Clay

[tim_n]

Plenty of sand on site - is there any clay within a diggable depth?

 

[tim_n]

I ask merely because I thought it might be fun to run a session on making earth ovens one day... I'd also need some tiles probably and someone to make some pizza dough.

Mine can be seen here... http://www.waark.com/tag/earth-oven/

 

[Ahjno]

Not that I know of ... Dave Budd brings in his own clay IIRC

 

[Dave Budd]

i've not seen any on site, but then I've not looked too closely. I bring it with me for the forge. There may be some around though I couldn'tsay where sorry

 

[tim_n]

Well I might be convinced to dig up a bag of the london clay stuff here. I'll discuss with the wife and see whether she minds the car being filled with large lumps of the stuff. I've only just about convinced her to come...

 

[Dave Budd]

I wouldn't want to bring enough clay for an oven all that way! Even if it were dry without the extra water

You could look up the local clay soures on geological maps and dig it from rivers. Or buy it from a builder merchants?

 

[tim_n]

my clay needs 1 part clay to 3 sand to make a mix so not as bad as you'd think. I probably only need 3 bags. Maybe 4. Hmm. Rather keep costs down if I'm doing it as a workshop.

 

[Dave Budd]

sounds doable then, expecially if you can dry it out to save on weight It's also easier to mix when dry

 

[tim_n]

easier when wet! (or so I found!) - it won't be powdered or anything!

 

[Dave Budd]

really? maybe its just me then.

 

[tim_n]

it's a foot stompin' event really... Maybe I'll just bring a spade and a suitable groundsheet, make everything there. If we can't find sand, we're doing something wrong. There's plenty of water, it's just the clay we need. It would be a bonus if anyone had any spare heat bricks going!

I've inboxed Tony. I'd probably like to do it same day as the basket weaving as the wife will be at that.

 

[Dave Budd]

i can't help with the bricks I'm afraid (the sort I use are designed to reflect not store heat). I can do a good job of supervising those feeling active enough to stomp though

 

[Lou]

it's a foot stompin' event really... Maybe I'll just bring a spade and a suitable groundsheet, make everything there. If we can't find sand, we're doing something wrong. There's plenty of water, it's just the clay we need. It would be a bonus if anyone had any spare heat bricks going!

I've inboxed Tony. I'd probably like to do it same day as the basket weaving as the wife will be at that.

What kind of workshop will you be running Tim? Something obviously to do with clay I'm really interested in this as I have been doing some pottery recently but I want to learn how to fire my pots in a primitive way.

 

[tim_n]

Hi! It's a cooking oven as opposed to pottery - thinking we can have a go with pizzas or similar.

Dave, worse comes to worse I'll use a clay floor. They don't last but it's a temporary oven anyway.

 

[Lou]

Oh that sounds really interesting though

 

[TurboGirl]

Here ya go tawny The link to the earth oven thread sign up

I hope to have my sourdough starter and breadmaking stuff with me, never tried it as a pizza dough and not had any practice in the woods other than keeping it alive so its very much pot luck to if it'd work ok as a base

 

[Tengu]

clay on ogmore beach

 

[veryWildbill]

Cat litter should work. You need the natural betonite clay or fullers earth type. It worked well for me in a homemade forge, should work in an oven.