Here are my cracks at 3rd fire 400 degrees

[pzachef]

I was careful sterno's for the first day fire and 200 degrees.
Second day 300 degrees with kindling and some paper.
Third day kindling and some small wood to 400 degrees and noticed the cracking from front arch thru reveal and inner arch.
The dome from the inside still looks solid with no cracks.
Seems to be getting tighter as it cools.
Advice needed, please see photos.

Thanks, Bob

[Tscarborough]

Cook pizzas!



Seriously, no issues there. The wider the mortar joint, the more cracking, but it is not structural, won't hurt a thing.

[pzachef]

Thanks for the response. It just hurts to see them after so much time and work.

[ThermoJax]

I think its part of the letting go process. It's like a kid... there gonna do want they want. This thing isn't gonna fall down, even if the mortar burns out, it will still stand. Somehow, I get the impression that most ovens get cracks. Yours is a good oven, and will serve you well throughout the years. Plus, no one else you know has one. So, You Rule !!!!!

Tom

[dmun]

Once your oven settles down, and you are a dozen full fires into the process, you can go back with a diamond blade in an angle grinder, grind out the offending joints, and repoint it with the same mortar you built with. In the meantime, enjoy your oven.

[pzachef]

Yeah, it's true, it's lke my baby and I don't want anything to happen to it. Funny but, i really do appreciate the supportive and encouraging words from those of you who have been thru it already. Another photo attached from yesterday, pre-cracks.

[fxpose]

It's like getting a small ding on your brand new car. It'll pass. I have a beautiful crack inside the dome. My oven now has character...

[pzachef]

Well tonight is my 500 degree burn. I hope to see last nights cracking shrunk to a line when I begin this evening. It was starting to reduce while cooling last night. I'll eventually have to decide if I'm going to leave them or fix them? My enclosure will eventually cover the front or outer arch so, I need to decide before I get that far.
I am anxious to build my permanent enclosure here in south FL. I used the insulating board and not the vemiculite slurry as a base to build on so, I have a canopy above and a temporary wood framed sidewalls. I sweat everytime we have rain because I worry so much about getting the board wet.

[mikesuttie]

I have an identical crack on exactly the same side of the same brick in my outer arch. It opens up a bit when the oven is pizza temp and contracts when cools. It won't affect the structural integrity of your build and the pizzas will be none the wiser. Boootiful build by the way, enjoy your hard work and fix little issues later on over a nice cold beer.

[pzachef]

I'm sercretly hoping not to see more cracking as I continue the curing process. I'll post more after this evenings burn. And yes, "mikesuttie" beer or wine is definitely in order.....maybe I won't notice the crack so much after a few.