Cómo hacer un horno solar de cartón/en

On this page, I explain how to make a cardboard solar oven . After experimenting with several models, I describe the one I consider the best in terms of complexity, effectiveness, efficiency, and aesthetics.

Building a solar oven is easy, fun, and inexpensive. It helps us gain energy independence, saves us from heating the kitchen in summer, and reduces our gas, electricity, and firewood emissions.

• Two cardboard boxes - They must fit one inside the other, for example, one measuring 50 cm x 40 cm x 40 cm and another measuring 40 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm. Old boxes can be reused, but they should be in good condition to prevent heat loss and for aesthetic reasons.
• Two sheets of clear acetate - Each sheet should be large enough to cover the larger side of one of the boxes. In the example above, one sheet measuring 50 cm x 40 cm and another measuring 40 cm x 30 cm (or a single sheet measuring 50 cm x 70 cm cut in two).
• Roll of aluminum foil - 10 meters should be left over.
• Black pot with black or transparent lid - Must fit inside the smaller box.
• Kitchen thermometer (optional) - Must withstand at least 150 degrees.

• Scissors - For cutting cardboard and acetate
• Cutter - For cutting cardboard and acetate
• Ruler - For measuring and marking cuts and folds
• Pencil - For measuring and marking cuts and folds
• Vinyl glue - To glue cardboard and aluminum
• Small container - For diluting vinyl glue in water
• Old brush - To apply vinyl glue
• High-temperature glue - For gluing acetate to cardboard

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  Inner box 40 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm.
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  Mark for cutting, making sure there is room for the pot.
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  The diagonal cut facilitates the entry of light.
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  Outer box 50cm x 40cm x 40cm.
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  Mark for cutting, with the same inclination as the inner box and in pencil so that it can be erased.
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  The second line is for making a fold.
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  Outer box, inner box and pot, presented.
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  Place the base boxes together and mark the outline of the inner box.
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  Cut off the base of the outer box.
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  Open the outer box and line it with aluminum.
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  Outer box ready.
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  Do the same with the inner box.
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  Fold and glue the edges.
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  Cut two pieces of acetate, one for each box.
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  Glue the acetate on the inside using high-temperature glue.
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  Inner box ready.
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  Do the same with the outer box.
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  Insert the inner box through the base of the outer box.
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  Cut off the excess cardboard.
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  Oven body ready.
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  Build a base with a large piece of cardboard.
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  Build and glue reflectors.

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  113°C reached on the first day of testing, with an ambient temperature of 33°C.
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  Sun beans.
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  Solar hummus.
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  Solar vegetables.
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  Solar babaganoush.
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  Solar soup.
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  Solar rice.
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  Sun pumpkin.

• Gallery - All the photos of all the solar ovens I made
• Minimum Solar Box Cooker - The simplest model that served as my inspiration and starting point
• Video tutorial I uploaded to YouTube on how to make a model very similar to the one in this guide.
• How to make a solar dehydrator with a box - Another guide with similar techniques