Pizza Oven build

**shanesmith80** · 28th December 2017, 05:31 PM

And so it begins...

And hopefully one day gets finished.
Thought I wouldld show some progress of my build.
I realise its probably not the best way to go, but like with most things I build I have a rough plan and then just work out the rest as I go.

So I picked an area for the oven, got approval from the boss, and started digging and pulling up pavers.
IMG_5330.jpgDiscovered a drain pipe running from the back yard out to the front so had to build form over that. Over all wasn't too much work. Put down some road base, borrowed a mates compactor, laid down just a little reo

IMG_0414.jpgand ordered a minimix truck to bring the concrete. Was a bit worried that It would take a while to unload and have to pay exorbitant waiting time fee, but got 12 barrow loads of in 10 minutes. Missus helped shovel it to where it was needed. For first time doing anything other than setting a pole in concrete was fairly happy with result.
IMG_5382.jpg
Next came the block laying. Was hoping to just dry stack and core fill. Would have probably worked but blocks weren't very even so had a go at laying with mortar. I think I was just trying to lay them with too little mortar wanting to keep the joints close, which was causing frustration with trying to keep them level. Finally got the first coarse down and wasn't too bad from there.

Chopped up some rebar and went back to the wheelbarow and mixed up about 18 loads to do the core fill. Since the last photo have filled the remaining cores with road base because I have heaps on hand.
IMG_5486.jpg
Will knock up the form for upper slab in the new year, and was going to just mix that myself but am leaning to getting a truck back again.

cheers
shane

**cava** · 28th December 2017, 07:11 PM

Think I will pull up a chair for this one. Looking good.

**Uncle Al** · 28th December 2017, 08:33 PM

I don't think that will fall down any time soon. Nothing like a bit of hard yakka in the middle of summer, especially where concrete is involved. Keep well hydrated, and enjoy the pizzas.

Alan...

**NCArcher** · 28th December 2017, 10:00 PM

Your dog is really good at writing his name

**FenceFurniture** · 28th December 2017, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by shanesmith80

Would have probably worked but blocks weren't very even so had a go at laying with mortar.

Home-made slab is dead flat, but the machine made blocks are out.

Uh-huh.

Looking good though Shane. Mine's a thin crust vege with a shot of Pepp.

**jimfish** · 29th December 2017, 12:18 PM

Good luck with the build Shane, it is a thoroughly enjoyable process and well worth the effort. And once it’s done the trial and error of cooking in the oven is quite addictive . Ours has been finished for around 12 months now and we use it every chance we get.

**shanesmith80** · 30th December 2017, 03:13 PM

Looks good jimfish.

A few quwstions..
Looks like you used fire bricks for the base? What about the dome, did you use clay bricks like what looks like for the flue.
How thick is you suspended slab? Did you use any other insulation?

cheers
Shane

**crowie** · 30th December 2017, 05:23 PM

When will the pizza's be ready please Shane,

There's a hunger line up behind me!!!

**jimfish** · 30th December 2017, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by shanesmith80

Looks good jimfish.

A few quwstions..
Looks like you used fire bricks for the base? What about the dome, did you use clay bricks like what looks like for the flue.
How thick is you suspended slab? Did you use any other insulation?

cheers
Shane

Shane, I used firebricks for the base as I didn’t think the second hand clay bricks were flat enough. ( probably should have forked out for 300 x300s but they work fine)Used the clay bricks on the dome with airset mortar. Slab is 100 mm thick which I think is plenty. One error I made was stopping the underfloor cal sil insulation board at the dome and not running it under dome bricks as I get a bit of heat transfer from the dome bricks into the slab which caused some minor cracking to the slab. Once I finished bricking the dome I wrapped it in 4 layers of ceramic fibre insulation blanket( cost $50 for a box full of offcuts from our nearest boiler and kiln manufacturer.) then I troweled on about 100 mm of perlite render to give a total of around 200 mm of insulation and finished with acrylic render to seal it all. If we have pizza at night the oven temp is around 160 c at around midday the next day which is great for slow roasting ribs etc. I’m by no means an expert but if you have questions feel free to ask here or pm if you like.

**jimfish** · 30th December 2017, 07:11 PM

I hope this is not viewed as stealing your thread but here’s a selection of progress pics showing how I went about the build

[IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/ used a board and sand to support the last few courses
20171230/763a9bed8703dd356a138ad0e6edbee4.jpg[/IMG]

**shanesmith80** · 30th December 2017, 07:58 PM

Thanks jimfish.

Good tip on the calsil board, i'm planning on using that too and i'll keep that in mind about going under the dome.

I'm was going to go the 300x300 fire bricks for the base, then just clay bricks for dome. Seems a bit overkill to spend that much on fire bricks for dome. Have found a couple of supply places in Sydney which i'll have to check out and decide on a mortar. I think one does have the one you used.

Might have to try someone who has offcuts of ceramic blanket because thats stuffs expensive.

Am working on getting the rest of the paving in first to try remove a few trip hazards.

Thanks again.

cheers
shane

**jimfish** · 30th December 2017, 08:10 PM

I was also given the use of a mates brick saw which was invaluable. I think I would of really struggled using the grinder and diamond blade once I got to the transition from opening arch to the dome.
Enjoy the build
Jim

**shanesmith80** · 25th January 2018, 04:39 PM

Slow progress..

Decided to finish up the paving first to eliminate a few trip hazards. Started cutting to size with grinder and diamond wheel. Although not too hard

just very dusty, picked up a secondhand brick saw

heaps easier.
IMG_5512.jpg IMG_5515.jpg

Got the formwork up ready to pour the top slab.

IMG_5519.jpg

cheers
Shane

**NCArcher** · 25th January 2018, 06:11 PM

Nice job on the paving Shane.

Pizzas in no time now.

**shanesmith80** · 5th March 2018, 08:14 PM

Making progress.

Go the slab done.
top reo.jpg ramp.jpg

And have started on the dome. My mortar work is a bit messy, but getting there.
floor.jpg 2nd.jpg

Working out the cuts on the arch took a bit off thinking.
Arch1.jpg Arch2.jpg

made up a jig to cut the bricks at a compound angle to try reduce the mortar joint.
jig.jpg

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