Oven Curing - before or after insulation? Design Styles, Chimneys and Finish Discuss Oven Curing - before or after insulation? in the Pizza Oven Design and Installation forums; Hi. I finished my dome last week and am wondering if I should go through the curing process before insulating? ...

[pizzahead]

Hi. I finished my dome last week and am wondering if I should go through the curing process before insulating?

My oven is a 42" igloo design and I will have 1" blanket and 4" vermiculite concrete on the outside of the dome.

Cheers
Jase

[arevalo53anos]

Definitively, yes!

Luis

[mfiore]

since you are using the blanket, you could also consider placing that on for the cure, but don't secure it down in any way. The curing fires will retain heat longer, maintain more consistent heat, and use less wood. You are able to lift off the blankets to check for dome integrity (cracks) at any point.

Finish with the vermiculite/concrete once the curing is done.

[amber]

if the dome shows any cracks during curing, should you put more mortar on those cracks and then repeat the curing process and 1 week wait?

[Bandrasco]

Originally Posted by amber

if the dome shows any cracks during curing, should you put more mortar on those cracks and then repeat the curing process and 1 week wait?

Great question Amber,

I was wondering the same thing but most of the threads I read stated that the cracks that appeared were small hairline cracks and didn't appear to be inside the dome. Once the dome cooled they were barely visible.

I look forward to reading the replies so I can be prepared as well.

Good luck!

Bill

[amber]

I can't wait to get to the curing point!

[asudavew]

This question comes up quite regularly.
The general consensus is either way works just fine.
The main point is to take your time, and DON'T rush the process.

[amber]

Thanks, that's very reassuring. I figured that was the answer, but it's nice to have someone else tell me.

[2checkout]

Please help my oven is completely installed and I am ready to cure, but I don't want to mess it up, I saw someone creating fires based on temp, 300 the first time, then 350 , etc but I can't find that on this site, I read the curing stuff on the curing page but I would like more detail on the size of each subsequent fire and the temp you should allow it to get, I have infra-red thermometer, I want to be VERY careful as I bought the one shipped from italy and I read you could ruin it easily by messing up the curing process!!

[pizzahead]

I have been following this schedule as per the plans downloaded from the Forno Bravo website and it seems to be working:

Day 1 - Newspaper only
Day 2 - Newspaper and a little kindling
Day 3 - 1 stick of 2"x3"X16" wood
Day 4 - 2 sticks of wood
Day 5 - 3 sticks of wood
Day 6 - 4 sticks of wood
Day 7 - 5 sticks of wood

Good luck
Jase