Want to build a portable range top pizza oven box.

[David Fuhrmann]

We are full time RV travelers. I have this idea for building a box that I can sit on top of a RV gas stovetop and make homemade pizzas in. I want it to be 8"-10" high and have a hinged fold down front door. I have a piece of sheetmetal I can use for the top. I am wanting to know if I could make the sides out of wood and cover them with hardie backed board (concrete board typically used to attach tile on) to protect wood frame from getting to hot and catching fire. If not hardie board, what could I use that wouldn't burn or catch fire? I anticipate the internal box temperature may reach 800 degrees. Suggestions?

[Jim K.]

@Mike Reynolds

A high-fire ceramics kiln can get to 2350F to fire porcelain and stoneware glazes. Even low-fire terra cotta work usually fires at 1945F. A gas-fired production or specialized kiln can get much higher, but a very basic gas-fired raku kiln, like many pottery enthusiasts build these days, only gets up to 1850F max.

@Michelle Santhanam

Wood-fired pizza ovens can hit 800F. Coal-fired ovens can get to 900F.

@David Fuhrmann

Theoretically, if you still want to go through with this, forget HardieBacker and go with firebrick and the specialized high temp mortar for firebricks which is also used for casting. HardieBacker doesn't burn. but it will transfer your pizza oven's heat. Wood catches fire instantly when it's exposed to 700F heat, which it would almost inevitably be when you opened your oven. You'd definitely have to do metal.

I think this is all a crazy, risky idea for an RV and you should avoid it, but to each his own way to the devil in this wonderful free country we live in, and I've been wrong many times about just as many things.