how to get water out of foam mat?

[BeanAnimal]

I was trying to be respectful to "Old Man Bean" I drove by his house the other day, saw him in a lawn chair, socks pulled to his knees, shaking his fist as I drove by, screaming, "There's nobody in the drivers seat!. It's actions like this that angered the gods and erupted Mount Vesuvius in the first place!". Hehe. In all seriousness @BeanAnimal, I want a pizza oven like that!... I think I remember reading instructions on your website years and years back on how to make one... or maybe it was you documenting your progress....

I never finished the documentation.

Long story short though.

For 25+ years I have wanted to build a Pompeii style oven. I started designing it in notebooks and autocad when we purchased the house in 2001. The warden would absolutely 100% not in favor. I mean the "if I come home and that project is stared you will need to find a new home" type of not-in-favor. I tried every known Jedi mind trick in the book and her force was much much stronger.

Then Covid happened. I said "well if we are going to be locked at home for a year or more, maybe a good way to pass the time would be to build the oven"

She said "maybe".

I took that as "not no" and ordered $5000 worth of refractory materials and fire brick 20 minutes later (March). Because of course, I had regularly kept my plans updated...

She was not happy when the 6' cube was dropped off by freight in the driveway a week later.

Her only question was "How long until it is finished and will you promise to not leave it unfinished... like every other project?"

I said "about the time the snow flies, it will be done"

- 4 foot hole.
- Full poured footer
- block foundation
- concrete poured stand
- 6" reinforced hearth slab
- layers of refractory insulation (calsil board)
- brick floor
- brick dome
- ceramic blanket insulation
- concrete parge over insulation
- gable house framed over dome with steel studs
- stone veneer
- very expensive stainless double will flue pipe
- slate roof
- hand bend copper flashings and dip edge.

insanity and overkill. A bomb shelter if need be.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I never finished the documentation.

Long story short though.

For 25+ years I have wanted to build a Pompeii style oven. I started designing it in notebooks and autocad when we purchased the house in 2001. The warden would absolutely 100% not in favor. I mean the "if I come home and that project is stared you will need to find a new home" type of not-in-favor. I tried every known Jedi mind trick in the book and her force was much much stronger.

Then Covid happened. I said "well if we are going to be locked at home for a year or more, maybe a good way to pass the time would be to build the oven"

She said "maybe".

I took that as "not no" and ordered $5000 worth of refractory materials and fire brick 20 minutes later (March). Because of course, I had regularly kept my plans updated...

She was not happy when the 6' cube was dropped off by freight in the driveway a week later.

Her only question was "How long until it is finished and will you promise to not leave it unfinished... like every other project?"

I said "about the time the snow flies, it will be done"

- 4 foot hole.
- Full poured footer
- block foundation
- concrete poured stand
- 6" reinforced hearth slab
- layers of refractory insulation (calsil board)
- brick floor
- brick dome
- ceramic blanket insulation
- concrete parge over insulation
- gable house framed over dome with steel studs
- stone veneer
- very expensive stainless double will flue pipe
- slate roof
- hand bend copper flashings and dip edge.

insanity and overkill. A bomb shelter if need be.

Ok, you talked me out of it. I don't need another project like that right now.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

We need another evening in your shop to catch up on things.

Meh! I need to come see your horded mountain of pukani rock.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

I like to use Mountain Flat Bread for my pizzas...

 

[stewy14]

Sometimes it dawns on me in odd ways that younger people don’t often drive or go to stores… or cook. 2x year old neighbor eats delivery every night and takes Uber everywhere…. Even though she has a car. Friends children are the same…. Most don’t drive even though they are 17-25 years old.

FWIW Stewy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, ace hardware, and numerous other places have it and you don’t have to wait.

im 15... can't drive, and found some for 2$ on amazon

 

[BeanAnimal]

im 15... can't drive, and found some for 2$ on amazon

All good Stewy - was just having some fun. I know you are not quite old enough to drive…. Question is, do you want to?

 

[Reefering1]

All good Stewy - was just having some fun. I know you are not quite old enough to drive…. Question is, do you want to?

im 15... can't drive, and found some for 2$ on amazon

Do you have your learners permit already? I know that was my top priority when I turned 15, that and a job so I can buy a car(1991 Honda accord). And all the "best times" wouldn't have happened if I wasn't independently mobile. Trust us, you want to drive kid

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

im 15... can't drive, and found some for 2$ on amazon

Your parents probably have some...

 

[stewy14]

Your parents probably have some...

no they dont

 

[stewy14]

Do you have your learners permit already? I know that was my top priority when I turned 15, that and a job so I can buy a car(1991 Honda accord). And all the "best times" wouldn't have happened if I wasn't independently mobile. Trust us, you want to drive kid

no 16 in nj, but I really really want to drive!! I can go anywhere I want(if its inside my parental allowed zone)
surfing, photography, annoy my lfs for however long I want!!

 

[klc]

Meh! I need to come see your horded mountain of pukani rock.

You’re welcome over anytime, and you may be surprised the mountain of Pukani isn’t as big as it once was, Mr. Bramucci from Epic Aquaculture hauled a truckload of it home with him a month or so ago

 

[stewy14]

Ok, back to main problem, how to get water out of mat? Would a blow dryer work or something?

 

[klc]

If you think water has been absorbed by the mat you'll have to move the tank to let the mat dry out. If it does have water in/on/under it, the finish on the desk is likely already damaged. It would take days upon days to use a blow drier to dry it out from just the edge, the water would have to wick to the edge to be evaporated and then the salt would be left behind. Personally, I'd get some buckets and temporarily drain the tank and take a look under it, thats an hours worth of work at the most. If you find nothing, then at least you know.

 

[stewy14]

I remember drivers ed class when I was a sophomore in high school, it was 1985. We were always told we had to watch "Red Asphalt", it was allegedly a film produced in the 60's that depicted car crashes and horrific injuries, but it never materialized and was just a wives tale to scare us lol. The student driver car we had to drive with an instructor in had a gas and brake pedal on the passenger side too, it was the strangest thing at the time. Oh the good times we had after we got our drivers licenses, next came the 71 camaro but that's the topic of another discussion lol.

It’s a real thing!

 

[Reefering1]

Ok, back to main problem, how to get water out of mat? Would a blow dryer work or something?

Lazy way-Try pushing a towel into the Crack over and under the mat. Really try to get it in there. Leave that for a couple days and it should wick the water out.
Right way- move the tank, dry it, stop draping towels over your tank. Problem solved. You can even leave a thin rag, layed flat, under. It will help future spills evaporate