Clay oven building

[zazen999]

So - this week I've been rather busy sorting out some of my students coming to Ryton to build a clay oven in the gardens.

We had one group Tuesday morning, one Tuesday afternoon and the third all day yesterday - but we ran out of clay and so there is an opportunity for another day of building - hurrah!

I don't want to rewrite the technical files, and info on building them is available in plenty of places online - but basically

A solid base of bricks is needed that forms the base of the oven - engineering bricks so that they don't crack
Mix up your cob - which is sand and clay [sharp sand]
Make your building sand 'mould' which will become the cooking space
Cover with damp strips of newspaper
Then the cob goes over the top - one layer about 4 inches deep.

End of day 1

[zazen999]

As is at the end of Day 1. Main point - we needed tea and cake after the students had gone home. That is an essential part of the process.

[zazen999]

Day 2

Cover the rest of the top with the cob, over the top of the newspaper.

Then, mark out the door space, which will be removed...and mark the surface of the cob with crosses to allow the second layer of cob to bind.

Mix the next cob layer, this time you need to add some straw once the clay and sand are all mixed up.

Then, take out the door space, and build a small lintel with small sticks stuck into the cob, and weave longer sticks in between.

Next, add a second straw cob layer, about 6 inches deep, leaving 2 inches space around the door so that when you make a wooden door, it can fit nicely into it's own space.

We left the oven with the strawy cob layer just above the lintel, so will come back to it and finish it to go right over the top.

Then we will mix another strawy cob batch, but this time will chop the straw into small pieces and it will be a one inch thick layer all over. This layer can be decorated so I'm hoping some of my arty friends can come along and maybe decorate it.

Then we will remove the sand from the inside and leave to dry for a month. Then we will do a test fire, and maybe decorate or tile the horizontal surface for preparing bread dough on.




I'll add more photos after next week, as I had to stop taking photos yesterday as the wind was too much for the tripod and my hands were filthy with sand and clay so couldn't hold my camera.

*Found another photo on my phone...this is how we left it yesterday...

[VirginVegGrower]

Day 2

Cover the rest of the top with the cob, over the top of the newspaper.

Then, mark out the door space, which will be removed...and mark the surface of the cob with crosses to allow the second layer of cob to bind.

Mix the next cob layer, this time you need to add some straw once the clay and sand are all mixed up.

Then, take out the door space, and build a small lintel with small sticks stuck into the cob, and weave longer sticks in between.

Next, add a second straw cob layer, about 6 inches deep, leaving 2 inches space around the door so that when you make a wooden door, it can fit nicely into it's own space.

We left the oven with the strawy cob layer just above the lintel, so will come back to it and finish it to go right over the top.

Then we will mix another strawy cob batch, but this time will chop the straw into small pieces and it will be a one inch thick layer all over. This layer can be decorated so I'm hoping some of my arty friends can come along and maybe decorate it.

Then we will remove the sand from the inside and leave to dry for a month. Then we will do a test fire, and maybe decorate or tile the horizontal surface for preparing bread dough on.




I'll add more photos after next week, as I had to stop taking photos yesterday as the wind was too much for the tripod and my hands were filthy with sand and clay so couldn't hold my camera.

I'm thinking glass marble centres and hippy flower shapes. Your ladybird should be in there somewhere, a bee as a two fingered salute to Monsanto.

[Glutton4...]

That's fab!

I feel the need to have one of these in my own garden - if I ever get my 'own' garden, that is!

[zazen999]

It is fun but utterly utterly exhausting.

I am [for my sins] using the excess materials to build another one in the next few weeks with some of my other students; just currently collecting enough engineering bricks to make the base and enough clay [from my allotment] and we're off!

I really really want one in our garden too. Once this job has finished I'll think about it.

[PyreneesPlot]

Brilliant and thanks for posting.
Mr PP has been tasked with building one before the end of last year...

[Glutton4...]

You got enough clay, PP?


*runs off to grab tin 'at!

[zazen999]

Just updated Day 2 - after finding another photo on my phone.

[VirginVegGrower]

I want one in my garden as well and have it on Mr VVGs to do list

[chris]

I'm building one in mine, with a brick bbq too - can't wait to get started on it (grumble, must finish house first)

[Feral007]

I want one too. Interesting to see this one. There is a guy builds them locally, and runs courses. He uses bottles instead of bricks. You have to find someone who drinks enough of the same brand of beer as the bottles all have to be the same. Not really an issue in this village!

He offers to make them for communities. Some of us would love one for the hall, others seem to find all the problems for it. Apparently they only last a few years........a few years of being able to make pizza's at the hall on entertainment nights, oven made for nothing? Some people!

[DuncanM]

Great idea and cracking build. I built my own wood fired oven in my garden last year, but it's a much more permanent structure out of firebrick (and the size of a small shed!)

[zazen999]

And I'm done.

Am leaving it for now...they will tile the base and lime render the outside once dry. Testing it in about 3 weeks.

[VirginVegGrower]

And I'm done. [ATTACH]36366[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]36367[/ATTACH]

Am leaving it for now...they will tile the base and lime render the outside once dry. Testing it in about 3 weeks.

Wowzers!