Michigan Money Pit Oven Build Brick Oven Photos Discuss Michigan Money Pit Oven Build in the Good Background Information forums; Hello everybody !!!!! I have been reading alot here which everybody has really nice ovens with good ideas so I ...

[nitro69]

Hello everybody !!!!! I have been reading alot here which everybody has really nice ovens with good ideas so I decided to post my 42" oven/patio build which I started mid May '09. I am calling my project "Michigan Money Pit Oven Build"

Let the digging begin. 12" X 42" Footings

[nitro69]

Fill the footings with 9 yards of concrete.
Over 150 block used for the build.
Block walls for the new oven.

[nitro69]

I put my little helpers to work. They like the new big sand box.
Used over 200 pc 1/2" X 10' rod.
Oven cap will be 6" thick.
Oven and patio cap took 7 yards of mud.

[KraemerBAC]

Wow....Go BIG or go home!!!!!

[nitro69]

Set forms for insulation plus added the rounded front for a little more surface oven area.
Poured concrete around the 2" insulation to hold in place.
Next day pulled formes to see results.

[nitro69]

Finished setting the oven floor.
I am planning on setting the soldier course on top of the oven floor. I am looking for some input on pros and cons to that idea.

[dmun]

I am planning on setting the soldier course on top of the oven floor. I am looking for some input on pros and cons to that idea.

Pros: easier floor cutting, spreads load on insulation layer a bit better.
Cons: your grandchildren will have a slightly more difficult time replacing your floor bricks when they wear out, it's not how the professional builders do it.

The consensus is: it doesn't matter at all. 100 per cent personal choice.

[nitro69]

Thanks, looking to get different views on prior builds.

[nitro69]

More pics of the build of the first three rows and arch into the oven. I been finding as time goes on the better I get in setting brick.

[Dino_Pizza]

Excellent work Nitro69! You have the best arch corner bricks (the angled ones that start the arch curve) I have ever seen. I'm glad you tied in your landing wall bricks with your archs and cut the 1" reveal into those. I did that too; it was hard but I think it adds to the strength of the landing walls and the entire structure. It also seems to take away any reason for buttressing the arch later.

Great job, thanks for the pics. You guys are making it look easy! Cheers, Dino