Yesterday was a busy day. i finished the oven. First up for the day was the vermiculite mortar, it went on first to act as an insulating layer, to maintain the thermal properties of the brick. Its an efficiency measure to maintain maximum heat inside and it hopefully means we wont have to burn so much fuel. Its a bit of an experiment as i havent read about incorporating it into the mortar, its mostly used as an insulating layer inside a box structure built around the dome, but i wanted to maintain the dome shape.
After all the hard work to get the dome just right, i didnt want to be hiding such a hard won, beautiful shape. You can see that i have added a flue and again, im hoping (lots of hope here) that the angle of the flue doesnt inhibit the draw. i know it will to some degree, but how much remains to be seen. Then a finishing mortar and oxide mix was used to render the insulating layer and was slightly buffed. All that remains is to clean the brickwork around the outside of the oven base and the floor inside and of course the first firing. Thats happenning tonight if the rain stops. Im really excited. Now to choose the first pizza to enter...margarita...anchovy...pumpkin...
Overall, Im pretty pleased with the final result and i never, ever want to build one again!
* its like a new baby, i find myself wandering outside periodically just to look at it, give it a bit of a rub on the curve...
11 comments:
ooooh, very nice!
Beautiful! Fingers crossed that it'll provide you with beautiful heat for lots of wonderful pizzas, breads, rolls, tarts, biscuits, etc.
Slightly disappointed here that you don't want to build another one. I could have provided a good spot at our place. ;)
Wow!!!! Amazing Kel. And it is a beautiful shape. I'm terribly envious :)
i love it! you have done such a professional job... but you have managed to squash any little idea that I may have had about building one in the future (clearly I'll be leaving that job to the husband instead :D )
Well Done Kel, It is a thing of beauty.
good luck on the initial firing, slowly....
I'm impressed
Phil
Good on ya Kel. It looks beautiful. Now that Kim has seen it, guess what I am making in the Autumn!
I can smell the pizza from here.
Gav
Its stunning!
I'm so jealous. And inspired too.
I especially love the chimney/vent thingy and the decorative natural stone around the mouth of the oven.
Just gorgeous. Can't wait to hear the reviews of the first crop of pizzas.
Congratulations! Well worth the effort.
Kel, I am so impressed that I just presented you with an award.
You deserve it!
Gav
Thanks everyone for such positive feedback!
Veggie- you'll have to make do with bringing over some unleavened loaves for baking on soak days! Never again!
Em - brick by brick, 6 a day...
Jo - thank you and yes, a wise move if he can be persuaded!
Phil - thanks mate, and yes, it was a small (soooo small) firing tonight. dont want to blow it up! it was my first mortar job after all.
Thanks Gav, and Kim's a wise woman - dont know why i had something to proove...just look after your back if you do a dome. And hey, my first award. Thanks for the thumbs up!
Laura Jane - thank you and be inspired! - your paved outdoor garden area from memory would be perfect for a new addition...
Kel,
Congratulations, you have been given an award. Go to www.campqualitycountrymiletour.blogspot.com to find out more..
Phil
Ooooooh, a thing of beauty indeed, and to have made it with your own two hands is just marvelous. *Clearly* we are going to have to up and move to Adelaide, 'cause I can't be missing out on all the pizza action ;-)
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