Okay, so I’ve always wanted to make pizza at home, like, really good pizza. I’m talking about that crispy, chewy crust with the slightly charred spots, you know? And what’s better than a fire brick oven for that? I decided to build my own. Let me tell you, It was a project, but totally worth it.
Getting Started
First, I spent hours watching videos and reading stuff online. Figured out that I didn’t need anything fancy, just a good design and the right materials. The location needed a bit of prep work, so I moved some items, cleared the grass and leveled the ground at first.
Building the Base
- I laid down a solid base of concrete blocks. Just made sure it was level and sturdy. Nothing too complicated.
- Then, I built up the walls using more of those blocks. Kinda like playing with giant LEGOs, only heavier.
The Fire Brick Fun
This is where it got real. I got my hands on some fire bricks – regular bricks won’t work, they’ll crack under the heat. I carefully started laying them inside the block walls, forming the oven floor and the dome shape. I also used a big bucket as a supporting frame inside of the oven.
It was slow going, making sure everything was snug and tight. I used a special kind of mortar that can handle high temperatures. No cutting corners here!
Dome Sweet Dome
Building the dome was the trickiest part. I had to shape some of the bricks to get that curve just right. A lot of trial and error, and a few, uh, choice words were spoken. But, I finally got it! After the oven was almost done, I removed the bucket inside of it.
The First Fire!
After letting everything dry and cure for a few days (torture!), it was time for the first fire. I built a small one, gradually increasing the size over a few hours. This is to let the oven heat up slowly and prevent cracking.
Pizza Time!
Finally, the moment of truth! I whipped up some dough, prepped my toppings, and slid that first pizza into the blazing hot oven. The smell was incredible. And the taste? Oh man. Crispy, chewy, smoky…pure pizza perfection.
It was well worth for all my hard work and sweat!
