Pompeii Oven Stand Height

[lhuhn]

I am getting ready to set the blocks for the oven stand tomorrow and I have questions about the recommended height of the stand for a Pompeii oven. The plans call for four courses of 8" block for a total of 32" to the bottom of the hearth. With a 3 1/2" hearth + 2" FB Board + 2 1/2" Firebrick that puts the floor of the oven at 40". It seems to me that adding another course of block to the stand would make things a lot more user friendly (less bending). I know this is an individual choice but I am wondering if there is a good reason for making the stand shorter? Any thoughts?

[Tscarborough]

I bent my elbows to almost 90 degrees holding the peel and measured to the ground, that is the height I made my hearth, 41-1/2". That said, I do have to lean over to look into the oven standing right in front of it, so I generally stand back about 5 feet and don't have to bend to see.

Bending over is easier than working a tool above that 80-90 bend of your arms.

[fxpose]

Perhaps because it was originally designed by a shorter person like myself? I am just over 5' 7". Five courses will bring the hearth too high for me.

[GianniFocaccia]

If you have shoulders like mine (destroyed from years of overuse caused by youth sports) you will appreciate not having to stress them by having to lift a peel. My recommendation: take a broomstick and slide it horizontally at whatever level is comfortable to your shoulders and back as long as you can see the end of it (ala TScarborough).

[david s]

I make mine 4 courses of 8" high blocks, then plus slab and floor gives me a working height of 3 ft. I have heard elsewhere that the ideal is 1 m which is 3ft 3" you will adapt to whatever you build but the 3 ft height allows seated guests to be at eye level to the fire which is nice.

[mklingles]

I went with 5 rows of block. However, I'm 6'5". Also I just finished it and haven't had must time cooking with it. I think it will work well.

http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/memb...d-im-ready.jpg

[david s]

Yehesss !!

[lhuhn]

Thanks everyone. I decided to go with 5 courses.

[kebwi]

My stand is four courses, so about 32". 3-4" hearth, 3" insulation, 2.5" firebrick. That's an oven floor of about 40". At my height of 5'11" it feels perfect. I'm sure some variation would be workable, but a full course of blocks would be too high for me...I presume, I have no experience with a higher oven of course.

How tall are you?

[WoodchuckDad]

The best advice I received was to make sure it is tall enough. you can make it a small step in front of it to make it shorter, but you surely can't make it taller.