plastic container/bucket, shovel, pick, spade, trowel (for mixing), lawn
mower or chopping block, ax or machete, level, hands for the actual building
and forming and bare feet for trampling and homogenizing the mixture.
methods:
clay digging
The basic building material is a good-quality clay. If you have clay on your
property, uncover the top-soil layer and harvest clay on the construction
site. Ideally, dig for clay one day before the building and leave it soaking
in water in a plastic container (the amount of water depends on the water
content in the clay itself). Clay will soften and will allow easier
processing the next day.
sand
Use any available sand, including river sand.
straw trimming (figs. 2-4)
A lawn mower is ideal for trimming straw to fine pieces (figs. 2, 4), straw
can be cut well also with an ax or machete on a chopping block (figs. 3, 4).
mixing the building material and the construction
(figs. 5, 6)
Mix the soaked clay with sand in a ratio 3:1-5:1 (sand: clay), add
trimmed straw (you can also use seed papus from thistle, hair etc.) and mix
well until reaching a homogenous consistency.
isolation material
A mixture of clay and crashed charcoal is suitable for isolation of the
burning compartment and chimney (fig. 4). The mixture is made the same way
as the base clay mixture described above in a ratio 3:1 (charcoal: clay),
make a clay layer of 4 cm.
plastering can be made from the same material as the base
construction mixture, without added sand (and without straw and other
additives). This mixture should be thinner for easier spreading.
II. construction:
burn-proof inlet (figs. 2, 3)
is optional. The burning space of the stove can be modeled from the prepared
adobe mixture, with dilatation insertion from pieces of burn-proof material,
burned clay or metal. Considering the big mechanical pressure, their
construction from unburned clay would not be durable.
organization of the construction Outline the position of the
stove and from the building mixture make the base/foundation (fig. 5).
isolation layer 4 cm thick, place on the burn-proof inlet
(figs. 4, 5, 6).
building the stove body (figs. 7-13)
Stones (fig. 7) or dried mud bricks are suitable for the main construction as
they help eliminate major cracks.
supports
The upper part of the stove (around the burn-proof inlet layer) can be supported
by tying a rope.
III. final phase:
When the basic stove shape is finished (fig. 12), smooth the surface by
wet hands or use sponge soaked in water (fig. 13). You can let your phantasy
go wild and give the stove final artistic look.
IV. drying and stove use:
Finished stove (fig. 16) may be let dry before the first use. However the
pre-made burn-proof inlet layer was used, drying is not essential. The stove
will dry during use.
V. time schedule:
The stove can be build within few hours. Preparation takes the longest
time (up to 1 hour), we recommend to soak clay one day ahead as well as
prepare straw and organize enough bare feet enthusiastic to work (trample)
on the building mixture. The main construction took us ca 2 hours.
