Using a Bush for the Oven floor.

[scottz]

Hi,
A couple of weeks ago I was in a really good store call Kitchen Warehouse and was checking out the pizza oven tools and came across the soft copper brush used for brushing ash and left over food off your oven floor. I though this was a really good idea as I normally use the paddle to 'slap' the floor. The only problem is they wanted $130 for it!!! So instead I walked across the road to Bunnings and bought a copper brush, a broom pole and 2 hose clamps, put it all together and it works really good!! The best thing is all up it cost me $25!!!

[kebwi]

So long as someone has opened up a thread on this topic, I have similar questions. I have read that I should be careful in selecting a brush because a standard "BBQ" brush might have bristles that are two hard and will scratch the floor.

My first thought is: SERIOUSLY? Can anything scratch a freaking firebrick?!

My second thought is: Okay, so what are my options? There's the FB brush. Then the web seems to be rife with a variety of brushes, some slated for brick ovens as opposed to BBQs. There seem to be two "grades" of BBQ brushes. Some have very stiff straight bristles. Others have bristles from a much thinner (softer) wire (it is usually wavy, not straight). Are those soft enough or are brick oven brushes even software than these "wavy bristled" brushes?

Bottom line: how do most FBers brush off their oven floor to begin cooking? Does everyone use the FB brush or at least an official brick oven brush and never a BBQ brush?

[SteveP]

I use a WFO brush to remove most of the ash and food particles from the floor. I believe I paid around $100 for the brush, a 50+" peel and an ash pan as a set. I don't use a BBQ brush as the bristles are really hard and haven't seen one with a long enough handle, and I don't think it's worth the hassle to modify one.

[Wiley]

Kebwi,
I don't use a brush save when the WFO is cold and I want to clean it out of ash. Then it's a banister brush aka: rat tail brush or shop brush, and a large aluminum dust pan ...same one I rake hot coals into when taking the fire out in prep for bread baking.

As for getting rid of ash when baking bread I use a snuffle. In my case a piece of terry towel (maybe 20 inches square) folded over at the corner and stapled to the end of a pole dipped and soaked in a bucket of water. No back and forth mopping, start it as a circulating swirl and it makes quick work of all debris on the WFO floor.

For pizza I use a length (maybe 40 inches) of 1/2 copper tubing and a good lung full of air. Just don't inhale thru the tube. And of course that's after raking or pushing the major coals out of the way.

It will be curious to see how many use brushes and when.
Bests,
Wiley

[heliman]

I don't currently use a brush for the oven floor and just spread the coals over the floor after cooking and that removes any burnt food etc. Before cooking I use a very slightly damp mop just to clean the surface of the floor briefly which keeps everything ash and dirt free. I did read somewhere that this is not a good practice, but it works for me!

PS - Great post title - it conjures up all sorts of mental imagery!!!

[Jed]

We do three things at our house:

1) bought a brass bristle brush from the local restaurant supply house - about $30. Use it some, but the fire cleans the brick, and we use a stick to get the fire moved to the side of the oven to cook pizza, the brush to move ash and smaller bits.... could easily get by without it, but like having it. I do use it to clean out the ash and coal from the oven.

2) the 'blow hard bellows" gets used to move ash off the cooking floor just before the pizza or the bread hit the hot brick

http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f28/...lows-5654.html (Blow Hard Bellows)

3) we eat a little ash.... figure it's good for what ever ale's you... and encourages another pull from the beer bottle... that is usually a good thing.

I am happy with the results.

JED

[kebwi]

Thanks everyone.

[heliman]

I went to Bunnings at lunch time today and after searching high and low and asking several staff I only managed to find a small brass *bush* in the Tool Shop (think it was for welding or something).

It was very skinny *landing strip* thing and not like the one like the wide one they have in the FB store: Copper Oven Brush :: Pizza Oven Accessories :: Forno Bravo Store

I didn't buy anything but if I did I would go for the FB type. I may pop into BBQ's galore tomorrow and see what they have there. I can see some value in having something like that to give the cooking surface a preliminary clean before a quick slap with a damp mop.

[Ricklesss]

Originally Posted by SteveP

I use a WFO brush to remove most of the ash and food particles from the floor. I believe I paid around $100 for the brush, a 50+" peel and an ash pan as a set. I don't use a BBQ brush as the bristles are really hard and haven't seen one with a long enough handle, and I don't think it's worth the hassle to modify one.

Man, I sure disagree with that statement!!
I recently picked up a nice soft bristled brass brush and a brand new threaded long handled pole, for under 25 dollars at a janitorial store, and it made a beautiful WFO brush.
To each his own of course, but just sayin'.

[Fishnfowler]

I just got mine for $8.99 here. 38" Pizza Oven Brush With Wooden Handle

Rob.