Clay Oven Part 4

Clay Oven Part 4

Doug, Julie, their children and other helpers made huge progress last weekend and finished the oven. The last blog shows the oven with its first layer, a clay and sand mix that will absorb and retain heat. The second layer is a 4-inch layer of clay and sawdust mixture. The sawdust will help insulate and keep the heat directed toward the interior. Finally the exterior 2-inch layer is a mixture of clay and straw. The straw was cut into finger length pieces and is the ‘rebar’ that adds strength to the structure. Decoration at the top and a ceramic mosaic on the base not only expresses the artistic creativity of the builders but helps to produces an awe for all onlookers.

We will not use the oven for at least a few weeks as it slowly dries in the open wood shed. Too much heat too early could result in cracking and crumbling and negate the incredible effort of the hundreds of hours put into it. Fortunately, the arrival of the windy season will aid in moisture evaporation and since it is under a roof and has walls on three sides, it will not be subject to the frequent mists we receive this time of year. Its first fire, in a couple of weeks, will consist of a single candle and then it will gradually receive large flames until this big baby is ready to join the ranks of 800 degree, 90 second pizza cooking professionals. The timing during the holiday season is quite nice as well, but I don’t think we’ll be able to cook a feast until January. That is the plan, so we will see how it evolves.

It is a great project – a combination of community effort, learning new skills, getting hands and feet wet, experimenting and wondering, exploring with design and artistic ideas, finding local resources and getting to know each other.

Some additional thoughts:

Construction: The materials one chooses to build an oven depends on overall philosophy and goals. Do you try to use only natural and locally available materials, or will you use fabricated materials such as metals and fiberglass insulation, or will you use some type of combination? Are you aiming for low labor intensity or do you have many eager hands that want to be busy? Are you concerned about cost or have specific time limitations?

Function: How long will the oven last? How will the high humidity levels here affect its longevity and function? What fire building techniques will we use to maintain consistent and even heat? How can we best utilize the oven for special events and how will we pass on the fire building skills?

Signed M