Help Please - about to start work!!

[dmun]

The only part of the oven that will get hot if it's insulated to recommendation is the area around the mouth of the oven. The sides and back shouldn't be even warm to the touch.

Around here, anything but a fence has to be five feet from the lot line: something to keep in mind if you need to entertain the building inspector.

[Ed_]

Originally Posted by dmun

Around here, anything but a fence has to be five feet from the lot line: something to keep in mind if you need to entertain the building inspector.

They told me three feet here, so it does vary. Definitely something worth knowing!

[mmmhumous]

Originally Posted by fig man

I see from your 'photos, your oven is built very close to your boundary fence. Have you had any problems with heat transfer on to the timber fence panels with your firings to date?

I have now started to build my oven and following advice from my wife, (need to blame somebody), I have set mine out a similar distance from my neighbour's fence, - it's a little too late to change now as the base is now built and the concrete slab is in position.

I am a little concerned however that I will damage the timber panels on the fence when I use the oven.

Graeme

No problems to date - hottest part of the wall only gets up to 40-50°C (and that's only after 4-5hrs of firing). Just make sure you insulate well (I went for 4 inches of loose vermiculite between the back oven wall and the back encolsure wall.

[mmmhumous]

Some more Photos now that the plants have recoved from the deluge of brickdust and mortar.

[egalecki]

It looks wonderful with the plants "recovered". I envy you your artichokes! Can't grow them here unless you try to fool them into being an annual, and I haven't had luck with that!

[mmmhumous]

Originally Posted by egalecki

It looks wonderful with the plants "recovered". I envy you your artichokes! Can't grow them here unless you try to fool them into being an annual, and I haven't had luck with that!

Thank's Elizabeth. They're into their 2nd year now - We got about 10 ping pong ball sized globes last year and we've had about the same number of proper sized ones so far this year.

Have you tried starting them off in pots inside/in a green house? (not sure what the weather is like in Virgina, but it seems to rain a fair amount on TV/Movies - so I'm guessing it's similar to the UK lol).