Hi from Massachusettes

[asudavew]

So much fun.
You won't regret it.
But you will miss building your WFO (wood fired oven) when it's done.

and it's the best smoker i have ever used

Check my cost on my spreadsheet!

Welcome to the obsession



Dave

[RTflorida]

Dave, glad to hear your enjoying your oven as a smoker too. For a few months I thought I was the only one. I'm certainly not a smoking expert but I have had great results with a little hickory smoldering in 200 -300 degree oven and then leaving the ribs or butt in a few hrs and not messing with them

[dusty]

Ed,
You're a constuction guy...nothing is over your head. You know it. Do something for yourself. It ,for me, has been a very rewarding project. My plan was to do it in my spare time. Amazing how all of those hours suddenly became spare!

dusty

[dave d pizza lover]

eddie i am a mason from mass and built my oven this past spring/ summer in my "spare time " . fortunately for me the cost was not an issue as i used left over materials from numerous jobs . usually doing masonry at the house after working all day is difficult to get motivated for. but building the wfo totally captivated my energy and attention .now that it is complete i am so glad i built it . we have pizza parties all the time with freinds and fam and many laughs and great food . if you need any advice or would like to check it out in person let me know . im in plainville ,next to foxboro. GO PATRIOTS !!!

[Eddie4]

Hey Dave,
Beautiful job on your oven. Not taking anything away from your profession, do you think an absolute non-mason could attempt something like this? I might just take you up on your offer to come check out your handy work. Im in Mendon and drive thru Foxboro everyday to get to work. Thanks again for you input. Im trying to get alot of encouragement before I start tearing up my back yard!
Pats-35 Giants-24 Go Pats!!!!

Eddie

[Eddie4]

Hello Frances,
Thanks for the advice.
I think Im going to take the plunge when we get to spring here in the states.
Do you have any photos of your creation?

Ed

[Ken524]

Originally Posted by Eddie4

do you think an absolute non-mason could attempt something like this?

Hi Eddie,

I'm an absolute non-mason. My father-in-law is a retired mason and I thought I would be dependent on his help. As it turns out, I've been able to do everything on my own.

All it takes is a little patience and some spare time. Go for it.

As for reasons NOT to do it? During the dome build, I rediscovered that I had severe tendonitis in my right elbow as a kid. It reared it's ugly head about 2/3 of the way through the dome. This is definitely my first and *last* dome I'll do from scratch, my arm won't hold up for another. If we ever move, I'll order a kit from James.

[Eddie4]

Hey Ken,
thank you for the vote of confidence.
How did you build your dome without forms? The bricks seem to magically stay in place with nothing holding them. Also, after your first course of upright brick to start the dome, is the next course put in at an angle to start the formation of the dome? How do you calculate the angle so you end up with a perfect dome?

So many questions.....

Thanks again for your comments.

Ed

[james]

Originally Posted by Ken524

...During the dome build, I rediscovered that I had severe tendonitis in my right elbow as a kid. It reared it's ugly head about 2/3 of the way through the dome

Ken,
Same thing here. About half way through our house renovation (while destroying the kitchen with a sledge hammer), tendonitis hit my left elbow and hand. I am hoping it will fade soon. I'm looking forward to picking up tennis again when we are done.

I have to admit this is not the first time this has happened to me with construction -- visions of a brick driveway are coming back.

How long did it take for you arm to heal?
James

[gjbingham]

James,
Tennis is not good for tendonitis, at least in your dominant hand. If you're right handed, it shouldn't be a problem. I developed a golfer's elbow, which is similar to tennis elbow. Come's from too tight a grip. If you rest it for a month or so, it should disappear. There are also arm bands that you can wrip around your forearm that change the focal point of the stress on the tendon which help when you're suffering.


[quote=Eddie4;23606] .
How did you build your dome without forms? The bricks seem to magically stay in place with nothing holding them. Also, after your first course of upright brick to start the dome, is the next course put in at an angle to start the formation of the dome? How do you calculate the angle so you end up with a perfect dome?

Eddie4,
Thick mortar buttered on the brick, place and hold for 30 sec to a minute. Magic! Move on.

You can calculate the angle by laying out a template of the width and height that you want the dome to be, using bricks cut to the size you plan to use, or perhaps a piece of graph paper. I divided 180 degrees (half a circle) by the number of spaces between bricks on the outside of the template, and came up with my approximate angle for each course. Check out my thread "George's Pompeii Progress" for pics.