Hi Properly!!!

[buster2001]

Hiya already been posting but thought I may as well introduce myself!!

Buster from Devon, determined to build an oven soon!!

got a base built and just deciding which type of build to go for I keep,changing my mind!!

ive just been researching the clay route as that was my original intention I have had kilos book a while and read it a lot.

a question over clay, I'm not going to,dig it if I choose this route I will buy it, I have just spoken to a local supplier who was really helpful, I've been offered 6 different types of clay and would like your opinions on which would be best, all very little price difference so that doesn't matter!!

so basically it's a choice between 2 types of clay, red earthen ware or stoneware, and then the option of no grog, 10% grog or 20% grog,

all can be delivered on a pallet the difference in price is minimal around £140 delivered for 250kg

any opinions welcomed as I decide which route to go down.

many thanks

Buster

[kstronach]

Hi buster, as you may have already gathered rivergirl is our resident Cobb oven specialist! She will probably be able to help you out further on clay types and mix ratios etc. Just be sure to start a build thread when you start the oven and put up a few pictures for us along the way!

All the best

Keith

[rivergirl]

Def. Not a specialist ! LOL but a dab hand dabbler! In France we had to buy in the clay , luckily in Kent it was not too far down the dig! Here in Somerset if we can't find it digging down then I am off to beg some from a local new housing development. I have no idea about grog content etc. I just mixed it and did the splat test. The second one I was not so worried and just did the mix.
The only thing that I am reconsidering is a brick mouth. As Bert's mouth has got damaged over the years. When I did the first Bert I built his mouth around the door .

[buster2001]

Thanks a lot so,it shouldn't matter what clay if I go down the clay route, did you just use bottles sand and then firebrick for oven floor?

Also does the cold effect the clay setting? I plan on a rough shelter over oven so mainly dry but wondered if I should hold off starting until we get some milder weather although I'm itching to get started

Buster

[rivergirl]

Buster I think we did ours in the early spring , which helped because you sure get hot muddling that mix!

[rivergirl]

Sorry forgot to add about the base. We got rid of rubble in the base , in filled with sand and bottles.. It took loads , I have started collecting for my next one already! I just layered them up . I never had a problem with heat retention . I built the base and then put a paving slabs all around the top to form a shelf ( handy for tools and wine glasses! ) then I built Bert on top of that. This time apart from the brick mouth I would like to have an empty section at the front with a slab on the top so that I can move the slab and just sweep the ashes straight in .

[buster2001]

Many thanks, I am building a bungalow on land adjoining my house I'm the spring, maybe I'll get some free clay then!!!!

Sounds like a plan, only hope my base is big enough I built it a couple of years ago and it's about 122 cm diameter a round base maybe I'll have to opt for a smaller oven!!