NJ, worlds fastest oven build - NOT!!!

[Jaronimo]

Finally. I have been lurking, reading, and collecting materials for some time now. Well, I started my build. I went to the town to get a permit and was told I don't need one. I asked about restrictions on how far from the house, etc, was told I can put it anywhere because it does not have an open flame. Hopefully they are right, because I decided to put it where my pond is, or should I say, was.


The pond is right next to the house. It was useless because we have a few gray herons that like to come and eat at our fish buffet.


I drained the pond, removed the rocks and liner, and started digging the footings.


Here is a shot of the footings and formwork.

[Jaronimo]

I poured the footings, using bags of concrete in my mixer. I was feeling invincible that day.


Put some block in to get it to ground level, that's one of my helpers. I am significantly taller.


Backfilled, put down plastic, then installed rebar,


Then poured the lower slab, by hand. Was not feeling too invincible after this pour...










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[Jaronimo]

I then started adding block walls to define my wood storage area and get this up to workable height. Thats helper number two. I know he is taller than the other helper, but I am even taller than him.


started building forms for the upper slab.


More forms and straps to keep it in place.


Poured the upper slab, once again, was feeling my age that night...

[Jaronimo]

I then had my helpers use rocks to scrub down the sharp edges of the forms.


Then they wanted to test the slab to see if it was strong enough.


Not sure why doing pushups on the the slab gives any more indication of slab strength than just standing or jumping on it, but sometimes I just let them run with their ideas...

[GianniFocaccia]

Jaronimo,

Welcome! Nice start with your slab. What size are you going with on your oven? If you haven't downloaded the FB plans, they're free and easy to get. My advice to new builders is to put as much detail of your oven design on paper and whatever questions arise ask them here. Its much easier to modify a plan than the actual brickwork. And by all means, plan for as much insulation as you can afford - both below as well as above and around your oven.

Good luck with the weather and keep the pics coming!

John

[Faith In Virginia]

Jaronimo, Yes that looks like you have a great start. I grew up not far from you over in Greendell NJ I can only imagine how much that area has changed since I was a kid.

[Jaronimo]

Originally Posted by GianniFocaccia

Jaronimo,

Welcome! Nice start with your slab. What size are you going with on your oven? If you haven't downloaded the FB plans, they're free and easy to get. My advice to new builders is to put as much detail of your oven design on paper and whatever questions arise ask them here. Its much easier to modify a plan than the actual brickwork. And by all means, plan for as much insulation as you can afford - both below as well as above and around your oven.

Good luck with the weather and keep the pics coming!

John

John,

I downloaded the plans a while back. I am planning on plenty of insulation. I ran out of time earlier, more pics to come...

[Jaronimo]

Originally Posted by Faith In Virginia

Jaronimo, Yes that looks like you have a great start. I grew up not far from you over in Greendell NJ I can only imagine how much that area has changed since I was a kid.

Greendell! I can walk to Greendell. I am in Johnsonburg (Frelinghuysen) Where are you in Virginia? My oldest son is at school in Lexington, he goes to VMI. Guess I should post a pic of him helping over the summer,


He is the taller one.

[Jaronimo]

Here are some more pics of my progress. My plan was to be completely finished by Thanksgiving. Not gonna happen. Why? Rain. We got 36 inches of rain over a 45 day period. Then we just got hit with 16 inches of wet snow in October. October! The only good thing about the snow storm was I now have a lot more firewood from all the trees that snapped around here. We lost power for 7 days during Irene. luckily I did not lose power during the freak snow storm, but most of my neighbors did.

Anyway, back to the main purpose of this post, the work.

Here are my semi-skilled laborers laying out the forms to pour the insulating slab.


Both of them were really into the work.


Here is a shot of the insulating vermiculite slab.


They do pretty good work for minors.

[Jaronimo]

Here are some shots of the cooking surface.