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Post by limpopomark on Dec 13, 2012 16:42:04 GMT
Hi folks
After a brief introduction in 'introductions' I thought I ought to migrate to here, as we've chucked down a slab and a couple of layers of bricks.
We're on a game reserve here in South Africa, with a volunteer programme doing reserve management and animal-y type stuff. So money's tight. Hence we're taking bricks from one of the old farmhouses (made of local sand, so it looks nice) and trying to build a clay oven, with what we have available here, principally to make pizza better than anyone else does here (a pride thing) and also to see if we can bake better bread than our oven allows.
I'll start adding photos as we go. Hopefully starting tomorrow.
Oh - we're planning on making an insulating layer out of slip/elephant poo, but to be honest what I am planning and what will happen may be two different things. What I do know is that I want to use as little cement as possible, and that I will probably have a lot of questions. Just saying...
Thanks for reading!
Mark
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Post by cannyfradock on Dec 13, 2012 17:14:15 GMT
Mark It sounds like a fantastic project that you are about to undertake and I am looking forward to seeing the different stages of your build. Please shout out if you have any questions......we'll try our best to help you. This thread from a missionary in S.Africa on the FB forum opened my eyes to what can be achieved with so little at hand... www.fornobravo.com/forum/f3/hello-uganda-7728.html It makes good reading. Terry |
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Post by rivergirl on Dec 13, 2012 17:52:38 GMT
I am really looking forward to the photos and the saga of the build!! Good luck.
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Post by umhloti on Dec 13, 2012 18:45:45 GMT
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Post by limpopomark on Dec 14, 2012 15:15:44 GMT
Thanks all! OK... I am a little sunburned but here's the first few bricks down. I was hoping one of our large grey insulation delivery boys would appear in the background but you'll have to wait for that. In the meantime, I need a shower. mark Attachments:
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Post by cannyfradock on Dec 14, 2012 16:44:23 GMT
....it's always a good feeling when you get those first bricks down. All the best with your build and please.......keep those pics coming.
Terry
p.s.....funny to hear of you getting sunburn. I just got in from walking to my local shop. I'm drenched to the bone with icicles hanging off my nose.
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Post by umhloti on Dec 14, 2012 19:50:52 GMT
wish i was there . Look at that beautiful African red soil on the ground between the foundations and grass.
Yes terry i also got drenched outside today and would love some sun now.
You make me very envious Mark of being there in that lovely sun
Build is looking great!
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Post by limpopomark on Dec 15, 2012 7:09:16 GMT
Umhloti - thanks man! The soil colour is exactly why I was pleased to find blocks made on site when this place was 30 or so farms rather than a reserve. I'd originally wanted to build it out of local rock but it soon became apparent that I was going to be biting off rather more than I could chew, having never laid a brick in my life, and being unable to find the nice square slabs I was looking for! Anyway, it will be such a big structure I hope it sort of blends in... it's bad enough that it obscures the view of the pool from the kitchen... I don't want it to be an eyesore as well!
Terry - thanks again. If I was to walk to the local shop... it would be about 160km as a round trip making it a bit of a bugger if you forget tea bags. We'd gladly take a little bit of that rain off your hands, though you can keep the icicles. This time last year I was in the Alps where it was so cold in late January on the balcony that a glass of wine started to freeze in the time a friend took to finish a cigarette. It became opaque and slushy - I now understand what that antifreeze-in-Austrian-wine scandal was all about when I was a kid.
Anyway, I'm now hungover as well as sunburned and am delaying laying bricks by typing this... Cheers again folks - a friendly forum this certainly is.
Enjoy the weekend,
mark
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Post by rivergirl on Dec 15, 2012 11:31:05 GMT
fantastic start , jealous here as well grey,drizzly,cold ..... good luck with the hangover .....
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Post by limpopomark on Dec 15, 2012 11:57:48 GMT
Hangover gone, reassurance needed... The folks here have all said there's no clay here. This is a little thing I made out of the ''mud'' that's dried in the bottom of a waterhole that I am planning to build the dome out of. It certainly felt like clay, and looked clayey, and moulded like clay. I'm just looking for reassuring words as the one thing that's concerning me about this whole thing is that my dome material is simply not going to hold; this was made and has held its shape and so on, so surely it will work... but it is only smll. I know time will tell but if any of you have any smart tips about testing the material, I'd really appreciate them. mark Attachments:
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Post by cannyfradock on Dec 15, 2012 14:25:17 GMT
Mark There are various methods in testing your soil/clay for % of pure clay. There is the Jam jar, brick and worm test. This site explains it better than I can.. www.buildnaturally.com/EDucate/Articles/Cob.htm Cob/Clay ovens are usually....but not always made from 2 layers. The first being a layer of a ratio of 2 parts sand to 1 part clay with water added so when formed into a ball and dropped at chest height, the ball stays intact and "gives" just a little. The 2nd layer is the same as the first with hay added. If hay is not available the fine woodchips or coarse sawdust can be added....or anything that will give the second layer a honeycomb effect. Terry |
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Post by limpopomark on Dec 15, 2012 18:10:58 GMT
Cheers Terry - that's exactly what I am going for. The jam jar test left me with zero confidance... I need to make some test bricks, so that's what I'll do. In pace of hay we're using elephant dung, and a third outer layer to cover it all. Part of me says it will all be fine but hat nagging doubting Thomas bit annoyingly has the loudest voice. I'll shut him up, cure him and serve him finely sliced on a pizza, hopefully.
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Post by umhloti on Dec 15, 2012 21:33:41 GMT
Mark that is very good african clay .
If you can make a ball half the size of a tennis bal and put it at the end of a stick of 4 ft long stick like a kebab at the end . If the stick is river reed that they use for the kraals or willow stick with some flex but firm . if you can flex this from behind your back to propel it forward it flies through the air like a missile forward then its very good clay . The locals will tell you that throwing clay like that is "klay lat gooi" and is great fun . If that is like you said at the bottom of a dry water gat its very good clay. That mixed with olifant dung like you want to do will be like concrete when it drys. Its the same stuff they use to use to put floor in in houses. ANd every now and then you will re polish the floors with a new layer of dung and mud.
And once that bloody hot 40 degree sun beats down on it it will dry nicely and very hard before youy even get a chance to cook in it
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Post by limpopomark on Dec 16, 2012 3:04:16 GMT
Brilliant.... and that sun is why i am up at 5 to start laying bricks
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Post by limpopomark on Dec 18, 2012 11:25:06 GMT
Just another photo - apologies that it is not very interesting, but it does show progress. Two layers of bricks to go, then an inner slab. Sunburn on top of sunburn, despite the clouds in the picture... OK... I have a couple of queries. Firstly, to chimney or not to chimney? I never intended to have a chimney, but if I really pught to ba ve one tnen I will. Pride says ''balls to chimneys'', as the folks here have all said I have to have one. That said, they all think i should be building with concrete, not mud and elephant do-do. So I'd like to hear pros and cons, really. Second: Brick arch for the opening or not? I like the aesthetics of the pure dome, but am also sold on the protective qualities of a brick opening. What say you all? I'd very much appreciate anyone's assistance on either or both. Cheers again, folks, and happy cooking. mark Attachments:
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