Author Topic: DIY pizza prep station (Read 6544 times)

TXCraig1 · « **on:** April 09, 2012, 11:34:32 PM »

I decided to build a pizza prep station for the garage. Running pies from the kitchen to the oven is for the birds, and the chicken sh^t little table I was using outside was a joke. I designed it around an insulated trough sized to fit (10) 1/6 standard steam table containers. The trough is R15 on the bottom and R10 on the sides, so it should hold Ice pretty good. I glassed in the insulation with 2 layers of fiberglass. It has a drain in the center. After I put it in, I decided it would have been better at one end, but it should be fine in the middle.

The work surface is going to be red oak that I'll Sand down to 600 grit, so it will be smooth as glass. If I don't like the wood, I'll either laminate formica on it, or replace it with something else. The work surface will be 23" x 72". In this set of pictures, you can see the insulated trough going together along with the worktop and the backsplash.

More to come.

TXCraig1 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 09, 2012, 11:35:17 PM »

More pics

TXCraig1 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 09, 2012, 11:35:57 PM »

More pics:

c0mpl3x · « **Reply #3 on:** April 10, 2012, 01:35:38 AM »

craig, my only concern is, it looks like you installed your valve in the closed position, not the open, thus asking, 'will it open?'

pabsey · « **Reply #4 on:** April 10, 2012, 07:03:40 AM »

Brilliant!!!

BrickStoneOven · « **Reply #5 on:** April 10, 2012, 10:31:26 AM »

That's awesome. How much ice you think it will take to keep everything cool?

TXCraig1 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 10, 2012, 10:45:11 AM »

Quote from: c0mpl3x on April 10, 2012, 01:35:38 AM

craig, my only concern is, it looks like you installed your valve in the closed position, not the open, thus asking, 'will it open?'

Yes, it pulls down to open. There are plenty of other oversights (both known and unknown), but I thought of that one.

TXCraig1 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 10, 2012, 10:46:04 AM »

Quote from: BrickStoneOven on April 10, 2012, 10:31:26 AM

That's awesome. How much ice you think it will take to keep everything cool?

I hope 10# will be enough. Maybe 20.

Mick.Chicago · « **Reply #8 on:** April 10, 2012, 10:55:27 AM »

Can't you use some kind of thermoelectric to keep it cool? What do commercial units use?

Also, the red oak you are using looks exactly the same as the type I used for a corner unit recently, it warped quickly in my garage, and I had to do a lot of clamping.

TXCraig1 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 10, 2012, 11:46:34 AM »

Quote from: Mick.Chicago on April 10, 2012, 10:55:27 AM

Can't you use some kind of thermoelectric to keep it cool? What do commercial units use?

Also, the red oak you are using looks exactly the same as the type I used for a corner unit recently, it warped quickly in my garage, and I had to do a lot of clamping.

I think commercial units typically use traditional refrigeration. I didn't want anything that could break down (or cost much for that matter). I'm a little worried about warping. It will be heavily secured. If it becomes a problem, I'll replace it with something synthetic. It is designed to accomodate such a scenairo.

jever4321 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 10, 2012, 12:57:00 PM »

I once made a typical countertop out of MDF, then brought it to a metal fabricator and asked him to sheath it in galvanized steel? The overall island dimensions were 5'-6" x 2'-4" and it had a 1-1/2" down bend. It worked great for pizza making. I had about $20 in MDF, and about $160 in the metal top.

Just a thought.

TXCraig1 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 10, 2012, 01:31:56 PM »

I was thinking it would be best to try to avoid surfaces that transfer heat quickly as the ambient temp where I use this will be upwards fo 100F much of the year.

jever4321 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 10, 2012, 01:40:12 PM »

Quote from: TXCraig1 on April 10, 2012, 01:31:56 PM

I was thinking it would be best to try to avoid surfaces that transfer heat quickly as the ambient temp where I use this will be upwards fo 100F much of the year.

Ah yes, good point.

Mick.Chicago · « **Reply #13 on:** April 10, 2012, 03:24:04 PM »

Quote from: TXCraig1 on April 10, 2012, 11:46:34 AM

I think commercial units typically use traditional refrigeration. I didn't want anything that could break down (or cost much for that matter). I'm a little worried about warping. It will be heavily secured. If it becomes a problem, I'll replace it with something synthetic. It is designed to accomodate such a scenairo.

I wouldn't worry about the warping too much, I only mentioned it as the red oak looks exactly the same as the red oak we stock at work, I only had issues because I was storing it incorrectly and also I think because it's not a solid piece (mine) the 2' x 4'x 1" (really 3/4') are 3 pieces of lumber pressed together in the factory/mill.

TXCraig1 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 10, 2012, 03:34:26 PM »

This is 8 pieces glued together the long way (side grain).

c0mpl3x · « **Reply #15 on:** April 10, 2012, 07:40:05 PM »

craig, food for thought.

scour craigslist or the paper for a mini fridge. use the condenser pump etc in the fridge as a base, and just plumb vent holes in one end, out the other; with a 110v boxfan to pull air, since mini fridges use thermal convection for cooling. keep the fridge for cheese, meat, beer, and bulk cold item storage

pabsey · « **Reply #16 on:** April 10, 2012, 08:10:42 PM »

Craig, why dont you use the blue ice packs, just to eliminate the water, with all that insulation i would think it would keep it really nice.

TXCraig1 · « **Reply #17 on:** April 10, 2012, 10:38:34 PM »

Quote from: pabsey on April 10, 2012, 08:10:42 PM

Craig, why dont you use the blue ice packs, just to eliminate the water, with all that insulation i would think it would keep it really nice.

Not a bad idea. Where where you before I put in the drain?

pabsey · « **Reply #18 on:** April 10, 2012, 10:51:07 PM »

are you going to make some sort of cover?

TXCraig1 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 10, 2012, 10:57:54 PM »

Quote from: pabsey on April 10, 2012, 10:51:07 PM

are you going to make some sort of cover?

No. I have some individual lexan covers to fit the bins that might need them.