The construction of a mud-based exterior oven involves several steps, including design and planning, foundation and base, building the dome, insulation, door and chimney, curing and drying, and firing the oven. Mud ovens have been used for thousands of years and are made of a clay-sand mixture baked by the wood fire used to heat it. To create a mud oven, soak a bunch of sand with a hose and mix up more mud to give it another thin coat to cover the cracks and vent hole.
To create an outdoor oven, pick a flat area in your yard and build a base of material that drains well. You will need builders’ sand, clay, water, rubble/hardcore wood shavings, normal building bricks (e.g., London), and materials and equipment.
The oven base is formed out of fire bricks. A 3-4 inch layer of cob is placed on top of the insulation layer, so that the outer edges would meet up. Once within four inches of the top of the base, mix up a batch of “oven mud” – clay and coarse sand. Oven mud clay is a mixture of clay and coarse sand, which is used to form the oven’s base.
In this video, two guys build a mud oven (Earth Oven) in primitive ways without any tools support beside. They use approximately 500kg of clay, 300kg building sand (roughly 40 of the mix), 30kg of grog, and about a wheelbarrow of sand to create the oven’s insulation layer.
In conclusion, building a mud-based exterior oven is a simple and cost-effective way to cook food and enjoy off-grid living. By following these steps, you can create a mud-based oven that is both functional and affordable for your outdoor cooking needs.
📹 Avoiding Mistakes Building a Pizza Oven / Building a Brick Oven / Pizza Oven Construction
In this video, I will go over five different things that you need to consider to avoid making mistakes. Topics that are covered include: …
How to build an oven in nature?
A square oven is a type of oven made from stone walls, filled with clay or mud, and topped with large rocks. The oven door should fit well in the opening, and internally-fired ovens should have an opening at the back to act as a chimney during firing. The oven can be fired immediately, and the fire should be cocked to the side to allow the fire to breathe and the door to heat up. The oven should be fired for 1½ to 2 hours, after which the ash and coals are swept out, the food is placed inside, and the door and chimney are sealed tightly. Stones from dry areas are recommended, with granite, soapstone, and greenstone being the best choices for these ovens.
Can you harden clay in a home oven?
To accelerate the hardening process of air-dry clay, bake it at a low temperature of 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The baking time depends on the clay’s thickness, with thinner pieces taking around 20 minutes and thick pieces baking until moisture evaporates. Polymer clay is a versatile material that can be used by schoolteachers or parents to prevent distractions and ensure a finished product. It is important to use a low temperature of 200 degrees Fahrenheit and continuously check on the clay to prevent cracking. Polymer clay is a great choice for those who want to avoid wasting ruined products.
How to build a clay oven step by step?
This post provides a detailed guide on building a clay oven, covering the plinth foundation, plinth and brick oven floor, the clay-sand mixture and puddling technique, the dome sand-former and first layer, the oven entrance and chimney, the wood shavings and clay slip layer, and the final clay-sand layer. It also covers the build order, materials and equipment needed, the build time, and the lifespan of the clay oven. The links to the other seven parts of the post can be found on the left-hand column.
How to construct a mud oven?
Building a clay oven is a simple and effective way to cook food. The domed oven, an ancient technology dating back to 9, 000 years ago, is an ancient method used to cook pizza and other foods while the fire is still burning. The dome functions as a battery, absorbing heat while it’s being fired. After the fire has died down, you can bake bread and casseroles with the stored heat radiating into the oven from the dome.
The oven you suggest is made of powdered clay and sand. It heats quickly, allowing you to start baking dinner in 15 to 20 minutes while the fire is still burning inside the oven. The shell is thin compared to brick, but it’s well-insulated under the floor and over the dome, allowing it to be used for days on a single firing. In summer, the oven will be at least 400 degrees Fahrenheit in the morning, still hot enough for bread baking that afternoon. The temperature will still be higher than 200 degrees by the following morning.
In conclusion, building a clay oven is an easy and effective way to cook food. It’s a versatile and efficient way to cook food and enjoy the warmth of the fire.
What disadvantages does a mud house have?
Mud houses are devoid of robust walls and roofs, constructed from leaves or hay, which are not impermeable, thereby allowing precipitation to penetrate. Some dwellings are devoid of essential amenities, such as washrooms.
How do clay ovens work?
Clay ovens with a top opening are covered, and kettles are placed on top of them for coffee preparation. In tabun ovens without a top opening, a layer of fuel (usually dried manure) is spread on the outside of the shell and lid. The fire takes hold, and the fuel is covered with ash. When damp wood is used, the fuel smolders for hours, filling the baking rooms with smoke. After the initial flames have died down, kettles are removed from the oven’s top, and the oven is ready to receive prepared dough that clings to the inner-wall of the oven.
In Yemen, women light a fire in their tannour by placing thin splinters or twigs within the mouth of the oven, followed by thin pieces of wood, followed by thicker pieces. Two briquettes of sheep dung are set up on both sides of the wood pile, and cooking pots and coffee kettles are placed over the stove. The most important splinters for lighting are the jiʿdin, a bush with a sticky, elastic-like flammable substance between its bark and wood.
When the smoke resides, the lid is removed, and chunks of dough are hand flattened and placed directly on the limestones. In most ovens, 4 to 5 loaves can be baked at the same time. The fire is stoked using hot embers and ashes, and when the bread is ready, the lid is removed and the bread is taken out. This unique and economical baking process produces aromatic and flavorful food.
What material is used to make mud houses?
A mud house is a construction method that uses soil from the land where the house is built, enriched with local natural additives like rice husk and paddy straw. Mud houses have thatched roofs and are made from a semi-fluid material called slurry, mortar, plaster, stucco, or concrete. Mud houses are highly malleable, offer better insulation than steel-and-concrete structures, decentralize the construction process by using local materials and technology, eliminating the need for a contractor, and are cost-effective to maintain. Mud houses are also known by various names such as slurry, mortar, plaster, stucco, and concrete.
How to make a soil oven?
The Earth Oven is the oldest cooking method known to humankind, dating back tens of thousands of years. It involves digging a hole in the earth, lining it with stones, building a fire, removing all ash and debris, adding food, burying it, waiting, and finally, uncovering and eating. The basic design of the Earth Oven is simple: dig a pit in the ground, line it with stones, heat them up, and place food in it. This method can bake, smoke, or steam food, making it an exciting cooking experience perfect for parties and summer barbecues.
The unique flavor of cooking inside the Earth Oven makes other food-related terms seem like a lie, as it tastes like it was cooked inside the earth. The Earth Oven is a fun and unique cooking experience that is perfect for parties and summer barbecues.
How do you make adobe mud?
To ensure uniformity, it is necessary to incorporate a greater quantity of soil into the mixture of mud prior to its introduction into the adobe molds and subsequent compaction.
What is the difference between adobe and mud?
Adobe is an ancient building material made from sand, clay, straw, or grass mixed with moisture, formed into bricks, and naturally dried or baked in the sun without an oven or kiln. It is used today and was used in primitive architecture before the grand ancient stone temples of Greece and Rome. The strength and resilience of adobe depend on its water content, with too much water weakening the brick. Today’s commercial adobe is sometimes kiln-dried, but traditional bricks require about a month of drying in the sun before use.
Traditional methods of construction include applying various substances to protect the brick walls, such as insulation before exterior siding is applied. Adobe is mainly used in rural areas, where houses are typically one story, 3 meters high, with wall thicknesses ranging from 0. 25 m to 0. 80 m. In mountainous regions with steep hillsides, such as the Andes, houses can be up to three stories high. In parts of the Middle East, the roof of one house is used as the floor of the house above.
How much does it cost to build an outdoor pizza oven?
Building an outdoor pizza oven is a cost-effective alternative to purchasing and installing a pre-made one. A professionally installed oven costs around $3, 500, while a DIY oven can cost between $100 and $1, 000. The time to build a DIY oven can range from a few hours to a couple of weekends, depending on the materials used. Certain materials, like mortar and masonry adhesive, require time to cure, which can add time to the project. A kit can expedite the process. Choosing the right location for your pizza oven is crucial for its success.
📹 How to make smokelessmud clay oven for outdoor cooking
How to make smokeless mud clay oven for outdoor cooking.
Nice oven. I made a similar article for the indoor one I built for my cafe here in Japan. Mine is a 40 inch and with a 64% inner arch ratio for my Pompeii design. It is always better to run your flue back over the dome and then extend from the middle. This way the heat of the oven powers the draft. As for the height of the base that’s not a problem as everyone in a family is a different height. This is where you can fabricate a platform and place it on the floor and then move it for the taller members of the family. Also when making a Pompeii dome the roof should not be a perfect dome at the apex. It should flatten off a bit and this way you lessen the hot spots. 40 inch is the perfect size even for 2 guys cooking pizzas all night. The only time you need something bigger is when you have a bread operation. I made mine with a second battery brick behind the dome and with a double floor. Super even and consistent and much much longer heat retention.
I can so relate to your article, if you say 40 inches is that inner diameter or outer diameter? I’ve built two pizza oven before, first one was too small and the chimney was placed too high in relation with the ceiling of the oven and the base was too low. Lessons learned! Second attempt I managed to get the opening size perfect and the chimney going back over the top worked a charm. Although I made the base higher than the first one it was still about 8 inches too low for my liking. Both these oven are still in use as they were at different properties we lived at before. Also the perfect radius dome resulted in using such a big load of firewood to get the oven to temp. I am planning a third attempt where I will lower the dome (I saw you mentioned that being called a Pompei style), raise the oven base about 8 inches but also elongate the oven from left to right rather than a perfect circle in order to create a bit more room for a fire and potentially more flexibility when baking multiple items. I hope the lowered dome height will reflect heat down and make the oven way more effective. Wish me luck!
Hello Jason. I’m asking a few more questions. The reason I have not built my pizza oven yet is I have been looking for my friend who is a Professional Brick layer from Germany. We have started he has built the three sides of the oven the blocks measure in width 2-3/4 Length 15-1/2. Width. He put two Blocks side by side with rebar in the inside of the Blocks. Four courses high. We built the fram overall demetions are 51×51″X4″ thick with rebar. Heating our pizza oven. What about using LP gas this is the norm for cooking here in Thailand. I’ve been thinking about this? I think I will go with it besides wood. Using wood here Is a lot different then in America. Plus here in Thailand there is not that much wood here in Thailand. Jason I am in the process of building a wooden dome. I have built one already but it was to small. So building a new Wooden dome I’ve looked at your article again I’m going to go with your overall suggestions. Highth of the opening, dome. The width of the opening door. My Brick layer Kai is coming back next week to start laying down the fire bricks on top of the wooden dome I’ve built to your suggested measurements. Sounds great. Thanks. Jason My first wooden dome wasn’t large enough I couldn’t put Three pizza’s inside of the wooden dome. Opps I looked at your article again writing down the measurements of what you suggested. I’m going with it. Thanks. I am going to have a door opening and closing. After Kai gets almost everything done I will have to oven door built.
A full round dome is only a YouTube phenomenon – it creates a burning point on the oven floor. This mistake is due to the “YouTube smart tool” holding the bricks. Italian ovens is more flat and has a variable radius. Top height – 48-50cm …stack up bricks, make a plate divide it in 3 or 4 so they can get out later on through the pizza opening, then use wet sand to shape up your dome – the wet sand will hold your bricks as well. Super easy.
I notice your ovens are covered in an enclosure. Is that necessary? I live in Indiana and I believe I need to be concerned about freeze/thaw and keeping the fire brick from taking on water. Also, with your flue being so tall do you have any issues with overdrafting? Thanks for your help- awesome job and love the articles- new subscriber! Thank you
Thanks for informative tips, I have a question if you don’t mind! Is the outer wall of the dome going to be hot? And what is the clearance if it’s close to the wood material? I’m adding a pizza oven in to my existing outdoor kitchen space which is mostly wood, since we live in Toronto and I need to know if should be considered and also for exhaust pipe after insulation can be close or touching wood material? I really appreciate if you would help me with that since I couldn’t find any source for that! I thought I would put the whole oven right behind my kitchen and only opens from inside means just an iron cast small door maybe! If I have the answer for that I’ll start it right away sir, 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
I went with an exercise ball 29 inches at Walmart 13$ it kinda filled it. It’s a strange hat-looking dome lol the foam was hard to build after I got so high. but I stopped the tool just after the arch and did it by eye it turned out to be egg-shaped kinda like a turtle, but then rounded just before the hat. don’t know how to show it but thanks for your vids helped me a lot 48″ inside needs to fill some gaps inside but I’m satisfied. watched your vids like 50 times
ive built several and owned commercial. stage and go through all the motions before you break ground. everything problem is people don’t have experience and quickly learn on first few uses. otherwise pretty looking. i prefer useful and mine are ugly dogs compared to your build. love the covered space. zoning prevents me,frustrating
Hello Jason thanks for your reply it’s very helpful. I have another question regarding what type of cement fire cement I think did you put on top of your base? To lay the fire Bricks down on? Please let us know as we are waiting on your response we have stopped building until we get a solid idea answer from you. Thanks again Thomas.
I’m about to make mines soon so this article help I do have a question what you do to clean the oven I was thinking of making a door in the back of the oven to clean remove the ashes I see yours don’t have a back door from this article do you think it be a good idea and should I really do this just wondering if you think it will be worth doing or not ? Thanks for all the inputs your oven looks nice.
Hello this is Thomas! I Live in Thailand. I finally found a good Brick layer. From Germany a professional Brick layer. Most of the Thai brick layer’s don’t pay any attention to details keeping it plumbed vertically or level. Yesterday we measured the actual size of the overall width of my pizza oven. It is 40″ wide. For building our foundation we are going to be using Blocks, the Blocks measurements are 2.1/2-1/16th wide By 15-1/2-1/16th So we are going to use two Blocks side by side with about 1/4″ of Morter in-between the Blocks. Making the total with of the block 5″ Wide. I’ve decided to go with your suggestion for the actual oven door opening of 18″ and the Center of the door opening 12″ High. As you answered me in my first question about do you have a door for your pizza oven. Thank you for your answer. Mine will be the same just a simple metal door with a Handel to cover the opening of the pizza oven. I have another question for you what about the metal flue that takes out the smoke? They don’t have aluminum here at all only steal in which to build it. What are your thoughts and suggestions on this? What are the four sides of the dementions you need for the flue opening? How high should we go up with the stack?
Hope you are doing well too 🙂 Great info regarding this topic. I have subscribed to your website. Hope the rest of your articles are as professional and not including profanity, as this one.. then I will definitely be sticking around for more. Thanks for sharing your awesome knowledge, have a blessed day !
From an ergonomic standpoint, appliances like stoves and conventional ovens should be at elbow height when standing. Counter tops should be just above waist height off the floor The problem comes into play when you have a tall and short couple. I’m tall, do most of the cooking, so my counter tops are 42″ My stove has a built in oven, so the oven requires me to bend over to tend food cooking. Overly tall counters and appliances become scalding hazards. I love the idea of a outdoor pizza oven and cooking center, I just don’t like the price.
4:03 – good point, that looks so silly take out the pizza at your face level, im sure it would be easy to loose control coordination maneuvering at that level and drop the pizza at the floor when taken out from the oven. lol I prefer having the pizza oven at the face level but taking it out below the chest level, I guess automatic hydraulics is the solution to level the oven when needed.
So what do you recommend to lower the height of the dome using this tool? Use it to point then what? wing it or use a ball or something. I’m working up its’s doming and will be huge, but I see your point like a turtle with a flat top. maybe cut the stones like the arch and go in. gravity doesn’t help. what’s your recommended idea
Hello Jason This is Thomas again. Thank you for your answer! So far we have our base and Top surface complete, we just laid out our Fire bricks now Jason I want to ask you again about your opening please! My plan is to make pizza and bread inside Plus other items. Plus we will have a removable front door. What do think is a good size door opening for our oven. Thanks again Bless your Heart Thomas
Nice build on your oven. My oven is a barrel vault oven. I want to make another that will go on a trailer. I used Rado Hand’s plans and adapted. His advice made the difference. I made a big oven to fit two full restaurant sized sheet pans in. Rado’s advice on the ratio of oven dome height to mouth opening height was spot on. I made my opening wider as he said that wasn’t the crucial dimension. My draft is excellent and after ten years there is not smoke on the outer face of the oven. My large oven with a large height does suck down the wood though, but I have tons of it on my land. I would make it a bit lower of dome height because with pizza’s I don’t get the top radiant heat as much, but as long as I have a good log flaming it works fine. The other size consideration was to fit a small roast pig in so it’s a bit bigger. I really am glad to have found your build with such good instructions. We’ll see how it works out.