I've finally started our oven in Costa Rica Brick Oven Photos Discuss I've finally started our oven in Costa Rica in the Good Background Information forums; I love your oven. Really nice! Let us know how the curing is going. G....

[gjbingham]

I love your oven. Really nice! Let us know how the curing is going.
G.

[carloswlkr]

Thanks George. Curing is going well. I kept a fire going for about 2 hours last night, hovering around 350. It did flash up to 450 a couple of times when the flames got high, but I think all in all it was OK. I left a medium size piece of wood on the coals and closed the entrance with fire bricks before I went to bed. I haven't insulated yet, so last night, the outside of the dome started getting warm...

We're off to the beach this weekend, so I won't see the oven again until Sunday night. I can already feel separation anxiety setting in...

[carloswlkr]

any thoughts on square vs round chimney pipe?

[Dutchoven]

Originally Posted by carloswlkr

any thoughts on square vs round chimney pipe?

In my opinion it is entirely up to you...I don't think it will make much difference in the oven's performance...great job on the oven
Best
Dutch

[glennb]

Hi Carlos,
I'm a fan of the round chimney to suit the igloo shape, but it's entirely up to you.

Looks like we'll both be cooking our first pizzas very soon (maybe next weekend).

[dmun]

American flue liners are square (or rectangular) with rounded corners, European ones, as well as the manufactured chimney systems are round. Both seem to work fine.

[carloswlkr]

Thanks, all. Not sure which I'll go with... The chimney supplier did a mock up of two designs for the transition from the oven to the pipe I had asked for, and left them at the house yesterday. We should arrive home from the beach tonight and take a decision. Hoping all went well with the second fire, but I haven't looked inside since after fire #1 on Thursday morning. Crossing my fingers here...

[carloswlkr]

I got home from the beach last night to find the two design styles. My wife chose one, and again changed her mind about round vs square, so we'll be going with round pipe. It's a somewhat odd looking transition from the opening vent (a 4 1/2" x 10" rectangle) to the 8" round pipe, but I think it'll look good once it's installed. I burned another curing fire last night with the mock-up attached, and it seemed to help the draw even more.

Again, I'm away from my build for 5 days, but I took plenty of pictures and video of last night's burn, so I'll have clips to keep myself company. Meanwhile, here are a few pictures of the curing fires and the make-shift shelter I've erected to keep the oven dry in case it rains in my absence.

Pictured also are the small hairline cracks that have appeared after the firings to date. The one in the opening arch is in a mortar joint, and follows the joint until it juts up against a brick. The outer crack seems to be in the layer of refractory mortar that I used to smooth over the oven, but I couldn't find a corresponding crack on the inside of the dome.

[Dutchoven]

carlos
speaking now from experience...cracks are going to happen...they suck when they happen but they happen no matter what...I believe everyone's ovens have cracks...just some of the cracks can't be seen...James told me when my oven cracked that the cracks that appear in the beginning don't usually seem to move again....all looks normal to me
Best
Dutch

[Les]

Carlos,

I think you have the record for the smallest crack - you did good. I would bring it up to plasma (in due time) and keep an eye on it. If it gets 4 times larger, then throw the blanket on it and call it good. You have no worries!

Les...