi circle oven arch, it was hard to visualise where the chains met it. It does just suddenly hit you, and i think cutting the backs of the arch bricks to create an angled bed for the first transition chain is deffo the way to go.
Good luck, and looking forward to the photos!
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Post by dodders on Jul 2, 2012 20:16:45 GMT
Thanks Turkey and Bookemdanno; Just wondering to what extent I can rely on the fireproof render to make up for any inaccuracies in my brick cutting; i.e. how good a gap filler is the render in terms of strength? One awswer might be to use bits of polystyerene packing block to experiment with to get the right cuts and then copy with the bricks before wasting my time and energy with the bricks themsleves.  |
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Post by rivergirl on Jul 3, 2012 20:07:49 GMT
Welcome and good luck with your build  I am afraid that I can be off no help at all as I built a very easy clay oven but you will get loads of good advise here |
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Post by bookemdanno on Jul 4, 2012 12:19:56 GMT
A template is always good. I'm sure you're Cabinet making experience will prove to be effective for that. Internal joints are really all that is visible, and only a few of those through the arches, so thats' a matter of your own personal view. IMO i'd match the joints to the bricks. Firebricks look very good and square faced, so a good fine internal joint, properly staggerred is the way. My old reds allowed a more rustic approach. The good ol homebrew mortar, is probably the closest match for a firebrick and provides adequate strength to not cut too many bricks if you want to, until the chains of bricks get towards the top of the dome. Just using the mortar to fill whatever joints appear. However you can cut four tapers per brick and attempt the holy grail of an almost mortarless dome. Then there are versions between the last two examples. Many ways to skin a Cat, as they say. I think its "guide to build a pomeii" section and Terrys chosen example, that shows A real work of Firebrick art, which represents the closest i've seen to the Holy Grail mentioned earlier. What about building a full Polystyrene mock-up? |
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Post by dodders on Jul 6, 2012 15:19:24 GMT
Thanks Bookemdanno; your suggestions sound good to me. I can't spend too much time and, as you say, only a few of the internal jionts will be visible. A mock up would be great but again it's a time issue as I wreckon I've got about a week to complete. Atleast the support structure is already more or less done so it's little more than building the oven itself.Just hope the sun comes out next week. Pictures will eventually follow.
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Post by dodders on Jul 6, 2012 15:20:08 GMT
Thanks Bookemdanno; your suggestions sound good to me. I can't spend too much time and, as you say, only a few of the internal jionts will be visible. A mock up would be great but again it's a time issue as I wreckon I've got about a week to complete. Atleast the support structure is already more or less done so it's little more than building the oven itself.Just hope the sun comes out next week. Pictures will eventually follow.
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Post by cannyfradock on Jul 7, 2012 16:06:31 GMT
Hello Dodders....welcome to the forum. Couple of points to add... What is your fire-proof render?. Danno mentions the good old homebrew, which is what we use. The ratio of 3:1:1:1 sand, (hydrated) lime, powdered fire-clay and cement (opc when building on a form...or ciment fondue can be used when building with a jig). This homebrew mix is the T&T mix used by the Forno Brave guys....they also say that it is as strong as the fire-brick itself, so it's excellent for bigger gaps. The dome arch transition is tricky as mentioned. Little tip....try to keep to the 63% underside of arch to underside of dome rule and make the curve of the internal arch as shallow as poss.....this will help make top of arch meet dome. Best advice....research. Have a look at all our Pompeii builds AND look at all the builds on the old forum .... woodovenukforum.forumup.co.uk/index.php?mforum=woodovenukforum The build thread from Charlie Farley is well worth looking at.. picasaweb.google.com/115426447285405371194/WoodFiredOven (his build photo's) Terry |
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Post by dodders on Jul 9, 2012 18:48:06 GMT
I popped into Vitcas and bought a few tubs of their render, plus fire bricks for the floor and isulation. Wish I'd known about the 'homebrew' mix. Never mind. Thanks for the tip about the 63% ratio; I'd come across this ratio on an American website (http://www.traditionaloven.com/) and I am reasonably confident I've got that right. I've also kept the arch curve shallow, more by chance than design, so thanks for that confirmation. Just wondering now about the amount of floor insualtion. Thinking of using old storage radiator bricks (heavy as hell) underneath the fire bricks. Any thoughts?
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Post by faz on Jul 9, 2012 20:53:57 GMT
Storage heater bricks won't add any insulation and you could end up with too much thermal mass, depending how thick your firebricks are. People are mostly using vermicrete or thermalite blocks for insulation - the thermalite blocks seem to be the cheaper and easier option, though I used 4" of vermicrete myself.
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Post by dodders on Jul 24, 2012 14:35:45 GMT
Postponing the build until early Autumn. Disappointing but time was just not available. On holiday in Cardigan and can get wood fired oven pizzas at Fforest Tipi pizza- really good pizzas, good beer and a view down the Tefi river. pizzatipi.co.uk/place/ |
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conic
WFO Team Player
Posts: 186
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Post by conic on Jul 24, 2012 21:09:59 GMT
£6 for a basic pizza is greedy when I can get a top notch WFO sourdough pizza in london for £4.50 and a glass of cider £3.95, come on., is this in cardigan or covent garden but I suppose they have to earn a wage or this would not exist,
Conic
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I am afraid that I can be off no help at all as I built a very easy clay oven but you will get loads of good advise here 
