Sunday 15 August 2021

Frist Failed Cob Oven! - Earth Oven Part 2

Once we got to grips with the cob as a building material and found a better way to mix it (Using the paddle mixer I use to mix plaster and plaster board adhesive) we set about making a test oven. 
This was just to be a test oven and see if we could get the materials to work for us. 

We made a dome using some building sand and covered it with some wet newspaper. What we didn't do here was take any measurements and just guessed it. In hindsight we probably should have worked out the ratios from the height of the inside to the height of the door opening. 

We then covered it with a good layer the clay and sand mix and smoothed it on. The children loved this bit! 


I left them to remove the sand from the inside whilst I tried (and failed) to get the dumper going for another project. 

We set a small fire and kept it going then. Unfortunately I think our door way was far too small so the oven wouldn't draw. The fire would go out as soon as we pushed it back in. What was amazing was how quickly the clay hardened up around where the fire was. 

The children decorated the oven and hilariously we tried to fry an egg. We closed the oven door (or now "mouth") and went to have our tea. We came back an hour later to a still very raw egg! 

But we got to use the building material, learnt lots about it and had a fun day trying. When we build the proper oven we'll be able to reuse the cob we've mixed so nothing will be wasted. 

Next step is to clear the proper area and build a base for it. Watch this space! 





14 comments:

  1. Would a small hole opposite for chimney have helped?

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    1. Possibly, I think it was more the door was too small.

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  2. Good luck,, I'm looking forward to seeing it work.

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  3. If at first you don't succeed. Great to see everyone taking part in the cob oven construction. I'm certain you will master it. I'll keep watching.

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    1. I think it's good for the children to see me learning something as well. It's good to know not everything works first time.

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  4. what fun! i can't wait to see the final oven.

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    1. There is a lot of work ahead of us I think!

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  5. When I have seen cob being made, it has chopped straw mixed in with the clay. Also, perhaps the design is fine, it was just too small to work. Love the "face".

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    1. Yeah the next layer when we build the proper one will have sawdust in it I think. the first layer is suppsed to be clay and sand from what I've read. although willing to be proved wrong!

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  6. I love this whole project. Thanks for sharing it.

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    1. Thank you! We will hopefully get something almost useable by the end of the summer!

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  7. What fun. Such a great way for kids to learn. Next time will be better!

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    1. Yes! And really its good for the kids to see soemthing not work first time. Life isn't easy and it's good to see us all working on something together.

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