Franco's 42" Ultimate Cooking Machine

[coladipietro]

Like so many of you, and after many, many hours reading this Forum, I am off and running! Looking forward to my first pizza but I am a bread enthusiast so I guess I'm really looking forward to my first baguette...

Hat tip to cugino Luigi for bringing over the bobcat to make easy work of the excavation!

I've posted before and after...

[coladipietro]

Ciao!

Can someone point me in the right direction where someone has discussed the angle cuts for the dome bricks? I know I've seen it somewhere but too many posts read to remember! Thanks for any help.

[dmun]

Can someone point me in the right direction where someone has discussed the angle cuts for the dome bricks?

There are almost too many to mention:

Google

Mostly because there are many approaches to the problem, from the minimalist break-bricks-in-half mortar intensive approach, to the cut-every-compound-angle-for-perfect-dry-fit method.

My personal opinion is that you don't need to do any more than some angle trimming to avoid the worst gaps, and have a good looking dome inside. Either approach works fine.

[coladipietro]

Thanks dmun...

We're ready for concrete...gonna have to wheel barrow it from street...2.5 yards...not looking forward to that. I have a big helper which is nice!

[coladipietro]

One other thing before bed...

I read a lot of different views on setting the first soldier course. Full soldier on hearth, half soldier on oven floor, use mortar, free floating. Help!

[eprante]

Franco,
There is a nice set of pics and explanation for the compound angle cuts in Greg Geisen's build thread, including cutting of the soldier course and ring bricks.
http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f8/g...iego-6169.html

I followed his technique mostly and it was fairly easy. I put the soldiers on the hearth, full size but cut them to the angle of the first course using the Indispenible tool as the guide for the angle. I mortared the soldiers together but not to the hearth.

Good luck,

Eric

[coladipietro]

Eric,

Thanks for the lead. I am using an insulating board on my hearth. Do the soldiers need to sit on the board or can they sit directly on the concrete? I was planning on setting them on the FB.

[DrakeRemoray]

You want the entire dome to sit on insulation. This includes the walls/soldiers...

Drake

[coladipietro]

Drake,

I thought that was the case but thanks for confirming...a little reassurance goes a long way when you don't know what you're doing!

[coladipietro]

We're making progress!!