What's a nice pizza oven without a custom-made Maple/Walnut peel?DOUG SPALDING LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY
The Wood-fired pizza oven adventure begins (but never ends) - amazingly, the oven is being built at someone else's house!
In
early summer of 2007 I saw an article about a “Kneading Conference” in
Skowhegan, ME. Some aspects of that conference seemed really intriguing to me
and so I called a friend who had talked about wood-fired ovens to see if he
might like to take advantage of a day talking to someone with experience with
the high heat method of cooking/baking.
The
seminar we took part in was in early August, 2007 regarding the construction of
a wood-fired oven from approximately 400-500 bricks and no mortar. Those in
attendance were treated to pizza from a commercial-sized wood-fired oven at the Temple
Stream Theater. After firing the oven to prepare it for pizza making we
built a smaller oven outdoors of red brick and no mortar. That was fired up
while we baked pizzas for lunch in the larger one.
It
was an eclectic group of folks who attended the session. I personally enjoyed
the interaction within the group and believe that the information I took home
from the session has provided the needed encouragement to go forth on the oven
that Bill and I planned to build. The construction techniques are
similar to the masonry heater stoves that I built in my home many years ago.
Masonry heaters provide consistent heat with only minimal firing required for
about an hour a day from Thanksgiving until April 1st, when we can stop that
firing because the solar heat has kicked in enough at that point not to need the
wood heat. Masonry mass and otherwise waste wood can be used to heat and cook,
and the product of each is rewarding in many ways.
When
the seminar broke up that afternoon I’d hoped those who were there would go
back home and build their own ovens, even if only to provide great foods when
friends congregate.
Remember that the little pictures will be bigger if you click on them
Click here to see the outside finish work
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This might be a good place to mention the great guys at Infab, in Lewiston Maine. They assisted us with selecting the correct mortars and even designed the arches. We suggest you do business there when you get around to building an oven of your own.
Another big thank you goes out to Matt, at Wallboard Supply, in Hermon, Maine, where i was assisted with selecting the correct mineral wool insulation. They also carry everything you'll need to do sheetrock and steel studding of your next project.
And don't forget you can view on-going progress on our other oven here |
What's a nice pizza oven without a custom-made Maple/Walnut peel?
The posts that will support the oven are installed on 18" concrete rounds and the 6x6 pressure-treated posts are plumbed |
We work to make certain the foundation is secure
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Shadowy workers assist
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Fat and happy Doug shovels fill back in around the base posts
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Top sill beams rest on the upright 6x6s. These will support the base slab |
The form is laid on top of the base foundation |
Reinforcing wire is installed to strengthen the 1st slab, on which the actual oven will be built
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The pour begins |
12 bags of concrete are mixed, poured and then smoothed out to provide the slab for the oven construction |
Bill isn't really bewildered. Our inspection reveals that a superb pour has occurred |
Rain showers, pretty heavy ones actually, begin just as we complete the pour, so out comes the tarp |
Not sure what needs cleanup more- Doug or the mixer. We all go swimming to get off a few layers of grime |
Bill actually did the vast majority of the block work. Doug finishes up the last few blocks on the final course of block, while Bill takes the photos of the progress |
More of that |
Still more |
Here we can see the block base ready to accept the form for the top slab, on which the oven will be built |
View of the base from another angle |
Now how did that camera lens get this way?
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Looking toward the lake |
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Front corner showing the sand fill in the blocks. As the slab is poured each hole like this will act as a key to tie the slab to the base |
The upper form is now ready for concrete. Note the wire mesh to strengthen this slab so it will be ready to hold the weight of the oven itself |
Another view of the form and mesh with the chute for concrete. Note the tapered block on the front side. This block will be tapped out after the slab cures. The resultant opening will be the ash dump for the oven |
The cement mixer is lifted to the correct height to dump concrete as it's mixed |
We were both too busy to be taking photos as we mixed and poured the slab. Here we are smoothing the surface of it though |
More smoothing up |
Here it is, ready for the next steps, once it cures |
Maybe it needs a bit more smoothing |
This shows the side towards the deck. Firewood will be stored under the oven in the opening you can see here |
We were concerned about the forces of the pour on the form, so we supported things in several odd ways. What pros we are... |
The mixer gets loaded for the trip back to Saint Albans |
About ready to roll |
The forms are off and the tapered plug that formed the ash dump has been successfully popped up |
The Advantech floor form will now have to be cut up to remove it from the wood storage space. Hopefully Bill will manage that without injury to himself
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Here you can see the finished base unit ready to accept the oven itself. Next step is to begin laying in the firebrick that will form the firebox/oven |
Click here for the next set of photos. These will show the construction of the oven itself. So far we've been building the foundation for it |
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