Perplexed Oven Opening Guy

[Nick Brautovich]

My pompeii oven is complete but the door opening was done too large. The diameter of the oven is 41 inches with a 22 3/4 inch dome height. My opening is 20 1/4 inch wide, with a center height of 17 inches & sides of 13 inches. Math was never my forte, anybody know what I should modify the opening to be? I think the width is fine but what the hell should the sides and center be??? I am ready to make the modification but want to be sure. Based on this 63% thingy, does that mean that my center should be approximately 14 inches, with sides of 11 inches?? MAYBE I SHOULD GO WITH THE RECOMMENDED 12 1/2 CENTER WITH 10 INCH SIDES!!!SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP, I WANT PIZZA .......

[Les]

Mine is around 20 wide and 12 high (42 inch oven). 3 brick high on the sides before the arch starts. I didn't have to do any math - just followed the plans... Out of curiosity, how did you stray?

[Nick Brautovich]

I didn't...but my non-English speaking brick mason must have thought we were building a fireplace or counted the bricks wrong, while we were on vacation. Out of curiosity, what is your dome height?

[david s]

Nick, I don't think you should change anything. You are only a few inches out, it won't make any difference that you'd notice. if your oven had a flat entry rather than an arch the sides would be about the same height as yours. So it is only a bit high in the centre. Just fire the beast and you'll be fine.

[wotavidone]

Based on the measurements you have provided, your entrance is 57% of the dome height at the sides and 75% in the middle. So it would average out about 66% overall. Maybe a smidgeon more given its a curve. I have run the calculator over the dimensions of the excellent ovens sold by the kind hosts of this forum. Many have ratios closer to 70% than 63%, and I doubt any of the lucky owners of these ovens would complain .

[wotavidone]

P.S. so I agree with Dave. Fire that baby up and cook some pizzas.
Mick

[Nick Brautovich]

THX guys, I am planning pizza for tonight with real dry almond & apple wood, wish me luck. If i burn 1/4 cord of wood and/or the pizzas take more than 1/2 hour to cook, I will get back with you all, "ROLL TIDE", Niko

[SCChris]

Nick, I may have missed it but, DID YOU CURE YOUR OVEN YET?

Chris

[Nick Brautovich]

Yes, I did Chris and have actually cooked a couple of pizzas last week, but they took about 10 minutes each. With my large opening, trying to decide if I should just live with it or try to reduce the opening size. Plan to try a bigger fire tonight, THX

[SCChris]

Whew! Sorry for the "yelling"... Enjoy.

Chris