Belforno Oven
RESOURCES
Building Your Pizza Oven
Step-by-Step Guide to Assembling Your Oven Kit (PDF download)
The Finished Product
The final finish depends entirely on your personal taste. Some prefer a simple igloo shape, and others prefer the oven to be enclosed.
There are many creative ways to finish the outside of an igloo, for example pigmented stucco. tiles, or mosaic – to name a few.
And likewise there are many ways to finish the surface of an enclosed oven – for example brick, stone, stucco or even copper.
Whatever finish you decide on, at the heart will be a Belforno oven ready to give decades of pleasure and enjoyment. We hope you decide to join the Belforno family.
Design Services
Make use of our design service to plan both oven style & location and also venting requirements. Contact us today for information.
It’s simple! Choose a size & click to buy.
802-230-4600
Using a Wood-Fired Oven
No oven will operate efficiently without proper heat, so selecting the right wood is very important. All fuel must be dry to burn effectively.
Wood gives off energy when it burns, measured in British thermal units (BTU or Btu). Every species has a different heat value, softwoods being at the low end, and hardwoods at the high end.
The lower the BTUs the less suitable for wood fired ovens. Avoid pine & fir as they are they emit resins and are too soft to form embers, unless using small pieces of pine to start the fire. As a general rule softwoods aren’t suitable for wood fired ovens. Hardwoods such as red and white oak which are ideals as are some fruitwoods such as cherry and apple.
Firstly, gather the fuel for the fire. You’ll need 4 or so sheets of newspaper, and good amount of kindling (thin dry twigs), and 16 to 20 pieces of firewood of about 1 or 2″ in diameter.
Form a wood stack 3 pieces high, by placing two pieces of firewood parallel to each other, at a distance equal to a little less than the length of the shorter piece. Add two pieces in opposing direction, forming a square, then add a further two pieces, again in the opposing direction.
Loosely crumple separate sheets of newspaper and place in the center of the wood stack. Add the kindling to the paper. Now, if there is room, place pieces of firewood on the stack on all sides.
Using a long match, a gas firelighter or a taper, light the paper. Pay attention to ensure the paper properly ignites the kindling, and blow gently to add oxygen if necessary. Once the fire is strong adding 2 or 3 pieces of wood to the top of the stack. The aim is to get a good bed of coals.