Laurel Tree Charter School ovenly inferno: Difference between revisions

Project data

Authors	Claire Noonan The Cobb Goblins Minkmuse Evan Rehn Liam Gunst
Location	Arcata, California
Status	Deployed
Completed	2016
Made	Yes
Replicated	No
Cost	USD 216.14
Instance of	Cobb oven
OKH Manifest	Download

The purpose of this project is to create a low embedded energy, natural, beautiful way to cook pizza. The project will be a collaborative effort including Laurel Tree Charter School, its students, Cal Poly Humboldt, our team, and the local community to demonstrating the ability to apply sustainable practices by designing products for use in daily life.

Background[edit | edit source]

The Cobb Goblins were commissioned in the Fall of 2012 as a part of Engineering 215, to design and construct an earthen pizza oven for Laurel Tree Charter School. Laurel Tree's mission is to create a sustainable model of education which provides all students with accessible curriculum, based on college preparatory standards, while developing life and socials skills in a mixed age setting.

Problem Statement and Criteria[edit | edit source]

The objective of our design is to create a sustainable, beautiful, safe, long-lasting, and functional outdoor oven for baking and cooking. The oven will be used weekly for children's pizza lunches and for the occasional school event or fundraiser. Table 1 shows the criteria created by our team in collaboration with Laurel Tree. These criteria were weighted to help choose a design that best fit the client's needs.

Description of Final Product: Ovenly Inferno[edit | edit source]

Oven Layers[edit | edit source]

Inner Thermal Layer[edit | edit source]

This layer retains heat from firing and radiates it back into the oven chamber. The mixture recipe for this layer is 1 part clay, 1 part sand.

Insulation Layer[edit | edit source]

This wooly looking layer insulates the inner layer and keeps heat from dissipating into the environment. The mixture recipe for this layer is 1 part clay, 1 part sand, and 5 parts straw.

Outer Cobb Layer[edit | edit source]

The straw in the outer cobb layer provides the tensile strength need to make the oven sturdy. This layer is also useful for applying designs to the oven's exterior. The mixture of this layer is 3 parts clay, 3 parts sand, and 1 part straw.

Lime Plaster[edit | edit source]

Lime plaster is applied after the inner layers have fully dried. This layer protects the oven from the environment.

Addition Features[edit | edit source]

Counter Top[edit | edit source]

A laminate counter top was mounted to the side of the oven and held up by reclaimed wooden beams.

Wood Storage[edit | edit source]

The counter top provides space below for wood storage.

Chimney[edit | edit source]

A half inch thick cardboard tube was covered with thermal and cobb layers and used as an anterior chimney to the oven.

Adjustable Oxygen Intake Door[edit | edit source]

A wooden door drilled with holes and a sliding plank allow varying levels of oxygen into the oven for different fire strengths.

Completed Oven[edit | edit source]

Materials/Costs[edit | edit source]

As many materials as possible were obtained used. Table 2 details the total materials and costs for constructing Ovenly Inferno.

Results[edit | edit source]

Ovenly Inferno is successful in producing enough pizza for the whole school during lunch time. It requires 1 ft^3 of wood to fire it in 2 hours. The oven's peak temperature is ___*F and after cooking __ pizza's the temperature is ____*F. The counter space provides adequate preparation space and the fuel is kept close in the wood storage.

Laurel Tree Input, Oct. 2014[edit | edit source]

The exact operating temperatures are not known but it was estimated to be approximately 700 Degrees Fahrenheit. This figure was made an associate of Laurel Tree that manages a similar outdoor oven. Heat is not radiated on the sides or back of the oven; the insulation has proven effective.

Laurel Tree's first uses were found to be too hot; damage from this is possible but not confirmed. They now operate it at lower temperatures with success.

Video[edit | edit source]

D.I.Y[edit | edit source]

1

Mortar three layers of red bricks onto the foundation.

2

Stack urbanite within the footer to reach the desired height (about 36"). At the top of the stack, create a perimeter from urbanite that will be filled in.

3

Fill in perimeter with glass bottles laid on their side.

4

Cover and level the glass bottle layer with sand.

5

Arrange firebricks and tamp down onto the leveled sand. A roll of duct tape was used; however a mallet would be preferable. The bricks were labeled with numbers since they were previously arrange on a table to find the best fit. Arrange and Mortar red bricks for the mouth of the oven.

6

Use a wooden form to help support red bricks as you mortar them into an arch. To avoid cracking, create a wedge cut keystone as the top brick in the arch. Mound wet sand on top of the firebricks to create a dome that will act as the form which the oven layers will be built on top. Cover the sand with wet newspaper so that it holds its shape and doesn't attach to the inner thermal layer.

7

Apply the thermal layer clay mixture around the sand mound. It should be 5" thick. Pound the clay downward instead of into the mound to keep the integrity of the mound intact. Work your way up the mound in about 6" layers.

8

Apply the 7" thick wooly insulation layer.

9

Before applying the outer cobb layer, cut a hole in the previous two layers for the chimney. A thick cylindrical hollow cardboard tube was used. The tube was covered with the thermal layer mixture.

Maintenance[edit | edit source]

The oven will need to undergo a lime wash every five years. This wash will heal the lime plaster of any cracks that may develop. The oven should be fired

Discussion and Next Steps[edit | edit source]

• Many cracks have begun to form, possibly due to firing it too hot in order to dry it. These cracks will need to be patched.
• As soon as the out cobb layer has dried, a layer of lime plaster will need to be applied to protect from the wet climate of Humboldt County.

Cobb Goblins[edit | edit source]

• Liam Gunst
• Sara Newell
• Claire Noonan
• Evan Rehn

Update October 2014[edit | edit source]

Since the oven was constructed two years ago it has experienced damage and degradation. The oven has not received the final plaster coating that was planned. As a result it has been subject to increased weathering and cracks. Furthermore, it was reported that vandalism had occurred and the chimney destroyed. The debris was cleared and the oven remained operable.

According to Laurel Tree the oven is still in use, though they claim the frequency of use would increase if repairs were made, citing more confidence in the oven as the primary reason.

The oven has a work station attached to it, and a series of cabinets adjacent to that. Both are exposed to the elements to some degree which was not preferable for aesthetic and durability reasons.

• 

  Face view of the oven, Oct. 2014

• 

  Chimney lost due to vandalism.

• 

  Workbench and cabinets partially exposed.

• Slideshare of October 2014 update

Update October 2016[edit | edit source]

Since the last update, the staff and students have been unable to make any progress until this recent summer of 2016. One of the staff members, who goes by Sam, took the oven project under his guidance in an effort to bring the oven back to its glory days in 2012-13 when the students were able to enjoy pizzas on a regular basis.

Unfortunately they have not been able to fully fix the degradation and vandalism that occurred in 2014. However they have attempted to mend the oven back together by resurfacing and adding three layers of cobb. Initially Sam and the students decided on using cobb with crushed up mosaic tiles with the intention of giving the oven some flair. This layer unfortunately had trouble staying on so they scraped the flakes off and proceeded with two successful layers of cobb. The bottom layer of cobb contains hay and straw while the upper layer contains cattail which has helped smooth out many rough portions on the oven exterior.

The whole oven still requires two more layers of cobb, one containing cattail, and the other the same finishing layer that has yet to be applied since the project took off in 2012. After filling out most cracks on the outer layer Sam and some students have tested the oven by having a weekly fire. According to their findings, the oven is definitely producing the same high temperatures it once was.

Other than the two additional layers of cobb, Sam and the students intend on adding a nice maple door to cover oven opening, and possibly rebuild the chimney, even though they believe it will suffice without a higher chimney.

• 

  Face view 1

• 

  Face view 2

• 

  Exposed chimney

• 

  Reasoning to necessary cobb additions

• Prezi of October 2014 update

References/Further Reading[edit | edit source]

• Bee, Becky. (1997). "The Cobb Builders Handbook: You Can Hand-sculpt Your Own Home."

Groundworks, Murphy, OR. Accessed online <http://www.weblife.org/cob/ > (Sept. 22, 2012).

• Ben. (2012). "Pizza! This time permanent" Flirting with Yurting.

<http://www.flirtingwithyurting.com/?p=459 > (Oct. 7, 2012).

• "Blue Ox Earthen Oven." (2011). Appropedia

<https://www.appropedia.org/Blue_ox_earthen_oven> (Sept. 23, 2012).

• "Building an Earthen (Cob) Oven," (2011). Sunstone Farm and Learning Center.

<http://sunstonefarmandlearn.com/2011/03/24/building-an-earthen-cob-oven/> (Sept. 24, 2012).

• Davies, N. (2005). "Finishing the Cob Oven." <http://www.pequals.com/at/natoven/ > (Nov. 29, 2012).
• Denzer, Kiko. (2002). "Build your own Wood-Fired Earth Oven." Mother Earth News, (194), 70-74. EBSCOhost (Sept. 22, 2012).
• Denzer, Kiko. (2008) "Oven dome height for different size ovens."

<http://kikodenzer.blogspot.com/2008/07/oven-dome-height-for-different-size.html> (Oct. 7, 2012).

• Denzer, Kiko with Hannah Field. (2007). "Build Your Own Earth Oven 3rd Ed." Hand Print Press, USA.
• Galloway, Willi. (2012) "Backyard Earthen Oven."

<http://www.digginfood.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/cure-firing.jpg> (Oct. 9, 2012).

• "Guidelines for the Installation and Use of Open-air Barbeques".

(2008). Department of Environmental Health Food & Housing Division. <[https://web.archive.org/web/20140505133250/http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/deh/food/pdf/publications_openairbbq.pdf http://web.archive.org/web/20140505133250/http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/deh/food/pdf/publications_openairbbq.pdf]> (Sept. 23, 2012).

• Grimmer, Anne (2011). "The Preservation and Repair of Historic Stucco" Preservation

Brief, National Park Service, US Dept. of Interior. <[https://web.archive.org/web/20130515221101/http://www.nps.gov:80/hps/tps/briefs/brief22.htm http://web.archive.org/web/20130515221101/http://www.nps.gov:80/hps/tps/briefs/brief22.htm]> (Sept. 24, 2012).

• Hauk, Marna and Heindsmann, Emily. (1998). "Building with mud!" Communities, (99), 36-40. EBSCOhost (Sept. 22, 2012).
• "HBCSL cobb oven." (2012). Appropedia.

<https://www.appropedia.org/HBCSL_cobb_oven> (Sept. 23, 2012).

• Hernandez, Carolyn. (2012). "Building an Earth Oven." Wild Earth Builders.

<http://wildearthbuilders.com/files/IMG_1004.jpg> (Oct. 7, 2012).

• "Kitchen & Bath Industry Dimensional Guide." (2011). Kitchen and Bath Center,

<[https://web.archive.org/web/20100307142026/http://mwknb.com:80/KBC%20Industry%20Dimensional%20Guide.htm http://web.archive.org/web/20100307142026/http://mwknb.com:80/KBC%20Industry%20Dimensional%20Guide.htm]> (Nov. 8, 2012).

• Laurel Tree Charter School (2012). Mission Statement. <http://www.laureltreelc.org/Mission-

Statement.html> (Sept. 24 2012).

• Lime & Related Products Index & Prices (2012). Mike Wye & Associates Ltd < [https://web.archive.org/web/20140901064812/http://www.mikewye.co.uk:80/mikeprices.htm

http://web.archive.org/web/20140901064812/http://www.mikewye.co.uk:80/mikeprices.htm]> (Dec. 4, 2012)

• "Oven." (2012). Merriam-Webster Dictionary,

<http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oven> (Nov. 29, 2012).

• Shimpock, Mike. (2012). "My Pizza Oven."

<[https://web.archive.org/web/20160512052323/http://slice.seriouseats.com:80/assets_c/2010/08/mike-s-mpo-fin-106390.html http://web.archive.org/web/20160512052323/http://slice.seriouseats.com:80/assets_c/2010/08/mike-s-mpo-fin-106390.html]> (Oct. 7, 2012)

• Smith, Michael G. (2000). "Cobb Construction." Green Home Building.

<http://www.dcat.net/resources/buildingstandards_Cobb_articles.pdf > (Sept. 24, 2012).

• Southwick, Marcia. (1994). Build With Adobe. Swallow Press, Athens, Ohio.
• "The CCAT Earthen Oven." (2004). <http://www.pequals.com/at/earthenoven/> (Nov. 29,

2012).

• "Peoria to Open Scotland Yard Park." (2012). City of Peoria Press Release.

<[https://web.archive.org/web/20170201224840/https://www.peoriaaz.gov/NewsPR2.aspx?PID=1690&id=54035 http://web.archive.org/web/20170201224840/https://www.peoriaaz.gov/NewsPR2.aspx?PID=1690&id=54035]> (Sept. 22, 2012).

• "Pizza Pans". (2012). Abest Kitchen.

<http://www.akitchen.com/store/pizzapans.html> (Sept. 23, 2012).

• "Pizza Recipes". (2002). Italian Recipes, <http://www.italiancook.ca/pizza-recipes.htm> (Sept.

23, 2012).

• Smith, Michael G. (2000). "Cobb Construction."

<http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/pdf/buildingstandards_cob_articles.pdf> (Sept. 24, 2012).

• Southwick, Marcia. (1994). Build With Adobe. Swallow Press, Athens, Ohio.
• "What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know About: Classification of Cooking

Ranges, Stoves and Ovens." (2008). U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Washington, D.C.<http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/legal/informed_compliance_pubs/icp086.ctt/icp086.pdf> (Sept. 23, 2012).

• "Wood Burning Brick Oven: Construction and Cooking" (2002). Ozarkdreams.

<http://www.ozarkdreams.com/BrickOven.htm> (Oct. 8, 2012).

Page data

Part of	Engr205 Introduction to Design
Keywords	green construction, oven, sustainable building practices, clay, cobb, sand, straw, earthen ovens
SDG	SDG04 Quality education, SDG11 Sustainable cities and communities, SDG12 Responsible consumption and production
Authors	Minkmuse, Claire Noonan, Alfonso Herrera, SMichael
License	CC-BY-SA-3.0
Organizations	Cal Poly Humboldt, Laurel Tree Charter School
Language	English (en)
Related	0 subpages, 13 pages link here
Aliases	Laurel Tree Ovenly Inferno
Impact	690 page views
Created	November 30, 2012 by Minkmuse
Modified	February 28, 2024 by Felipe Schenone
Cite as	Minkmuse, Claire Noonan, Alfonso Herrera, SMichael (2012–2024). "Laurel Tree Charter School ovenly inferno". Appropedia. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
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