Thread: Mud Oven

Nawty, do you recall the subject matter that was broached some months back regarding termite mounds mud-mixture as a solid alternative for such 'mud ovens'...??

Originally Posted by Rural Surin

Nawty, do you recall the subject matter that was broached some months back regarding termite mounds mud-mixture as a solid alternative for such 'mud ovens'...??

Yes i do, think I was the one that mentioned it.

Problem is, not that many mounds around our area to collect. I have been looking.
The clay is just easier at the moment as we have a hole that was dug for a well and no water....just nice thick heavy clay, so getting it will be easy.

But if i could locate some decent sized mounds near our place, i would give them a go for sure. But not driving for miles to look for them.

Originally Posted by DrAndy

you must be very short, Nawty

and fat also...but will be even fatter if this thing works and I cook up better pizzas than that fine shop in Ubon.

Post #1
That will work .
Without the concrete ring ( nice idea) it is almost exactly the same as we used in Tanzania !
Couple of mods that might be worth thinking about .

1 make several small vents around the top - - not a single central one .
It is easier to control the heat inside and get it to be even - cover/ uncover the vent(s) as required with tin lids or similar.
A single central one can turn it into a mini-blast furnace if you are not careful !

2 Yes- slowly increase the fire while you are 'curing 'it - The locals used to brush the outside in the early stages of curing with a strong salt water solution and wipe it with a bit of rag.
This gave you a nice smooth finish and - a sort of crude harder surface or glaze to the outside - at least thats what they told me !!

Look forward to hearing the result !

Cheers

Thanks, sahll try the saltwater trick.

Also re the 'chimney'...a few sites I have looked at did not have an outlet at all...How did that work ?

I have saved a pile of info to read at home, so shall try to get the best of all. but the outlet is still confusing me as some had them, some did not.

I think it might be to do with what you want to use it for.
A slow roast - probably a closed top
Pizza and things like that you need the heat to circulate and then the holes would do it .

Best of both worlds!
Leave them all closed for roasts
open them sensibly to get some circulation for other things !

i have plans for a brick pizza oven if you want them just email me. Is just like pizza ovens in italy and all suppies avalible in thailand.

i dont have enough bricks....I do have enough mud but...and the kids will have more fun rolling around in mud helping me than rolling around in bricks

Originally Posted by Nawty

i dont have enough bricks....I do have enough mud but...and the kids will have more fun rolling around in mud helping me than rolling around in bricks

What type of bricks...??

Nah! Go 'effnik' make a mud one !

Originally Posted by Nawty

Thanks, sahll try the saltwater trick.

Also re the 'chimney'...a few sites I have looked at did not have an outlet at all...How did that work ?

I have saved a pile of info to read at home, so shall try to get the best of all. but the outlet is still confusing me as some had them, some did not.

my neighbours' ovens in Portugal have three holes, all plugged with rocks

when bread making they open one or two at the early stages of firing then close them once most of the smoke has gone

Would sure like a photo of the 3 holer Andy

I had a similar idea over the weekend.

I shall put PVC into the mud as constructed, small size. Then pull it out prior to drying. Then make 4 plugs out of clay, mushroom shaped and use them to plug the holes and easily removed as required.

Picked up some dirt at the plantation on weeked, unfortunately I think it is near all dir and not clay as instructed.

Oh well, they shall just have to dig deeper and fill up another 8 bags.

Clay

Was with a local well digger tonight - dug 2 for me on a site I was working on and negotiating for him to dig one for a friend- I remembered that when he dug ours he hit a layer of lovely sticky clay just before he hit the water table .
He reckons that you should ask your local well man who would be only too pleased to let you have some, as long as the soil conditions are the same as here. ( Phuket)
Could be right - years ago I put some boreholes in ( not in Asia though)and there was always a clay band just as you got to the water !

Originally Posted by peterpan

Would sure like a photo of the 3 holer Andy

I was waiting for that

I can take a pic when I am down there this summer

Started the complex structure...but now i am stuck with how to fit square bricks into a round hole ??

any help.

looks like it might make a great Tandoor

I'm not allowed to post pm's so my apologies for being off-topic.
The dog in your mud oven pic, is that a Jack Russell? If so, where did you get him or her? I am looking for a reliable source.
Thanks, Fred.

Yes is a jack and a pure bred her.

Got her in bkk from a reputable breeder and she is a great dog, great with kids and the kids love her.

This was their website....I cannot get it to work now. i shall see if can find there phone number.

www.banjack98.com

Originally Posted by Nawty

This was their website....I cannot get it to work now. i shall see if can find there phone number.

Thanks I'd appreciate it. That website doesn't work and hasn't worked for quite a while now.

Re square bricks =round holes !

Most good welding supply shops sell granulated fireclay in 15 kg packs..
Mix this with water like plaster of Paris and you can fill all the gaps !

I got some here from Phuket Tools when I was making a small surround for a silver soldering/ brazing bench .
( for a brass Buddah repair shop ! )
Cheers

Don't suppose you know how to say fireclay in thai do you ?

Is it actually clay ? Natural product or what ....cos will be laying pizza directly onto the bricks to cook, so dont wanna poison anyone.

^ sorry no !
The bags I bought had 'Fire Clay ' in English on them !

And yes it is a natural product - I think it is a type of calcinated gypsum and not poisonous