Author Topic: Pictures of building my oval brick oven (Read 2592 times)

dirk3000 · « **on:** February 25, 2012, 08:05:41 PM »

Hi guys, I thought I might share some pictures of the proces of one of my projects, from last summer.

Often I feel a need to experiment, and go against 'norms'. This was kind of a low budget experimental project.

For this one I used very cheap, normal bricks, a regular facade type of brick.

I did a form-free dome construction. It works, I was very happy. Before I started I guessed that at a later stage I would have to improvise some kind of support, but that wasn't needed at all.

And it's oval. 100cm x 120cm, with the opening on the broad side.

It actually resulted in a very nice oven, and I've used it a lot already.
But, off course, there is a difference in containing heat with these bricks, they just don't accumulate as wel as fire brick. When the fire is down they cool quickly, but it still is hot the next morning.
And I've converted the smokeway backwards to the top of the dome, and from there straight up in a fluepipe. This only works well after a while or with the door closed.

dirk3000 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2012, 08:08:11 PM »

There's 33 pictures. Here are some more

dirk3000 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2012, 08:10:19 PM »

dirk3000 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2012, 08:16:20 PM »

next...

dirk3000 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2012, 08:18:19 PM »

more..

shuboyje · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2012, 08:21:22 PM »

Neat oven, I love to see someone going off on a slightly different path to see how it results.

I'm surprised it draws well when hot considering how small the flue entry is. On my ovens I like a big flue opening, easily 10 times that size. It's basically like you have a closed damper in the flue.

dirk3000 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2012, 08:22:46 PM »

the last 4

pizzaneer · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2012, 08:33:43 PM »

Beautiful masonry work!

Although I would hate for it happen, the reason it doesn't maintain heat that well may be because of lack of thermal insulation around the chamber, and the only possible fix may involve covering up those gorgeous joints with 6+" of perlite and an enclosure.

I'd hire you as a mason anytime! Is that what you do for a living?

regards
Brian

dirk3000 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2012, 08:52:11 PM »

Thanks shuboyje.
You're right about the flue entry, it really is minimal. When I'm firing up I see the flames curling into the entry, but most of the smoke wants to go out through the big opening.

Thank you Brian. I've done some masonry and oven jobs, but I'm not making a living by it. Would sure like to

shuboyje · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2012, 09:00:06 PM »

You can probably get in there with an angle grinder, hammer, and chisel and increase the size no problem.

It looks like you insulated the oven with ceramic fiber before covering it in chicken wire and then stucco. Is that correct? If that is the case there is probably no need for Perlite.

wheelman · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2012, 10:21:03 PM »

Very very cool.
Bill

Jet_deck · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2012, 10:48:21 PM »

Regardless of the flue entry size, the oven appears as majestic as they pyramids in Egypt.

TXCraig1 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2012, 11:30:09 PM »

Dirk, you have some serious skills... your oven is beautiful.

Craig

Botch · « **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2012, 11:47:19 PM »

Nice job!

dirk3000 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 29, 2012, 08:04:45 AM »

Thank you all for the reply, only a few people have seen this oven until now and it's great to share this here and get reactions from other oven-enthusiasts and builders.

Gonna post pictures of another project soon.

Dirk

pizzaneer · « **Reply #15 on:** February 29, 2012, 08:56:44 AM »

Quote from: shuboyje on February 25, 2012, 09:00:06 PM

You can probably get in there with an angle grinder, hammer, and chisel and increase the size no problem.

It looks like you insulated the oven with ceramic fiber before covering it in chicken wire and then stucco. Is that correct? If that is the case there is probably no need for Perlite.

Oh woops, missed those pics. I agree with Shuboyje about both the insulation and the airflow. You should probably try to open the flue entry a little more. That 1/2 brick going across the entry shouldn't be too hard to cut out.

Could you describe the setting for this work of art? Are you building it into an outdoor kitchen with similiar brickwork? I have no idea how much something like this would go for, all I can say is that it would be a LOT, and you could definitely make a living creating ovens like these - as long as they work!

regards
Brian

dirk3000 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 29, 2012, 11:16:57 AM »

Okay. The workshop where I made this oven is an old roundhouse for locomotives. In front of the roundhouse used to be the a big turntable where the loc's would be aligned with the rails leading into a section of the roundhouse.
The turntable isn't there anymore, but the original circle has been paved. The first two sections of the roundhouse now facilitate a lunchcafe, and together we decided to put a pizzastand on the circle, so when the weather is nice I make pizza there in addition to their menu.
I had already built a big oven on a trailer, so I placed it on the circle and then extended the roof and did the construction for the stand.

I'll add some pictures here.

Last summer the weather was really bad here, so I took it as an opportunity to do this experimental ovenproject, and just placed it next to the stand as a second oven.

Ev · « **Reply #17 on:** March 01, 2012, 10:35:22 AM »

Great looking stand! Love the setting! I've always appreciated the old steam locomotives and trains and such.

kiwipete · « **Reply #18 on:** March 01, 2012, 03:23:51 PM »

Heel mooi gedaan, hoor! Waar in Nederland is de oven?

Don K · « **Reply #19 on:** March 01, 2012, 05:13:03 PM »

A very nice looking oven Dirk! Is this your own design?

There has been a lot of discussion on dome vs. rectangular deck/barrel-type, low ceiling vs. higher, etc. What about round dome vs. oval?