In the summer of 2007 we built a temporary oven at an event called Bethesdabakin hosted by Mick Hartley the original Microbaker . www.thepartisanbaker.com
The oven was built free form using bricks left over from our main oven build . The roof was cast from the same special concrete mix which could withstand high heat which we had used on our Bakery oven .
Stage 1: Concrete blocks straddled with reinforced lintels placed on ground .
Stage 2 : Four paving slabs laid on Lintels and topped with engineering bricks to dissipate any heat escaping from Hearth . ( Space allowed round edge of structure to fix outer support later )
Stage 3: Placed Concrete Lower Hearth ( reservoir ) on engineering bricks . ( concrete made from special mix same as used in Bakery oven
Stage 4: Oven bricks laid as Hearth and topped around edge with oven bricks on end . Front shaped to accommodate chimney with two angle bars and chimney support collar put in place.
Stage 5: Roof made from same Concrete mix as lower hearth placed over bricks . Roof edges had been moulded to fit over and secure bricks .
Stage 6 : Chimney placed on collar and outer structure put in place to act as outer support . Vermiculite was then poured around the sides and over top of oven to act as heat retainer
Stage 7: Fire up !! Oven was built in the morning , fired up in afternoon and pizza was baked in the evening . The following morning the oven was refired and Bread was baked in the afternoon . Results to be honest were mixed ( some burnt examples ) but all in all good fun . A big thank you from me to friends John Davis and crew for pouring concrete Heath and Roof . Friend Jonathan Hudes for welding work on outer frame and friend Adam for helping assemble the oven on day and bravely put first pizza in !! My role was to design , test build and transport the BODGER !!!!
