South FL WFO Brick Oven Photos Discuss South FL WFO in the Good Background Information forums; The plans call for using simple half bricks (no "cut to fit") RT, is there a set of plans out ...

[SteveP]

The plans call for using simple half bricks (no "cut to fit")

RT, is there a set of plans out there? I was basically using the other builder's pics as a blueprint for my own build. I've read through the forum failry extensively but have not seen anything. I still have about a 1/3 to a 1/4 more brickwork on the dome and I am concerned about the mortar gap due to the bricks now being almost vertical.

[RTflorida]

Steve,
You need to go to the FB Store (register again for the store - it requires a different password).
then scroll down on the left, click on eBooks & cd roms, They are FREE. Click to "buy" and you will be given instructions/emailed (can't remember which) on the downloads.....there are several other FREE eBooks on there as well.

I have to tell ya, the plans will clarify a lot.

RT

[SteveP]

Thanks RT. Found the instructions and they are helpful.

[SteveP]

The dome was finished about two weeks ago but I had to take a break to go on vacation (went to NY City for Christmas - burrrr! FL never felt so great!). Anyway, my dome top did not come out completely round. I was headed for a teardrop shape so I made some adustments but went too far and the top came out somewhat flat, but it's done. I completed the outer arch yesterday and the oven door today (Thanks Ken524 for your door design; I shamlessly borrowed it). I am hoping to finish the chimney support tomorrow and have my first curing fire on Friday.

[SteveP]

I lit my first fire today and it was wonderful! All of the hard work so far has paid off. I burned about 6 small crumpled pieces of newspaper and the temperature got up to only about 170F on the sides and about 200 on the top. After the fire died down, I put the door in place and will leave it on until my fire tomorrow night. Although it was a small fire, the chimney drew like a champ and no visible smoke came out the front. As I looked into the oven while the fire was burning, I could see the separation between the smoke leaving the oven and the cool air being drawn in. It was really cool! I can't wait to build larger fires.

[Les]

Steve - congrats! You are in for a treat. When your oven goes plasma - you can almost literally see the soot burn off from top to bottom. That is a very cool thing to watch.

Les...

[SteveP]

Finally got to cook my first pizza after two months of building. Although these were my first pizzas, they were absolutely delicious and the best I have ever had. We experimented a bit after the first pizza and made a supreme, Hawaiian style and a calzone. Everything turned out fantastic.

[bturton]

Nice job! Everything looks great. We're in the curing process. Going to be really cold for the next couple days, so not expecting much progress.

[SteveP]

Thanks bturton. We had a cold front come through today. It's going to be in the high 60's low 70's all week (guess I'll break out the jackets). I am hoping to finish the exterior in the next couple of weekends.

[thebadger]

Steve,

I like your door. Is that bare insulation? If so you may want to encapsulate it. I'v read that you don't want the insulationg board/material to be used without a barrier. Someone let me know if I'm incorrect.

Thanks
Dick
aka thebadger