dexter7205

Thanks going to throw this and trying again. If there are tips how to avoid this let me know. I was thinking of reasons why it exploded and cracked, It could have been due to the vegetable oil i used. Unfortunately the next sample i did in evening had vegetable oil as well. Let's see how that goes.

Thanks @Pyewackette ! i used a cut out cylinder i had on hand. I dried the template in sun for a few days and then put it in the garbage can i used for previous tandoor. I might have heated it too fast so it broke. See picture. When it cools down, can i fix it with more clay and let all of it dry. Is this piece gone now, no good? Also provide tips on slow heating. I have hay/bale, dried wood from a tree and coal on hand.

Thank you! As @PeterH and others mentioned my first mistake is adding clay to outside of pot. I thought() it would be easier to pull the pot out. The first sample is about 6-8 inches. This is to test if the process works. I am going to use inside of the plastic pot i have and spray with vegetable oil. Google search suggested that. The final tandoor i expect to be 17-20 inches tall and 17 inch wide(outside) bottom. 14-15 inches at the top. 1.5 inch thick may be or little less. Again, thanks for answering my noob questions @Callie Beller Diesel @Pyewackette@PeterH.

Thank you my first attempt to make a sample for this tandoor has failed. I think this is due to my own negligence. In the original article the person is using a barrel. I did not have a barrel handy so i tried to use a plastic flowerpot. I oiled it with musturd oil from outside, put the flower pot upside down and applied the clay slurry directly without making slabs. It felt alright for couple days as it dried but broke when i tried to take off the plastic pot. Is there an alternative we can think of to the barrel used on https://imperpro.ru/en/tandyr-svoimi-rukami-55-foto-sovety-po-stroitelstvu-i-ekspluatacii-delaem/?

I could not work last weekend on the project. But i mixed some hay(fine) 1 inch in the mix. I have been taking out collected water and mixing periodically as well. I am facing an issue with the mix, it is too sticky, very difficult to get it off my hands. I need to make an inch thick rectangular pieces from it as suggested in original article. What can i do to make it work better. I was thinking of using some sand in my hands.

I mixed up 20lb each of epk, silica sand(industrial sand) and fireclay in a tub. Mixed it first by hand then with a drill+ cement mixer attachment. Per the instructions, i have to let it sit and take out water as it settles. I will add wool tomorrow as I receive it. Please help with tips, pitfalls i should be aware of. As recommended i'd do a small template first

So the walls of the tandoor are seasoned with either yogurt + sugar / mustard oil + jaggery + some combination of spinach/grass. I was told that it lets the bread stick on the sides better. The temperature I recall in my first tandoor had to be 375 F + . I used to put water on one side and stick to the terra cotta pot on that side. If tandoor was hot enough it will cook in a minute or so. I used to take it out with a pair of tongs. restaurants use something like attached picture. If the walls of tandoor were not hot enough the bread will not come off and it's a mess. Attached some pictures. I had put stones on vermiculite later.

Thank you all for responses. I am learning/googling about each line you write. It keeps me away from work and I starting enjoying this project more. Min -> Due to some kid issues at home, i did not want to drive couple hours for the clay. My next attempt(after this kaolin) will be the Laguna raku clay. There is so much knowledge here in this forum, not on internet. The article I shared is the only reference i found to build this kind of oven with commercially available materials. Senior members in my family back in india suggested to look for light brown soil + some soil from near a pond. I do not have an eye for that, but may be over time i will grow some 0-0 :-). Callie Beller Diesel -> Thanks, replacing kaolin isn't an option for me right now due to kid issues(couple hours drive). The clay shops i spoke to earlier had no clue about making an oven. This forum is the best knowledge i see. I agree the idea is to build a good pot that will last for longer time. If it cracks and i can fill the cracks, even better. Another lesson (different from the pot) i learnt in earlier build is to make the pot a little elevated and sit on bricks. So i can put a grate and charcoal does not sink in it's own dirt. I did get a bag of fireclay, it was 7$s. Going to get the cotton fiber too. So the coming weekend, I'd be babysitting and getting my mix ready. One part kaolin + 1/3 fireclay + 1/3 silica sand + fiber Glazened -> Once this project goes through i will add pictures and steps so others can benefit. I'd have to go with kaolin for now but I'd keep your input for next time. Google search says Ball clays are 20-80% kaolinite. And EPK has high green strength(as mentioned on description), but i could not find a number. Mark C. -> Next attempt, if i need to for that clay. Yes, i think i have spent upwards of 200 already with all the attempts. Smaller version of that grill may be near the cost, but i did recoup some as the first tandoor oven was used for few years. At this point, it is more about getting it right and learning in the process.

Thank you for your responses and clarity provided on the topic. glazenerd -> I saw the video on youtube for a camp rocket stove using clay. I already bought EPK kaolin from east bay clay in richmond so clay part is settled. Thanks for your advice on bbq charcoal. Is that a substitute for fireclay or wool? It is readily available for sure. Also I am thinking of substituting grass hay for wool. Callie Beller Diesel -> yes the language and only a few pictures available(no video) on the article was confusing. I did get a couple bags of EPK so i am set with the clay now. Also based on your response it should be fine to use grass hay as substitute for the wool. I can also get a bag of raw sheep wool(https://www.amazon.com/USA-Fabric-Store-Stuffing-Spinning/dp/B0999RY7LL/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8). Yes the article might have used sand/fireclay/grog mixed with kaolin for the build. I do have kaolin now. For the remaining ingredients: 1) I can get a bag of silica sand. Or can I use all purpose sand. 2) fireclay part still confuses me. Home depot in martinez has https://www.homedepot.com/p/H-C-Muddox-50-lb-Fire-Clay-Concrete-Mix-100011882/100321936 . Is this okay for the application. 3) Grog, Clay planet in santa clara suggested https://shop.clay-planet.com/grog---20mesh.aspx . What do you think? So how does this sound: 1 part kaoline clay + 2/3 each of silica sand, fireclay and grog. Use a combination of wool and fine grass hay. Mark-> Thanks, this build i will go with kaoline clay as i already bought it, but i will check out ovenware clay. Probably you are talking about https://www.lagunaclay.com/product-page/flame-ware. Again, Thanks for guiding me through.

Hello Members, This is my first post here and my knowledge is low about the topic. Please go easy :-) Background I built a diy tandoor a few years ago(using popular instructions on youtube) and used it very often until the pot broke and vermiculite started dripping into the charcoal area. I disassembled it and next attempt with terracotta pot did not last long either. I found some bentonite kitty litter clumping clay and built another one by hand(mix sand + bale) but that did not take any load. I learned later that bentonite is not a good clay for this since it retains too much water. Fourth attempt Trying to follow instructions on https://imperpro.ru/en/tandyr-svoimi-rukami-55-foto-sovety-po-stroitelstvu-i-ekspluatacii-delaem/ I got kaolin clay a couple 50# bags. But i do not understand what the writer means in the article by fireclay sand. The clay stores i contacted sell fireclay and sand separate. Do they mean Grog? Quoting from the above article "To get started, prepare the necessary materials: kaolin (aka chamotte clay); fireclay sand; sheep's wool - you can take camel, if, of course, you can find it; an ordinary wooden barrel;oil - vegetable is suitable." Questions: Which fireclay or sand mixture can I use? If sand is needed, do i use all purpose sand or play sand? Sheep's wool is difficult to find here, camel hair is even more difficult. Is bale hay/straw a good substitute? Thank you for reading my post this far. Appreciate your time/input on this.