Just getting started

[hillscp]

I have been pouring over the Pompeii Oven Plans for about a week now. I broke out my CAD drawing software and started to get to work. It seems the part needing te most design consideration is the opening. I have included a CAD export of my third attempt. Let me know what you think and if there are any gotchas with my design. this will be a 42 inch oven.

Thanks

Scott

Chico CA.

[asudavew]

Welcome to the forum.

The drawings look great. And I've been sorting the arch area out in my head for a few weeks. Your drawings will sure help me!

Building your own oven will soon be an obsession. Trust me~

[hillscp]

Thanks Dave,

Let me know if there are any other pics or information you want. I will be adding to it in the next couple of weeks.

Scott

[dave d pizza lover]

guys from my experience the inside of the arch has to contour to the dome hence many compound angle shaping of the fire brick the cad programs are great but real construction practice is the best method for figuring out this area of your oven . finished my oven 4 weeks ago and havent stoppped coooking pizza yet. good luck with yours

[hillscp]

Well here are a couple more views. I am especially interested in the intersection of the dome with the arch. I am thinking the arch should be cut at an angle so the dome "rests" on it where it intersects. I know masonary work is not a perfect art but doing the CAD gives me a good feel for the spatial concept before cutting and mixing. I build furniture this way too.

Scott

[Les]

I am especially interested in the intersection of the dome with the arch. I am thinking the arch should be cut at an angle so the dome "rests" on it where it intersects.

Scott - I know you make a point, but I don't think it's that critical. The area that the brick interfaces with the arch is going to have some load on it, that combined with the mortar, it should be quite solid. When you get to this milestone, it becomes quite apparent that you just want to get over that hump. Ken and Dave have passed it (current builders), and weather permitting, I will do it this Sunday. But back to your point, it would not hurt...

Good luck and excellent drawings. Mine went out the window when I ran out of pills...

Les...

[asudavew]

Originally Posted by Les

[i] Mine went out the window when I ran out of pills...

Les...

Damn it Les!

You ran out of pills again?.......the weekend is just starting!

[dmun]

Originally Posted by hillscp

Well here are a couple more views. I am especially interested in the intersection of the dome with the arch. I am thinking the arch should be cut at an angle so the dome "rests" on it where it intersects. I know masonary work is not a perfect art but doing the CAD gives me a good feel for the spatial concept before cutting and mixing. I build furniture this way too.

Scott

Hey Scott, your drawings look great. Just a few observations. Your entry floor probably shouldn't have that partial brick in the center. Even if your floor bricks are mortared together (which isn't standard procedure) having that partial brick in the center of things is an invitation to roughness. Most of us have just carried the herringbone pattern right out to the front of the arch. On the topic of the floor, you aren't going to want those few bricks at the edge hanging out so they touch the edge of the exterior wall: you want to trim them so you can get some insulation around the floor area as well as the dome. Your vent will work better if you give it a bigger "funnel" at the bottom rather than have it the size of your flue tile at the arch. This can be done by making two partial brick arches instead of one large one with a hole in it, and building (or casting) a triangular space above it. I like your idea of putting the angle on the dome bricks rather than the arch. It seems stronger.

Good luck with your project.

[hillscp]

Thanks DEMUN and all who have replied. I revised the floor based on your input. Although I think I understand the concept regarding the vent (my "funnel is upside down"), I don't quite understand how you are trying to tell me to execute it .

I have attached another drawing of the revised floor. I am wondering if the entry way is too deep? How much space should there be between the front of the archway and the oven entrance?

Thanks

Scott

[hillscp]

O.K. Maybe this is it. Looks good to me anyway

Now I'll add a cast flue to the top (or maybe weld one up out of steel and screw it down to the angled soldiers)

Scott