Anyone Built A Woodfired Pizza Oven

[Sprungmonkey]

Has anyone built a pizza oven - how easy/hard is it? was it a success?


I see bunnings have kits you can buy - anyone made one of these (they are under the 1k mark) - which is relatively cheap compared to most i have seen.


Cheers


Dave.

 

[white.grant]

Have a look at the http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/ It's terrific.

 

[J.T]

Have a look at the http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/ It's terrific.

+1. They also have Downloadable Plans as well!

 

[Sprungmonkey]

Thanks Grantw for opening up anotoher world - pretty good forum

 

[mr_wibble]

You can also build these ovens out of cob (clay + sand + straw), which is a cheap-and-cheerful way to start.
Emphasis on the *cheap*, have you seen the price of refractory bricks lately... OMG!

I often see advertising on how-to books for these in the various militant-hippy-gardening magazines we get. There was also some brief plans in a Grass Roots magazine a few months back.

 

[white.grant]

No worries Sprungmonkey,

Russell Jeavons, the guy who runs Russell's Pizza in Willunga wrote a great book on building ovens, from memory his first ones used common bricks so you don't always have to shell out for the refractory jobs. If you google him you should be able to find a copy of the book somewhere.

 

[seemax]

Unless you've had a bit of practice brick laying just buy one... refractory cement (ie Fondu) is a bitch to work with!!

 

[Gulf Brewery]

Hi

Another good site is www.traditionaloven.com I built one from the plans they have.
You can order a CD of plans from the site for $5. I have a few pics of the build if you want some.



Cheers
Pedro

 

[Don Runk]

I have built one out of a 50l keg!!

i originally started this - http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f43/beer-keg-oven-6142.html

however it has changed alot since. larger chimney, just 2 house bricks to cook on and no insulation was necessary.

the beauty of my design is it can warm up and be cooking in about 30 mins from lighting the kindling. uses 2 house bricks to rest the pizza on and cooks as good as a "proper" wood fired oven. (trust me I've done the Pepsi challenge and the people tested preferred mine!)

very easy to use, portable, and fits in nicely in the home brewery!!! the perfect addition IMO. also makes a great portable outdoor fireplace.

this is my "pizza keg" as it is now. though no dimensions or details there are photos - http://lemonrhodes.blogspot.com.au/2012/05...that-could.html

let me know if anyone wants more details. god knows there was a bit of trial and error but since have made them for the whole family. And they are idiot proof to cook with

only prob is you need someone that can weld??

anyone interested i'll post more on it. sorry for long post.

 

[Malted]

rob2263 built an awesome one - pictures in the 'Show Us You Brew Cave' thread here: http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum/inde...st&p=972953

 

[Liam_snorkel]

Hey mate that looks really awesome. Like the OP I've been toying with the idea of building a pizza oven but have been put off by it having to be a permanent fixture. I just bought a place and my new neighbour is a retired welder (who seems to be welding **** under the house morning and night) & this could be a chance to get to know him.

there are some good photos on the other forum. you mentioned you built them for all of your family - have you got any pics from during the build?

I have built one out of a 50l keg!!

i originally started this - http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f43/beer-keg-oven-6142.html

however it has changed alot since. larger chimney, just 2 house bricks to cook on and no insulation was necessary.

the beauty of my design is it can warm up and be cooking in about 30 mins from lighting the kindling. uses 2 house bricks to rest the pizza on and cooks as good as a "proper" wood fired oven. (trust me I've done the Pepsi challenge and the people tested preferred mine!)

very easy to use, portable, and fits in nicely in the home brewery!!! the perfect addition IMO. also makes a great portable outdoor fireplace.

this is my "pizza keg" as it is now. though no dimensions or details there are photos - http://lemonrhodes.blogspot.com.au/2012/05...that-could.html

let me know if anyone wants more details. god knows there was a bit of trial and error but since have made them for the whole family. And they are idiot proof to cook with

only prob is you need someone that can weld??

anyone interested i'll post more on it. sorry for long post.

 

[Don Runk]

Hey mate that looks really awesome. Like the OP I've been toying with the idea of building a pizza oven but have been put off by it having to be a permanent fixture. I just bought a place and my new neighbour is a retired welder (who seems to be welding **** under the house morning and night) & this could be a chance to get to know him.

there are some good photos on the other forum. you mentioned you built them for all of your family - have you got any pics from during the build?

Thanks mate!

Will start a new topic with the build when i gather some pics up rather than hijacking. The one i did for my father in-law had a spit built into it too. perfect for 2 chooks or a big roast but not much more. if i can find pics of that build i'll post them too.

try and get to it tonight if i can. Cheers.

 

[sqyre]

If your keen to make it semi-portable but big enough to cook say 6 pizzas at a time then you might be interested in a barrel smoker/cooker.
I can knock out the awesome wood fired pizzas as well as do roasts, etc,etc.
Its more of a wood fired oven than a smoker but still gives that beautiful smokey flavor and aroma that pizza ovens give. (probably more so..)

link is here - Sqyre's Wood Fired Cooker




Sqyre

 

[apoole]

I wonder if one of these would be any good?

http://www.ozpig.com.au/?q=products

 

[New_guy]

I have a spit roaster / charcoal grill made out of a 44 gallon drum.

Can spit roast 2 legs of lamb or Charcoal fire + big pizza stone on rack = tasty pizzas ready in about 5 mins

 

[sp0rk]

I have a spit roaster / charcoal grill made out of a 44 gallon drum.

Can spit roast 2 legs of lamb or Charcoal fire + big pizza stone on rack = tasty pizzas ready in about 5 mins

Any pics/instructions?

 

[pat_00]

awesome, I acquired (legally) 3 kegs for my new brewing system.

I have decided to make 1v braumeister-ish clone out of one of them. That'd free up the other 2 kegs.....hmmm pizza oven?....Tandoor?....

 

[sp0rk]

I just hit up my local brew your own place and got a free 44 gallon malt extract drum
I'm thinking smoker/spit/pizza oven

 

[whatwhat]

Not sure if you has seen these before. http://www.robertoswoodfiredovens.com.au I have built a few of these for family as well as customers and they are the buisness! They come out of newcastle but do ship. The hardest part is laying the blocks. I have no affiliation with this company at all. Can send you pictures of what i have done if you would like, but there are plenty on the site as well as you tube. Im sure they are not for all as they are a little more expensive than bunnings but they are worth the coin.

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

old hot water tanks make great oven. cheap to get and very solid

 

[fcmcg]

I made my first following a book by the late great Alan Scott ( Aussie who lived in America)
My second I made following Rado from Traditional oven and some of Alan's ideas....
My hearth is all second hand fire bricks and my done is just common reds...with refractory cement...
Pretty good but it does take 3 hours to get to temp to cook...

 

[Howlingdog]

Yes, both those designs are overkill for the pizza now and again. I like to have enough things planned to need to run it for three days then it takes a week to get down under 100 deg.C. By the way mine is based on Rado Hand's second design.

Wood type is also a large factor.

HD

 

[komodo]

Fire bricks were $3 ea + delivery last time I priced them up
I think I worked out that to build an entire oven (dome and floor) you'd be up for $2500 including insulation and vemitculate (?)

My parents have one that the guy that built their house (poured earth and stone) built for them and its awesome for a party but as suggested takes AGES to get hot enough. I actually think the basic kits (which can be had a lot cheaper than the bunnings prices) are a better option for most back yards unless you need a really big one for parties

 

[Sprungmonkey]

I have still be reasearching them and the bunnings ones look like the go - they are 1000 bucks and all you have to do is build the base and about a day of putting the domes together. when i get some extra cash thats what ill be buying.

besides pizza only take about 5-10 minutes to cook - so your cooking them about the same time it takes to dress the next pizza

 

[sillyboybrybry]

The Planting festival held at Woodford at the start of May has a how to make a cob oven workshop.

http://realview.woodfordfolkfestival.com/theplanting/2013/

 

[sp0rk]

http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f9/challenge-wfo-under-100-aud-6094.html
This looks like a great build, and if you spend some time looking on ebay/gumtree/freecycle or calling round brickworks or whatever, you can get refractory/fire bricks a lot cheaper than what boral and the other mobs are asking for them
I'm going to try and clone the below barrel bbq, but i might get some thin fire bricks to put on the top shelf, sit the pizza trays on there and see if the heat reflecting from the top of the barrel is enough to cook the pizzas in a decent amount of time
http://www.drumbecue.co.uk/drum-bbqs-c1/smokers-c2/drumbecue-original-charcoal-bbq-drum-smoker-with-thermostat-p1

 

[fcmcg]

I've done a cob oven workshop and they are pretty cool...you just have to make sure that the clay you use is the second layer below the top soil...
I did it after I built my oven , out of interest...
Would I build a cob one ? Probably not...
I will also say a mate of mine build one based on the shape of a 44 gallon drum and put a refractory blanket sandwiched between the two rolled sheets of steel...he welded a frame inside upon which he placed terra cotter tiles with air gape around the sides...
He uses heat beads in it when roasting and it's ready to go , once the beads are going...
I'd actually almost have made one like that... It's on a frame , on wheels , is not too big and he puts it on a traitlor when they go camping and it's a bloody winner....

 

[seamad]

Thinking of building one based on the fornobravo ones, 1m internal diam. Materials to build complete oven from field furnace refractories about 2 grand. Includes tapered half bricks so a little less cutting .Like the idea of getting a couple of days use out of it. Will check out the rado hand design, haven't heard of them, like the look of the igloo fornobravo pompeii though.

 

[givemeamash]

place over in Perth does kits made out of refactory cement, pretty easy to construct and they ship. I have chatted to them and they seem much bigger that the basic bunnings ones, they don't lay the bricks on tht insulation fluff, and thy look scmick. Alfresco ovens, ship to east coast, and actually cheaper to get them to hip than buy through their agents. I will be getting one of these when I do outside. only tie 45 mins to heat and heat lasts for up to 16 hours.

 

[flaggycreek]

Have a look at this site. He built a Alan Scott oven and I just copied his photos

http://www.brickoventampa.com/index.html

It is helpful to have a mixer, bricksaw and a mate who can lay bricks

I laid about 1/2 of mine

Andrew