Building a Mud Oven

Notes and pictures from July/August 2010 Mud Building Workshop by Aspen T.R.E.E compiled by JR McMullen and Peggy/Sage O’Reilly

Step 0-Ratio Identification

Step 1-Adobe block making

Step 1-Adobe block making

Step 1-Adobe block making

Step 1-Adobe block making

Step 1-Adobe Block Making

Step 1-Adobe block making

Step 1-Adobe block making

Step 2-Site/foundation work

Step 2-Site/foundation work

Step 2-Site/foundation work

Step 2-Site/foundation work

Step 2-Site/foundation work

Step 3-Thermal mass/building the oven up

Step 3-Thermal mass/building the oven up

Step 3-Thermal mass/building the oven up

Step 3-Thermal mass/building the oven up

Step 3-Thermal mass/building the oven up

Step 3-Thermal mass/building the oven up

Step 4-Light straw clay/ insulative layer

Step 4-Light straw clay/ insulative layer

Step 4-Light straw clay/ insulative layer

Recap of 1st two weeks

Step 5-sand dome/oven opening

Step 5-sand dome/oven opening

Step 5-sand dome/oven opening

Step 5-sand dome/oven opening

Step 5-sand dome/oven opening

Step 5-sand dome/oven opening

Step 6-Cob-Style Coil

Step 6-Cob-Style Coil

Step 6-Cob-Style Coil

Step 6-Cob-Style Coil

Step 6-Key Cob

Step 7- 1st Plaster coat (over cob)

Step 8-final light straw clay insulation

Start of Week 4- finishing touches

Step 9-Hollowing out oven

Step 10-finish coat/aesthetics

• Spray (or sponge) surface down with water

• Prepare slip coat (sticky mud….just screened soil and water- no sand or clay) to give soil/sand/straw/manure mix something to adhere to

• Apply soil/sand/straw/manure mix…fill in gaps and try to get surface even

Step 10-finish coat/aesthetics

Step 10-finish coat/aesthetics

• Spray (or sponge) surface down with water to

• Prepare slip coat (sticky mud….just screened soil and water- no sand or clay) to give soil/sand/straw/manure mix something to adhere to

• Apply soil/sand/straw/manure mix…fill in gaps and try to get surface even

Step 10-finish coat/aesthetics

Step 10-finish coat/aesthetics