Clearly a lot of comments want more details of construction. Very brief video. . You have more details in the links for the music. Please make another with specs. So I can make this please.
Josh, your video is one of the better videos online for the process of building a cob oven. Thanks for that. What is the name of the song used in this video? By the way, I used to live with you at one point. :)
This is AMAZING! I am Amazed by your video. I am so excited to build one like this. We have very cleechy/Clay Soil here in Northern Arizona. Could this work without buying clay???
I’m 6 years late to your question. I’m sure the soil there would be perfect. Did you build one? If so how did it turn out? I live in northern nm and am about to get started on one too. I have built a dog house and a fire / cooking pit with adobe bricks made from the soil on my property and sand from the arroyo.
I am looking for a video on how to install the chimney, the only thing this video didn't cover, would appreciate a link if anyone knows of one, thanks.
How would you suggest building a cob oven in a country where it rains, I see that this video is nearly nine minutes long and it does nor rain once in this video. I live in Wales UK and we sometimes get 6 or 7 hours on 2or 3 days per year where it is not raining- how would you suggest building this here.
It makes me wonder why some of these youtube videos always leave out one of the most important steps. Why no actually show how the dome shape was made? Was it a pre-shaped mold?
Did you watch the video? The shape is sculpted with sand. you make a big sand mound the shape you want the interior, then you layer on the cob on the outside. once the cob is set, you dig the sand out through the oven door.
This video is a great example of what not to do with the sound balancing on your vid. You shouldn't have to crank it up to hear the voices and then turn it almost all the way down to keep from waking up the other denizens of the house during the music segments. Other than that, great vid.
i was planning on making me a home from a bus but then i saw the cob houses and i thought to myself wow. i want a cob house now and also that snazzy cool cob oven. i want to make my own things but i'm only 23 and don't know how to get started. you have any advice and also am i able to hire someone to help me?
start with small things and work up to bigger things.... best thing to do is just look up a cob recipe and just use it and change it slightly depending on your needs.... but most importantly start, once you start you will gain experience
Do some studying up on the structure and principles of building design in your spare time. Try to get some experience. Work with small things with cob and similar materials. Remember: no matter what, safety first. You're going to be living in the thing, remember.
RinayPowdertail I back up what boglenight says. Choose a small project to get the fell of the cob. You can even make bowls and other objects out of it. Then move to a larger project such as an oven. Another idea is to add benches to the oven and get familiar with plastering it. Once you've done a few projects, you will be much more prepared to tackle a larger build on the land you will need to purchase.
+valerieedenW I am New on learning about how to Build with Cob. I already planned to practice (as mentioned above) on Small Items, such as a Cob Stove and Benches, before doing anything major. Can anyone please explain what other Small Projects I might be able to do for practice? Also, unfortunately, I am alone in doing this. I have tried to get Family and Friends interested, but none share the same Passion as I do. My mother is skeptical about it, and my Fiance just stares at me like I suddenly transformed into a Stranger when I mention Building something by hand, and shakes his head and says, "Nope!" Is there something I can use to Help in Mixing the Cob, since I am in this, alone in my Project? The excavator being used to mix it, I heard that it crushes the Straw too much, and the Rototiller the Straw gets tangled up too much in the Blades. Any other suggestions I can use? Could I mix in a Wheelbarrow? Add more Water for easier Mixing, and then spend a little bit longer for it to dry? I know some of these questions might be a bit Newbie-ish, but I am New to it. Trying to figure out the Right and the Wrong, before attempting anything, and having it blow up in my face!
Phoenix Fire Yes, but an excavator won't crush anything not directly being compressed by it. An excavator is basically just a very big mechanical shovel, after all. And remember, the benefits of cob are that it relies on common cheap environmentally friendly materials, and not that it's a particularly good building material.
The only problem I know is I've gone to hardware stores and none of them have "fire bricks." When they ask you "can I help you?" I tell "Yes, Where is your fore brick?" and then they look really lost and then call around and say something like don't you mean patio paving stones? It would be nice if someone would just point to where fire bricks are sold.
Hello, nice video however, I'm having issues with the 5 part sand - 1 part clay mix. Even after firing the inside several times, the surface just crumbles and we are eating sand. Are you sure the 5:1 ratio is correct? Are you have the same issues? Many thanks
In a Grand Designs episode, I saw a builder use an excavator's shovel to stomp the mixture. I think part of the point is getting the water out? Can someone correct me on this?
David Diaz If you want to cut down on the stomping time, you can use a rotortiller to do some of the work. I am sure a cement mixer would be useful, but you just have to make certain it is all evenly mixed throughout.
