Steel helps, but it can’t fix a cold centre oven.

Coke’s Pizza Store — Werkzeug ohne Kult.

Red line: Gear lists that imply skill transfer by osmosis.

Steel doesn't fix a cold centre—measure the deck, not the brand sticker.

Tape measure before steel: fit and recovery first.

Case note: Three equal dough balls, three different bases: oven recovery was the variable, not the dough.

Example: three pies back-to-back without recovery—the stone cools, not ‘the recipe’.

Setup check (concrete)

Scales with 1g resolution pay rent every weekend.

A lame (blade) is for rotation, not ego.

The failure mode we see constantly

Using a wet towel on hot steel—thermal shock cracks happen.

Storing peel and stone wet—warp and mould love that.

A mini protocol to try

One step: Scales with 1g resolution pay rent every weekend.

Write the outcome—or you’re repeating luck.

Stone heat vs air heat

Stone: contact crisp and bottom colour.

Air/broiler: top finish—easy to run away from you.

If tops burn and bottoms lag, you’re solving the wrong half of the problem.

Thermal shock cracks gear—cool-down rules · topics by failure mode.

How to use this guide

Context first, tuning second—avoid changing three levers at once or you won’t know what worked.