[Cob] OT- cob/earth oven form - HELP

[Quinn]

Copper,

Really the form can be anything that can burn or be removed.  I wouldn't use plastic or anything, of course, but how about burlap bags (if you can't find them, use a roll of burlap and fold it up into 'pillows') filled with leaves, then put  paper mache over that.  That would give you the necessary 'stuffing' for the paper mache to be made on.  And make sure the paper mache is completely dry of course, (it should be probably done over several days so you have a thick enough layer to hold cob -but you also have the 'stuffing' supporting it) or it will shrink at a different rate and crack your cob.

You could puncture the bags and pull most of the leaves out, or just burn the whole kitn'kaboodle.  I don't see why paper mache wouldn't work, made with flour.  I know you said "papercrete" but why bother mixing mud into it?  That would leave you with the paper part burned and weaker mud in your inside layer, it seems to me.  Paper mache will burn off all together and leave just your solid cob oven.  

Good luck.
Quinn

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Copper Harding" <copperharding at yahoo.com>
To: <coblist at deatech.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 27, 2004 10:49 PM
Subject: [Cob] OT- cob/earth oven form - HELP


> Hello all,
> 
> I need some help with a cob oven.  I've got teh
> foundation built!  yeah!  I have the firebricks
> bought.  Kiko Denzer's wonderful book says to use sand
> or a woven basket as teh inside form of the oven - to
> shape the clay over.  
> 
> i have a problem though - sand here is expensive!! 
> we're talking 35 dollars for about a cubic yard! 
> Otherwise I have about a two-three hour drive over the
> mountains for beach sand.  I've looked in teh local
> rivers and they are all "vertical" rivers, very young
> and no sand seems to be settling anywhere I can get my
> hands on it.
> 
> I've looked through the local stores for a woven
> basket of the right shape and size, no go!
> 
> This has been a month-long process and I expected to
> have my sand or oven form source figured out by the
> time we finished hauling rock and building the
> foundation!
> 
> I have ONE idea - please tell me if you think it would
> work or if it's totally crazy.....
> 
> I am thinking of making a papermache oven form - i
> could pile my baking bowls together to get about the
> right size and shape and am thinking of making it
> pretty heavy duty.  I think i oculd pile the clay over
> the top of it and then burn it out like Kiko's book
> says you can do with teh woven basket.
> 
> waddya think?  other ideas?!
> 
> thanks for listening to my frustrations and problems!
> 
> peace,
> 
> copper
> 
> =====
> _________________________
> Ms. Copper Harding
> 
> If you can walk, you can dance
> If you can talk, you can sing  --- from Zimbabwe
> 
> 
> 
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