How to Build a Fire Clay Oven
Almost everyone enjoys going to a nice pizzeria with an authentic fire clay brick oven that adds a crispness and full flavor to a variety of foods. You can have your own fire clay oven if you have building savvy. The materials are inexpensive and can be found at your local home improvement store. But you need to plan carefully because you can't move the oven once it's built. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Pallets
- 20 bricks
- 1 industrial size bag of sand
- 2 pounds of clay (estimated for 2 clay layers)
- Sharp knife
- Dry, untreated wood
Instructions
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1
Stack a layer of bricks on the pallet to create a base for the oven. No mortar is required between the bricks. But be sure the bricks completely fill the entire pallet.
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2
Mold the sand into a dome shape, and then cover it with wet newspaper. Make sure the dome shape is the same size as your oven.
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3
Carefully spread the clay over the outside surface of the sand form. If you rush, the sand will crumble or cave in. Work from the base of the sand shape upwards, attaching clumps of clay gradually. Keep the clay the same thickness throughout and make sure the clay bonds properly to the previous layer by pressing on it. Smooth the entire clay surface over when you're done and let it sit for 2-3 days.
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4
Cut an opening in the clay approximately 63% of the way towards the top. Carve the doorway to the oven out of this opening. Allow the clay to sit for three more hours.
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5
Take out the door, and slowly scoop out the sand inside. The newspaper will indicate when you have scooped out most of the sand. Leave the newspaper in the oven; it will burn away eventually anyway. Fill any cracks with excess clay, and again allow more time for the oven to dry completely.
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6
Use dry, untreated, kindling-sized wood to light a fire in your new oven.
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