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[napoletanofan]

Hi, I read on the net that the ceramic fiber insulator can cause cancer. I know that the ceramic fiber will be outside of the oven and then covered with cement, but I really don't like the idea of having to put this insulator on the oven I'm planning to build. Is there any natural insulator?  Can I just make a thicker wall rather than using the fiber ceramic insulator? Any ideas?

Thanks!

[Bill/SFNM]

Perlite is used (I did) often. IIRC, it just a kind of crushed rock. I mixed it into the non-structural concrete that was covers the dome. The dome doesn't even feel warm to the touch even with 1000F fire inside.

[BurntFingers]

I too used pearlite between the concrete clad firebrick.  I followed the advice in Allan Scott's book.  Photos at:http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/members/burntfingers-albums-building-my-piazza-wfo-06.html   It can be 1000 degrees F inside and below freezing Christmas Eve and the outside doesn't feel warm at all.  It keeps the heat in for days after we fire it up.  I should have used it to heat the house!

[Matthew]

Hi, I read on the net that the ceramic fiber insulator can cause cancer. I know that the ceramic fiber will be outside of the oven and then covered with cement, but I really don't like the idea of having to put this insulator on the oven I'm planning to build. Is there any natural insulator?  Can I just make a thicker wall rather than using the fiber ceramic insulator? Any ideas?

Thanks!

I used ceramic fiber blanket & Matrilite to insulated mine because I chose to do a dome rather than a closed unit.  I'm not sure what climate you live in but I have heard of people using sand as an insulator.

Matt

[JConk007]

perlite here and a lot of it! I think 16 big ole bags with light cement mix filled entire cavity.

[artigiano]

Be a man and wear a respirator when putting the blanket on your dome, even a dust mask will do for crying out loud

Just some tough love for a fellow pizza enthusiast.

You will be fine plus its covered by cement and the fibers wont be airborne after they are covered and your oven is complete.  If you are going to be building an oven you will be mixing cement and mortar as well as cutting brick.  You will be exposed to silica dust which is not good for you either but most will agree that its worth the risk for your own oven.  There are people including myself that deal with these elements everyday on a construction site. 

Anyway, I would double up the the blanket with vermiculite... mix vermiculite/portland cement/lime  at 14:1:1 ratio add a little water to the mix and that will also keep the dust down since all insulation is often associated with a cancer risk.  You can't really avoid it if you want to do it well... just be smart about, seldom exposures wont hurt you.  Don't skimp on insulation and definately insulate the slab under your hearth!

Al