Whats the best advice you recieved here?

[Kemo]

When I first started posting on the board, I was looking for answers to questions and basically tossing around the idea of building an oven. Now that my oven build is in full effect, I find myself looking back at all the information and support I got from the board members.

So what is the best advice you recieved and what advice would you give to a newbie?

Here my basic checklist, Im sure ill have more as I move on to finish out:

1. Get a box of latex examination gloves to handle the bricks, It will save your fingertips from all sorts of damage

2. Make sure you clean up real good after each day so you can start the next day fresh.

3. Be sure and pour your slab big enough to handle number of cinder blocks you will be using. make sure its a few inches bigger than the stand on each side.

4. Dont overbuild your forms, remember that you will have to take it all out once things cure.

5. Rome wasnt built in a day

6. Safety first (Dave!)

7. ?

[KCJones]

K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple, Stupid) Always work to your abilities not someone else's.

Do your research. Building products are usually found locally if you spend a little time calling around.

ASK QUESTIONS.....FB forum is a great tool.

[asudavew]

So much....it's hard to find one piece of advice.

I never really knew anything about outdoor ovens until I landed here.

But the best advice..not any ONE thing... but it is the just the overall idea of being able to do it your own way. The plans aren't set in stone.

"I did it my way"

[dusty]

Well said, as usual, about the plans Dave. There is no way I could build an oven without them - they are wonderful, but there are lots of places where a person could deviate to make their's unique. The one thing I threw out right away had to do with that piece of angle iron above the stand door. They suggest placeing it on the third course of blocks to support the fourth course (page 19).I put mine on top of the fourth course so my opening was exactly as tall as the storage area is high. This way I won't have to bend down so low to get to the back. The angle iron runs across the back of the arch, and the ceiling of the storage area is as tall as the bottom of the top arch brick.
Best advice I've gotten? I think I just got it - #2 in Steve's first post! I am horrible about cleaning up as you can see in my pics.

dusty

[Gentcpa]

1. Finding this website and plans

2. Buying the 10" saw from HF and using seperate buckets for the pump and run-off.

3. Soaking the bricks.

4. The hinge on a swivel as a guide for the cutting and placement of the bricks. It also proved useful to hold the bricks in place while I messed around with other bricks or c-clamps.

[james]

Great thread.

Don't put too much time or effort into things that will never be seen, or that will be taken down. The forms come out; your concrete block stand will be covered with stucco or stone, and no one will ever see the top of your hearth. :-)

First time through I spent way too much time on those.
James

[Les]

I think the best advice I have seen is when someone said "the next time I am going to buy the kit"

Les...

[Frances]

I totally agree with Dave...

Who was it that said "there is no right way to build an oven"? Plenty of wrong ways of course, where the dome falls down, the chimney doesn't draw, the oven doesn't cook etc, but as long as it works once its finished...

That and the hinge swivel for getting the dome round. Brilliant idea.

My own personal advice would be to remember to have fun making your oven... I would be the first to admit that mine is far from perfect, but man I enjoyed building it! So build to the best of your ability, be proud of your oven, and (as I just read elsewhere) embrace your cracks!

[Archena]

Steel toed boots...

[asudavew]

I must add....


Gloves...