I wanted to make an oven, somewhere to bake some pizza. So I started to work…

First, I started with the concrete form with some welded wire in it. I screeded the concrete to make a even, sturdy surface for the firebricks. Then, I created an earthbag foundation that goes up to waist height.  This was a note from my Dad about his oven - it would be easier to use if up higher.

Packing the earthbags into a mini dome and covering it with some earthen plaster got it up high enough. I somehow moved the concrete slab on top of that. Then I put a bed of fine sand down and placed the firebricks.

I created a sand form. This form would become the inside of the oven. I created a mixture of sand and water and packed and shaped until I got the shape I wanted. Which in retrospect I think was too small. Anyway! I covered the sand with a burlap sack to make a break between the sand the the cob.

Let the cobbing commence! I just kept through the mud on and pushing down against itself.
Shaping and sculpting is so fun. After I got it how I wanted I left it alone ’til the next day where I removed the sand and gave it a test firing.  I couldn’t wait any longer.

It doesn’t work as well as I would like… darn. Oh well, it’s cob - I can start over. I think next spring I might make it bigger or cut into it and make a larger mouth. Possibly build up the chimney for more draw.
View the slideshow »