Cob Oven Build

[marklewis]

Started a cob/clay oven build a few weeks back. I am planning to build a fire-brick oven but thought I could learn a lot from first building a practice clay oven to learn from. (am learning much; this has been great for learning and looking forward to my first fire and first pizza and first bread, etc, etc!)

The oven is 27 inch inside diameter. The cob is 3" thick and will later be covered with 3 or 4 inches of insulation. The hearth is firebrick over a 2.5 inch insulated vermiculite/concrete mix. Cob is 1 part clay, 1 part red sand, 1 part fine sand, 1/2 part course sand mix, and just a little shredded wheat straw.

We made 3" wet bricks with a form and built the oven over packed sand one ring/brick at a time.

I cut the door today: 13.5" at base and 9.5" tall (inside dome is 15"). Will have more pictures soon of completed oven with cut door and sand removed)

Allowing clay to dry a few days before we pull out the sand form and clean up the inside. It's been fun but a lot of work.

[marklewis]

Here are a few more pictures. It is hard to wait for it to dry but I must be patient; would hate for the whole thing to collapse because I am impatient!

[Tscarborough]

Outstanding! I want to build one like that for fun.

[marklewis]

Nice Oven Tscarborough! Did you plan to remodel the house side to match your oven or was the oven an afterthought? Looks good!

It is fun to build and work with clay/mud; I'm already thinking of building a small cob study and/or sauna; but alas, must first finish the other 99 projects I've started!

[Archena]

Coolness!

Um, 'cob' and 'sauna' are two words that probably don't go together. Cob can't handle constant wetness and humidity that high that long would probably do not nice things. Cob will make a wonderful study though - and you can put the money saved toward the wood for the sauna!

[marklewis]

Originally Posted by Archena

Coolness!

Um, 'cob' and 'sauna' are two words that probably don't go together. Cob can't handle constant wetness and humidity that high that long would probably do not nice things. Cob will make a wonderful study though - and you can put the money saved toward the wood for the sauna!

Your right, but I was going to make a dry heat without the steam! Probably never get to it anyway; I still have my treehouse and house addition to complete!

[Archena]

Well, yeah, if you cheat and be all practical and stuff!


Okay, so 'dry heat' and 'sauna' are a concept problem for me. :blush:

[marklewis]

I have pulled out the sand and newspaper. Totally cool!!! Will allow to dry a few days and then build a small fire to complete the drying process. My sourdough starter is almost ready!!! (dreaming of fresh hot baked bread!!!)

The oven is holding up nicely. It took 20 minutes to dig out the sand form and another 15 to pull off the paper but it held its shape well. The bricks worked well but I think one could build an oven quicker by just plastering the adobe onto the paper covered form.

Hopefully my next pictures (after several days) will be our first fire and subsequently some tasty pizza and bread.

[Archena]

Awesome!

Actually, using wet clay/straw/sand without drying it into bricks first is using cob. Adobe is when you make mud bricks first. (Yeah, I'm a definition nazi... )

But seriously, it looks great!

[marklewis]

Originally Posted by Archena

Awesome!

Actually, using wet clay/straw/sand without drying it into bricks first is using cob. Adobe is when you make mud bricks first. (Yeah, I'm a definition nazi... )

But seriously, it looks great!

Reply from Mark Lewis: Thanks for the info: I'm bad about using the wrong term for something; learn something everyday! Thanks for the reply! Can you send me some pics or a link to your oven?