Wood Fired Oven

Minder

Anyone ever build a wood fired oven for the garden. I have some information already, books, a cd form an aussie expert etc. Looking for first hand experience?

Builderwoman!

No but we're hoping to buy one. There are many companies online selling them and you then build your own outer shell. Would be great for heating outdoor seating area too.

Minder

Buying isn't an option - I found that they are extremely expensive - £4.5k for a unit similar to that on Jaime Olivers programme.

Would rather build one.

Builderwoman!

Minder you can get them for about 1400euros I think. Will find out and pm you a link if you wish...let me know??

Minder

Builderwoman - if you have a supplier that cheap I would like to see it - pm me the details please.

I just found these resources

http://www.fornobravo.com/store/Instruction-Manuals-and-eBooks-p-1-c-260.html

The instruction manuals are free to download. Registration required. Select the manuals in the shopping basket, go to checkout. Register details (no payment details required), then receive an email with the download link.

I have the manual for the Pompeii oven - a brick built dome oven - exactly what I was looking for. There are plans in the manual for two sizes of oven. All materials are described and should be available at the local DIY - refractory bricks are available from online suppliers.

Builderwoman!

Minder wrote: »

Builderwoman - if you have a supplier that cheap I would like to see it - pm me the details please.

I just found these resources

http://www.fornobravo.com/store/Instruction-Manuals-and-eBooks-p-1-c-260.html

The instruction manuals are free to download. Registration required. Select the manuals in the shopping basket, go to checkout. Register details (no payment details required), then receive an email with the download link.

I have the manual for the Pompeii oven - a brick built dome oven - exactly what I was looking for. There are plans in the manual for two sizes of oven. All materials are described and should be available at the local DIY - refractory bricks are available from online suppliers.

Try http://www.difiore-forni.it/index_eng.html
Very good and well priced.
Let me know what you think?

diarmait

I've found the same resources as yourselve. I was looking at that Aussie site but didn't get CD, is it any good? Some good books on Amazon. Did you source refractory bricks anywhere in Ireland?

TheHairyFairy

Guys this is the most detailed set of construction details I have found for a project like this so far. Enjoy http://www.ozarkdreams.com/BrickOven.htm

Minder

diarmait wrote: »

I've found the same resources as yourselve. I was looking at that Aussie site but didn't get CD, is it any good? Some good books on Amazon. Did you source refractory bricks anywhere in Ireland?

I haven't looked at the CD yet to be honest.

The best book of the few I got is this..

The Bread Builders: Hearth Loaves and Masonry Ovens

Paperback: 250 pages
Publisher: Chelsea Green Pub Co (22 Nov 2002)
Language English
ISBN-10: 1890132055
ISBN-13: 978-1890132057

As for refractory brick, I live in the UK. Hanworth are the only refractory brick manufacturer I could find, asked for a quotation but got no response. I did see some on Ebay, but too far away to collect. So it is trawling the reclamation yards next.

Minder

Builderwoman! wrote: »

Try http://www.difiore-forni.it/index_eng.html
Very good and well priced.
Let me know what you think?

Thanks for the tip - TBH part of the plan is to have the satisfaction of building one rather than buying a ready made oven. Also I couldn't find a price list on the site.

TheHairyFairy wrote: »

Guys this is the most detailed set of construction details I have found for a project like this so far. Enjoy http://www.ozarkdreams.com/BrickOven.htm

HF, the details on that site are based on designs by Rado Hand - he is the aussie builder mentioned in previous posts who sends the CD out for a donation. Thanks for the link - some useful piccs there.

Crapjob Sean

Has anyone in Ireland actually gone ahead and built one of these.

Are all the materials available here?

mazthespark

know someone who built a clay oven for doin pizzas that the kinds thing your looking for? hes firing it up this weekend

hargo

Sean I plan to build an oven over the next months and have just started my research. The fornobravo site seems to be good and there is a forum attached with a lot of good information. Personally i'd love to build something that is portable as well like the woody oven in Australia. Where are you based, I'm in Drogheda and if you want to share info and plans let me know. Ps you can buy a kit oven in France for about €300 (Castorama)

emese

hi everyone. we are hoping to have a beehive (clay) oven built next month but i'm finding it hard to get all the materials. would anyone know about where to get (affordable) terracotta bricks, flat tiles, fire proof clay sheets, etc.? any info would be great! thanks

cannyfradock

emese

Did you source the materials for your build? The only supplier of refractory materials and fire-bricks etc in Ireland that I know of is... Dineen refractories in Athy CO.Kildare..... http://www.dineensales.com/Products.aspx?P_CatID=3

If you want to make a traditional clay oven, then the clay which is excavated from building sites and any deep trenchwork is perfect.....they also have to pay to have the clay (which is below the sub soil) taken away.

If you want a little bit more info on building a wood-fired oven with clay.....these links of clay oven builds may help you....

http://balinsky.com/gallery/coboven
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0ARo3eDT7sPIbZGhrcDRmOXpfOGYyOGozZGZj&hl=en&authkey=CL2plZgO
http://www.wwwhappyclaymixer.blogspot.com/

Here is another link to a clay oven build with downloadable plans of a cob build..... http://clayoven.wordpress.com/

Hope this is of some use to you.

All the best with your build.....

Terry

emese

hi Terry and thank you for your reply!
I had a quick look at the links. Ours is an inside oven (it will heat our house though underground heating) not outside like all those and i havent seen anything like it here or even on any websites. It has been built in the meantime and looks amazing I'd attach a picture but im not on my comp at the moment.

cannyfradock

emese

I'm looking forward to seeing a picture of your oven.

I run a wood-fired oven info site (non-commercial) and have never come across an oven like you have described. I am always looking for titbits of info which I can pass to others so I am really interested in your oven build.

Terry

emese

Here it is, our baby

cannyfradock

emese

What a beautiful oven. Can the top chamber be used for cooking?

Have you any more pics of the actual oven build?

Sorry to sound nosey, but I am very interested and would love to know who built it for you.

Terry

emese

Hi Terry!
Thanks for the compliments, i think it's pretty amazing myself
Yes, the top chamber is an oven, but you can also use the bottom one (the fire) for cooking/baking.
I documented the whole process, i have lots of videos and pictures of the building of it.
A hungarian bee hive oven builder built it, it's his profession, and this is what he does for a living. Here is his website, have a look at his work:
http://www.kemenceepites.hu/galeria/

Boardnashea

Irish Seed Savers in Scarrif built one a while ago, which featured on Richard Corrigan's foodie program on RTE. I'm sure the people there would be more than happy to let you know how it's going. GREAT PLACE.

cannyfradock

Emise

Thanks for the info back on how your oven operates. Your oven builders website is very impressive and I have sent a nice e-mail to him complimenting him on his fine work (I hope that's OK)

Looking forward to any pics or vids of the oven build that you put on the forum/your blog etc.

Terry

emese

And he is a really nice guy too, not to mention his amazing work! I'm sure he'll be flattered to read your email. (after i translate it for him
Did you find the building process on his website?

cannyfradock

....Yes...thank-you Emise......along with all his other work

...What a clever chap he is !!!

Terry

emese

He is amazing... Watching him build ours made me want to learn the trade!!

cannyfradock

Minder

This is a polite little apology for jumping on the interesting thread that you created.

If you are still following this thread, I would like to ask if you ever got round to building your own wood-fired oven?

Terry

runcowboy

emese wrote: »

He is amazing... Watching him build ours made me want to learn the trade!!

Wow. So, how much all in, to get him to build an oven?

emese

It cost us all in all around 1600. That included ALL materials and even his flight!

harry21

Hey... I've been thinking about this too for about 2 months now. Will definately do it, but money is tight (wedding... ah)

Question I have is this.... do the bricks have to be clay bricks? Concrete bricks are no good I assume. (Just asking cause I can get these free)

Planning on designing and building my own, but it might be a while before I get going, possible next summer even. Too much work to do in the garden this year!!

liamhana

i've been thinking of posting up about doing this previously.
I built one in spring 2010 & its been great. Cost about 15e in total - and that was for sand that I've since used on another project.
Clay from a river behind the house, some bricks from a now nama owned site and other odds and ends.
I built into a rockery and sunk an old charcoal BBQ beside it with herbs planted around them.
I've a small temp guage in it & have got up to 450degrees. Used it 4-5times last year with great results for baked spuds, pizzas and stuffed mushrooms.
It survived the harsh winter without a crack and used it a few wks ago to do mackrel and some slow roast meat - mackrel was lovely, but the meat went too leathery.
If you're in Galway there's a great one in the ballybane community garden across from the library.

emese

Harry21, are you thinking of an inside or an outside oven? Ours is inside and heats our underfloor heating (only heating in the house) as well as we can bake in it of course. I thought the 1600 for what we got is a really good price.
Yes, the bricks have to be clay! They are fire proof and hold the heat for days!

liamhana, yours is an outside one, different ballgame to the inside one. Yes, they ARE easier/cheaper and less "responsiblility" to build. And if it doesn't work, you can try again

harry21

Ya, Im thinking of building an outside one, just for baking pizza, bread etc. Will probably build a BBQ next to it for the meat, poultry and fish.

Tryingto give it as much thought as possible regards location, wind sun etc, while still keeping the costs down.

So noraml bricks for the dome/arch and firebricks for the base ya? Ill use insulation, vermiculite and a render on the outside, or if I get loads of bricks I'd use and outer brick layer instead of render.

I won't use it as often as most people with them will, I just fancy the project and the time spent outside.

cannyfradock

Harry

All the best with your oven/grill station.

Clay ovens are brilliant things and are quite economical to build (I would love to see a picture of Liam's oven)...but if you want to push the boat out and build a Pompeii or a barrel/vault oven, then clay bricks can be used in the construction (old reclaimed 3" bricks are perfect for this)....and your method of insulation and fire-bricks for the cooking hearth sound spot on.

It seems like fire-bricks are a difficult commodity to get hold of in Ireland but if you telephone Dineen sales in Athy Co. Kildare and speak to Dee....she will be able to either supply you....or tell you where your nearest supplier is.

I run a Wood fired oven forum from the UK and we have many Irish members and we all share info and there are many picture diaries of ovens and grill stations which may be used for reference. (we are non-commercial....purely an info site)

Not sure if this link will work but this is the latest pic of someone who shared their build with us...

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/3241/oakseating.jpg

All the best with your build

terry

p.s......hello Emese

liamhana

Canny, pic posted on previous page. Emense thanks for pointing out mine is outside! I was responding to the op's request which was for that DIY option. I based mine on a simple home DIY model. The base was oven fired bricks and it's sitting on a base of bottles and sand as insulation.

cannyfradock

Liam......Whoops, I see it now.

I am a Pompeii oven builder myself but love seeing these Clay/cob oven builds.

They all have an individual touch and I'm just itching to have a go at building one for myself.

Terry

harry21

Hi Canny,

Maybe I was throw by the thread title, but it is definitely a brick pompeii or vaulted oven as you call it. Have no interest in anything else.

Is there many practical differences between the two above. Whcih would you prefer and why?

cannyfradock

Harry

A barrel or Vault build is preferred by the bread baker which takes longer to get up to temperature but retains it's heat for much longer as bread is baked on a falling heat.

A Pompeii is preferred by pizza bakers as it is good for keeping a constant heat.....with the door off....as is the case when "Pizza bakin"

Out of interest I am A Pompeii oven builder....here's day one of my current build..

http://img861.imageshack.us/img861/3003/soven2016.jpg

Terry

harry21

cannyfradock wrote: »

Harry

http://img861.imageshack.us/img861/3003/soven2016.jpg

Terry

Looks like you making a nice start. Lots of storage space.
Maybe you could keep u up to date on the progress...

cannyfradock

Harry

...shall do

The whole build ...along with about 2 dozen other builds can be followed on my WFO forum....don't think it's protocol to mention my forum on this open forum

....Terry

Catacomb

Hi,

Just thought I'd budge into this thread as well, I just decided to do the pompeii pizza oven about 2 days ago I started pickaxing my way through rock for a 30cm deep foundation.

Here it is:



Anyway, I found out that the firebricks needed will cost me €3 per piece at my local building supplier with the suggested 180 bricks for the oven It'd total €540 for comparison, in America the cheapest firebricks cost $1 that'd add up to €126, so It really would feel like I'd be ripped off buying them, not to mention the financial cost in itself.

So has anyone here thought about these materials? were are you getting them? I could try northern Ireland since I'm close to the border, I've herd that in wales/England firebricks only cost £1.50 which is still considerably cheaper (if the same cost applies for N.Ireland).

It's nice to see that others are also building similar ovens, I hope that we can keep contact and help each other out a bit.

cannyfradock

Catacomb

All the best with your Pompeii build.

As mentioned in previous posts fire-bricks are available through Dineen sales or the builders merchants they supply. You could try the import route from the UK if you can handle the hassle of clicking keys on your PC. There is a company in the UK that will deliver fire-bricks outside of the UK for 2.30 Euros per brick inclusive of freight as long as the order is is for 180/200 bricks......

Not sure if it's appropriate to give the link....so I won't....I wish I were on commission for giving out info.....I.m not !!!

PM me for more info if your interested...or contact me via my UK WFO forum....I'm easy to find.

All the best with your build....

Terry

cannyfradock

......2nd Pompeii wood-fired oven is built (and nearly finished). Had the first trials of the oven last week-end.....here's a link of some pics of the build and...the pizza evening.

http://imageshack.us/g/824/soven008.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/g/830/soven9022.jpg/

All the best...

Terry

Lars

Hi Catacomb, did you figure out the cheapest source for firebricks? Fancy sharing it with me? How the progress on your build, any pictures? I bought 'The Bread Builders' book and I'm going to build the barrel vault oven from that. I'll need to get fire bricks for the hearth at least but the cost seems very high?

Thanks

L

cannyfradock

.....hope you chaps don't mind me offering some help.

Here's a few addresses you may find useful.

http://woodovenukforum.forumup.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=714&mforum=woodovenukforum

Terry

danielsun

This topic is great for all the diy enthusiasts, as these resources are detailed. I am planning to build an outdoor pizza oven in my backyard this summer, but I don't know how much it will cost (my budget is under 300 $ - including the roof). Therefore, I will postpone the construction, till I see how you manage to complete them. If I am allowed, I will share several pages I've found recently:

http://piatrasilemn.ro/gratar_oancea.php - it is written in Romanian, but the images are great

http://cwraig.id.au/?p=342

http://www.howtospecialist.com/outdoor/how-to-build-an-outdoor-pizza-oven/

hargo

Lars wrote: »

Hi Catacomb, did you figure out the cheapest source for firebricks? Fancy sharing it with me? How the progress on your build, any pictures? I bought 'The Bread Builders' book and I'm going to build the barrel vault oven from that. I'll need to get fire bricks for the hearth at least but the cost seems very high?

Thanks

L

Lars you will get fire bricks in Dublin Providers drogheda for €2 a brick. My bit of advice having built a Pompeii oven is to cut out your floor and build oven around it as oppased to building on the floor. I say this because i had a problem with the floor and had to replace it. Best of luck with your build.

Lars

hargo wrote: »

Lars you will get fire bricks in Dublin Providers drogheda for €2 a brick. My bit of advice having built a Pompeii oven is to cut out your floor and build oven around it as oppased to building on the floor. I say this because i had a problem with the floor and had to replace it. Best of luck with your build.

thanks Hargo, I'll check them out. What sort Of problem led to replacing the hearth?

hargo

The floor buckled and the bricks disintegrated but hey weren't the standard fire brick, they were industrial ones for kiln construction. I used them for the dome with no problem.

Rojomur

Hi all. Im new to this forum so go easy if i cant do stuff- like post pics. Just to add i started building my one in Oct '10. Finished it last April. Best party made 35-40 pizzas last summer. Used it loads that summer. Fired it up first time this year last Sunday week during hot weather. Cant wait until next hot spell. Have to say it was great fun building it. Took my time and weather dictated how fast it was built( not very) Followed Bread Builders book and mostly Brickoventampa website. Used 110 firebricks( biggest cost). Concrete base was €110 delivered, (1 cubic metre)Total construction cost was about €1100. Sourced all materials through local chadwicks in Dublin- they got all fire bricks and morter from Dineens in Athy. Internal size is 36" x 48". Have to say id probably make slightly smaller if doing again, maybe 30"x42" Makes for a great Garden feature though. Put a marble worktop(€150) /Bbq area beside it which looks the part. I would defo do it again if i moved house. Go for it anyone thinking of it and with a part of garden suitable.