Cob Oven Build

[Archena]

Re: Cob Oven Build

Keep the roof above the oven - someone (I don't remember names well) had problems with pests when her oven was too closed off

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Re: Cob Oven Build

Hi Mark,
Great oven, are you sure you want to build another one,, Looks like that one is working well..

Nice Job,,
Cheers
Mark

[marklewis]

Re: Cob Oven Build

Hi Mark,
Great oven, are you sure you want to build another one,, Looks like that one is working well..

Nice Job,,
Cheers
Mark

Thanks for the accolades! The clay oven is working well and we have used it 4 times to make various meals. It is on the small side and I would like to have something larger and more permanent. I am bad about "chunking" wood into the oven and the fired cob is strong but it will chip! Also, my door of 13.5 inches is tight for a 12" peel. (I need to buy an 8" banjo peel)

I checked out your album for things cooked and your build. You have some tasty looking birds there! I also would like to cook a turkey and the present oven is too small. (I'll try a chicken though)

Your oven looks great; what is the diameter and what would your recommend for a good size. I am debating at the minimum probably 36" but will consider a 40" max. I like the idea of less wood and time to fire but want a good comprimise to allow larger items. Do you think 36" is adequate?

Thanks; Mark.

[marklewis]

First Pizza!

This was the first fire for cooking and the first pizza cooked. It was very good!! I realize I have much to learn about making sauce and dough and cooking but am off to a good start!

I tried a sourdough bread using a starter but it didn't turn out. Back to the drawing board; in the mean time I'll make some bread using packaged yeast.

It has gotten warm here (NC) (high was 87). The oven is a hit but I think we'll enjoy it more in the cooler months vs. the hotter summer days to come.
(It gets 98 degrees here with high humidity!)

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Re: Cob Oven Build

Your oven looks great; what is the diameter and what would your recommend for a good size. I am debating at the minimum probably 36" but will consider a 40" max.

My oven is a hair over 40 inches inside, the door opening is 20 1/2 .... I put a 20 lb, turkey thru that door with no problem at all...

As far as the size, 40 is great, 36" I think would be more than adequate, and I believe thats a size many of the members are using... I laid mine out and honestly it just worked out well with that size dome on the foundation...

Just put a nice soapstone counter on it over the weekend, Still have finish work to do.. The beer can chicken is a great dinner,, I like to do it in a heavy cast iron pan, then you can add potato,onions,garlic etc.. its very easy give it a shot.. Here's a pic with the new counter..

Cheeers
Mark

[Frances]

Re: Cob Oven Build

Hi Mark

I just posted an answer to your question on my profile thingy...

Your oven looks great, really tidy looking mud oven! And the pizza looks yummy pizza too, congratulations! What are you going to use for insulation?

[marklewis]

Re: Cob Oven Build

Hi Mark

I just posted an answer to your question on my profile thingy...

Your oven looks great, really tidy looking mud oven! And the pizza looks yummy pizza too, congratulations! What are you going to use for insulation?

Hey Frances; Thanks for sending me a link to your oven pictures; your oven truely is work of art!
I'm going to use 4" of vermiculite/concrete mix over the dome for insulation. I used a 5 to 1 ratio under the hearth. I formed a test area of 3" on the dome and after 1 hour of full firing it was about 100 F. I think 4" will perform well for my needs and then a final layer of rendering for protection/cosmetic detail.

[SloW8]

Re: Cob Oven Build

That thing looks great! Any update? New pics? I am going to try and do an earth/cob oven soon and am trying to figure out the best mix of clay/sand. Where did you get your clay from? Was it commercial or just out of the ground?

Joe

[BackyardPermaculture]

Re: Cob Oven Build

I am going to try and do an eath/cob oven soon and am trying to figure out the best mix of clay/sand. Where did you get your clay from? Was it commercial or just out of the ground?
Joe

Joe, FWIW I'm also just completing a cob oven build. I used commercial "ball clay", which is a very fine powder. The mix was equal parts clay, sand, crusher dust, with some portland cement added. I think the amount of clay could have been reduced even further to reduce cracking, although the cracks haven't been too bad.

The essential thing is to add fibres (aka "fibers"). I used quite a bit of natural rope chopped up; traditionally straw is used. Either way, make sure you have something in there!

Also consider a design with a chimney situated outside of the door/opening.

Cheers,
Mick

[marklewis]

Re: Cob Oven Build

Hey Joe, Thanks for the reply. I drove some back roads and found a dark red spot where the road crew had dug through a hill. Clay is pretty common here in fayetteville NC. My mix was 1 part clay, 1 part sand mix from lowes and 1 part reddish sand 1.5 feet down in my back yard. I also purchased wheat straw from lowes and shred it by hand and added it to the mix.

There is a thread on here from a guy in hendersonville nc where he first made cob bricks and then built his oven. I think this will work well or you can do wet bricks like I did or probably just lay it on thick around a sand mold core & make sure there are no air gaps.

You may want to experiment first with a very small oven just to see how you like your mixture etc. Some even make a very small test one that you could bake a muffin in as a test.

Be prepared for cracks with a cob oven. eventually I will make a larger firebrick oven when I get time. Have fun!!!

[stephen*z]

Re: Cob Oven Build

Mark,
what a great job! my visionof cob ovens is mud piles with burn marks on them. yours looks like a piece of pottery. nice job.
Steve

[marklewis]

Re: Cob Oven Build

Thanks, It looked even better until the cracks formed! (as they will!)

[mn8tr]

Re: Cob Oven Build

Nice work all around, that does look like a fun project to try. Little boys playing in the mud, some things never change.

[marklewis]

Re: Cob Oven Build

mn8tr: Amen!! no better stress relief than to get dirty!! I saw your build; looks nice. Did you design it or use some plans? I was wondering if your bricks in the dome are larger than most builds? The larger bricks would expedite building. Did you cut the dome bricks at angles to reduce the cement gap or just go with it? any problems after firing. It really looks good: I want to do permanent build with firebricks and I like your design: any drawings or schematics you could post, etc??

Separtely, the pool and hot tub are a nice addition to the oven!

Thanks, Mark Lewis

[aiannar974]

Re: Cob Oven Build

are you still using the cob oven. how has it held up? did you ever finish the outside?