Tips on materials to build your own oven door for a pizza/baking oven?

[Tobbelobben]

Hello,

I got a bit bored and started a project to build my own pizza oven in the garage. The plan is to move it out to the garden in the spring. As a person, regardless of the project, I often work in a way that I "lay the tracks while the train is running." Planning is good, but decisiveness is better (or...?)

Anyway, I've now cast the foundation and the oven dome as shown in the picture. What remains is to insulate with rock wool and apply plaster and antique mortar, and to attach the chimney pipe. However, I now realize that I would like an oven door to be able to regulate heat and oxygen supply. Ideally, I would have come up with this beforehand so I could have cast the arch after the door. But here I am, and the question is if anyone has suggestions on materials or approaches?

Aesthetics are not very important; I am now looking for functionality. It also doesn't need to be fixed in place. It can be a loose door with a handle that I just place as needed. Calcium silicate board feels too fragile, ordering custom tempered glass too complicated. What would you do?

Grateful for ideas!

 

[1977bjorn]

cheap (and good)
Gun-blued iron, 4-5mm thick
Alternatively coated with heat paint

Nicer
Stainless steel sheet 1mm
Looks nice if it doesn't get too hot and the sheet changes color. Must be cleaned occasionally

Best?
No. 1

you can have glass as well, but it will just get sooty and all...

 

[Dan_Johansson]

What material have you cast the dome in?
If it is largely made of insulating material (vermiculite/perlite), it is likely that you have too little mass to bake bread anyway....

 

[Tobbelobben]

What material did you cast the dome in? If it is some insulating material (vermiculite/perlite) to a large extent, it is likely that you have too little mass to bake bread anyway....

I used Fescon refractory castable for the dome. 55 mm thick. I guessed it would withstand high temperatures, or do you have other input? I used vermiculite together with concrete (ratio 3:1) as an insulating layer under the refractory bricks in the base plate. But not in the dome.

 

[Tobbelobben]

cheap (and good)
Blued iron, 4-5mm thick
Alternatively painted with heat-resistant paint

More stylish
Stainless steel sheet 1mm
Looks nice if it doesn't get too hot and the sheet changes color. Must be cleaned occasionally

Best?
Option 1

You can also have glass, but it will just get sooty and messy...

Thank you very much! Very good input. I will currently proceed with and evaluate proposal number 1. Sounds convenient!

 

[Dan_Johansson]

I used Fescon refractory casting mass for the dome. 55 mm thick. I guessed it would withstand high temperatures, or do you have another input? I used vermiculite together with concrete (ratio 3:1) as an insulating layer under the refractory bricks in the bottom plate. But not in the dome.

Then you at least have the conditions to bake bread, i.e., maintain a lower temperature longer...

I just have a loose sheet that I place over the opening, it works just fine...

If you have calcium silicate board left over, you could make a "sandwich" with it and thin sheet metal...

 

[Tobbelobben]

Then you at least have the conditions to bake bread, i.e. keep a low temperature longer...

I only have a loose sheet metal that I place in front of the opening, it works just fine...

If you have any calcium silicate board left, you can make a "sandwich" with that and thin sheet metal...

Now the good suggestions are rolling in... A sandwich it is! Then I'll also avoid burning the kids or myself on the outer plate of the hatch. Thanks, Dan!