Matt's WFO Build Pompeii Oven Construction Discuss Matt's WFO Build in the Pizza Oven Design and Installation forums; Sounds like your doing okay.... do you mean the lower part of the dome isnt getting hot ?? Mark...

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Sounds like your doing okay.... do you mean the lower part of the dome isnt getting hot ??

Mark

[mluttropp]

Sorry for all the typos and strange spelling errors. I have been using my iPhone to post updates and sometimes my fingers don't quite hit the keys correctly.

Mark, the lower third of the dome does get hot. It just does not get as hot as the top of the dome. I still have not insulated the dome and after a four hour propane burn the inside top of the dome was a bit over 550 degrees. However the floor and the lower 1/3 of the done were at 350 degrees. This us not all that surprising as hot air rises.

I am going to try to undulate the dome this weekend and get the temps up to 600 degrees or so.

I have a few cracks in the dome but they are still small and do not appear to go allbyhe way through.

Those of you that used the propane technique when did you go all out and get the dome up ti 800 or more degrees?

[david s]

When I do mine the burner takes the oven to 250C in 24 Hrs but it all depends on the oven size and the burner capacity. Problems in pottery kilns with moisture cracks typically occur at around 300C and I guess it would be the same with our ovens (sorry you Neanderthals will have to convert to the ancient F) The bottom of the dome takes ages to get hot and if you start using wood you'll notice that a ring of black soot around the bottom takes a long time to go white. Take it slow the energy of the wood is being used to convert that moisture to steam.

[mluttropp]

Thank you for the advice David. I will definately takevit slow.

This weekend I concentrated on getting the insulation on and starting the enclosure framing. Having never worked with metal studs I was amazed at howveasy they are tobwork with. The best part is that I could start early in the morning without waking everyone as you don't needvto use a loud saw.

as I framed things up I was reminded that nothing in my build is square or even centered. This is not to obvious at this point but I suspect the roof is going to be a challenge to get it to look right.

I will try to post pictures next weekend.

[mfiore]

Originally Posted by mluttropp

... I was reminded that nothing in my build is square or even centered.

Square and centered are overrated! (as are plumb, level, and symmetric)

[jmhepworth]

Nothing on my oven is square, plumb, level or round. But it cooks pretty good.

[mluttropp]

A lot has happened since my last post.

Before I started to frame the enclosure I placed 2 inches of insulation over the dome. The stuff is fairly easy to work with. A bit like normal fiberglass insulation but a lot easier to cut. If the effects on bare skin are any indication of what it will do to your lungs I would strongly suggest a mask when working with this stuff. In general the material does not move around all that much, but to really keep things in place over the long term I strapped it all down with metal strapping material. The ends are anchored to the hearth with concrete screws. A little trick with these is if the screw does not hold all that well brush a little of the concrete dust in the hole as you put the screw in, worked every time for me.

Framing the enclosure was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Those metal studs are fantastic to work with. After the first few cuts I decided that I would wear the gloves as it was getting annoying having to put band aids on all the time. In order to make the roof trusses all the same I made a quick and dirty jig that allowed me to crank all of them out in about an hour. After most of the framing was in place I was still not happy with the rigidity of the structure and it was a little out of plumb and a bit racked. To fix this I put in an angle brace in each of the corners that allowed me to tweak the structure back into plumb and true.

Next I put the roof sheathing on and trimmed out the rafters. Considering I have never done this sort of thing I thought it turned out rather well.

I have continued to use the propane burner to heat the oven up and keep it hot for 4 or 5 hours at a time. When I put the insulation on I was amazed at how well it worked and shocked by the steam that I saw escaping between a gap in the insulation. Fortunately after a couple of fires the steam appears to have stopped and the oven moves to higher temperatures much easier now. I decided to light a couple of good sized wood fires as the pyromaniac in me just could not wait any longer. Everything worked well, no significant cracks and I even got the top of the dome to turn white.

There are now too many pictures to post one at a time so check out my picasa link if you want to see the latest and greatest.

I am looking forward to that first pizza.

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

hey matt,

If the effects on bare skin are any indication of what it will do to your lungs I would strongly suggest a mask when working with this stuff.

The one i used is water soluble,, Supposedly non harmful, but I still wore a mask.. sounds like your making good progress

Cheers
Mark

[Dino_Pizza]

Great job Matt! I checked out your steel stud framing techniques on your web album and I think you've got a second career ahead of you .

The angle brackets you added look good and you'll be surprised how it all firms up when you screw on the plywood roof and siding. It looks like 1st pizza will be soon! Can't wait to see it. -Dino