Cob Oven

[Doc]

Hi all

I spent ages researching this cob oven stuff and then thought to myself "Self, if you do not just get on with it, you will never be able to brag about it."

For anybody interested (or just bored or nosey) you can go here and learn how I made this cob oven.

His name is Colin

Probably never win any awards, but I do not care, I made it myself with junk and stuff lying around (well, actually stored neatly in the storage paddock)

This is the before scene




Then, using the latest in modern green technology, ascertain which spot in the garden probably gets the most warmth and protection





After





Amazing what you can cook in it.





With the next firing, I am hoping to do more loaves/rolls and a roast and casserole.

The oven held its heat for about 18 hours and that can only be a good thing

Most of the base was made from excess rock/gravel/sand/loam/clay stuff that was left over when we had a tidy up and it makes a great talking point when we have our open days.

All of the wood is from our prunings and downed (gets windy) branches from our property, so great recycling project.

Doc

[Millymollymandy]

Blimey that's amazing and no wonder you named him.... and I love seeing all your photos! Stick around please.

[wolfsong]

lol, round here you wouldn't be able to build it quite like that... the rain would wash it away!
Bloody brilliant though! well done (love the cat test, does it now sit on top of the oven? )

[Doc]

What, like this?

Is the oven dry yet?




Her job is to check temperatures/conditions around the place.

Also known to let you know if your wormery is warm enough for the worms





...or if the potting mix is warm enough to plant into





Or even if the compost is the right temperature.




Does not cost much to run, does not expend a lot of energy (have no action shots of Ninja) acts as a solar collector and is handy for releasing warmth into a room with a soft couch

Available from any good pet recycle centre

Doc

Edited to correct a link

[Sky]

That is Awesome!!!
Well done!
I want one!

[ina]

That is Awesome!!!
Well done!
I want one!

Cat or oven?

Both absolutely brilliant...

[Millymollymandy]

I spent ages this morning looking at all the pictures of the cat on Scarecrow's website. Boy does that cat know how to pose! (and how to be a lazy bugger!)

[ina]

My cat is camera shy... Haven't got a single decent photo of her.

[red]

fab - i want to build one now!

our cat likes to lie on my freshly sown seeds in the greenhouse.... *sigh*

[frozenthunderbolt]

Hey doc that is awesome. Just to clarify - the fire is built in the oven box and then swept out, NOT in the barrel holding wood in the picture 1/2 way down the oven yes?
Awesome bit of work

[Doc]

Hi frozenthunderbolt

the fire is built in the oven box and then swept out, NOT in the barrel holding wood in the picture 1/2 way down

Correct although sometimes I only sweep the coals aside depending on how long I want the oven to be hot.

The bucket for storage was because:

1 I have a few of them around and

2 because I can and

3 I have a lot of faggoty wood available on site and it is easily stored out of the way.

Doc

[gigglybug]

That is fab!!!

And a big thanks because you have inspired my OH to help me build one!

[ADG]

I'd love to make one but knowing the british councils they would either want to put it in a tax band or insist it was pulled down, could put half a dozen Poles in it then the council would be scared not to be politically correct

[grahamhobbs]

Well done, everyone should have one. We're starting one on our allotment.
One thing, I've used a traditional brick oven in France and was surprised that you said the fire needed to be made 5 hours before use. The one I used was much bigger, could probably take about 20 loaves, was up and running within an hour (hadn't previously been used for about 20years). One thing I noticed was that the roof of the oven, made of tiles on edge, was lower in proportion to the width than what you built.

[contadino]

Yes. Ours needs about 30 minutes to get up to pizza temperature, bread temperature in about 20 minutes. Also, I sweep the embers to one side and cook on the clear side rather than remove them.