Why Italian Wood-Fired Ovens are Round Newbie Forum Discuss Why Italian Wood-Fired Ovens are Round in the Good Background Information forums; Thanks for the info, I’m in the process of building a brick oven in my backyard, I don’t know where ...

[Maher]

Thanks for the info, I’m in the process of building a brick oven in my backyard, I don’t know where to start, I want to cook pita bread and pizza I’m reading a book called the bread builders ,I’m going now to research the round oven.

[Wood fired oven workshops]

Hi Rollo,

The temperature that wood fired ovens normally reach is well below the firing temperatures of most solid house bricks.
Unless you are going to be firing 24/7 then the much cheaper house brick would last a very long time.
Although red bricks are OK it is better to head for the whiter brick as these normally have a higher kaolin content [higher in alumina] and are closer to the qualities of a fire brick.
From my hunting for local bricks around Australia [for my workshops] the solid pressed brick is becoming a thing of the past but the closest 'house' brick I have found to a firebrick is the 'Charolais' brick made by Bowral Bricks in Bowral, NSW [now owned by Austral]. It may be difficult to get a small supply in Northern Rivers. The price of this brick is about one quarter the price of a firebrick.
On the subject of why Italian bricks are round - The round/oval shape is perfectly suited to the nature of flames and heat transfer while the barrel arch is more suited to the ease of building with a rectangular brick.
Flames hate corners and don't go there -they take the line of least resistance.

[Billi]

James, can you share info on the pizza carts you mentioned creating for the farmer's markets? I am a baker for market and want to bring the oven along but need to meet health codes with the sinks, fridge. Do you make something like this, please send...
Thank you!!

[wilson1000]

Originally Posted by rollo

Hi can anyone advise me? Am having difficulty accessing fire bricks. ARE normal red solids ok ? are white solids better any info would be apptreciated. I am in the northern rivers NSW australia
Thanks

There is a place in wetherill park called Field Furnace, They carry and make all types of fire bricks, call them on 029 729 1799.

[Wood fired oven workshops]

Solid bricks, especially the lighter colours are generally satisfacory for the temperatures you will reach in a wood fired oven although high alumina fire bricks [or tiles] are obviously better, but at least 3 times the price.