Shay's Pompeii Oven and Kitchen

[blacknoir]

Today I was able to get the vent bricks cut and shaved to hold the clay flue. I created a wooden template of the base of the flue to help get things just right and once I was done mortaring the bricks in place the flue slipped right into my pre-cut bricks and mortar. I then slapped some mortar around the base of the flue and filled any gaps on the inside.

[KraemerBAC]

Lookin good Shay...

Peter

[mluttropp]

Wow you are a fast builder.

I also want to try to use a clay flue. However, I am a little concerned by the number of people that have had problems with the flue cracking. Are you insulating your flue or doing anything to try to mitigate cracking?

matt

[blacknoir]

Only thing I have planned so far is to pour some perlite/portland around it tomorrow.. then I'll let it sit a week before I start firing.

oh, and cross my fingers..

As for speed, this is actually taking a lot longer then I thought it would. The dome was pretty quick but the entrance and arches take a lot of trial and error cutting which slows down the process a lot.. Originally I was hoping to complete an entire kitchen this summer but now I'll be lucky to complete just the oven..

[Lars]

Hey Matt,
I put up several posts about my experience with cracking, curing, and the clay flue. I really think it is all about the oven heating in an even manner. When you wrap your flue in portland/vermiculite, or even just enclosing it so cool air is not incident upon the outside, I think the liner will work fine.

Mine cracked, but after it's surrounded, the crack ONLY opens up on the top where it isn't surrounded.

Lars.

[mluttropp]

Lars,

Thanks for the info. There may be hope yet.

Shey let us all know how yours works out when you fire it up.

[blacknoir]

While I'm waiting impatiently for the oven to cure I decided to make some progress on the rest of the kitchen.. dang this oven is taking a lot of my time.. Sooo I put forms up for the bottoms of the 2 side counters. The middle part will be a fireplace so I'll be making a 3rd form later which sits up higher. I'm thinking I might do 1 more layer of cement block to raise it up to a low sitting height compared to the ground level of the counters.

[blacknoir]

I started Day 1 of firing today using a propane burner. I'm going to try and maintain a fairly steady temp of ~100F for 3-4 hours before I shut it off and pop the door on.

The door I whipped together last night using some sheet metal, leftover FB blanket, some sheet metal screws, a generic handle and some oven spray paint. It actually looks pretty good from a distance..

-Shay

[KraemerBAC]

Shay,

That seems like a great way to maintain a constant temp over a period of time.

The door does look good!!

Peter