New mylar...

...for the solar oven reflector.

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Solar oven time

 

A YouTuber is coming out Tuesday to do a segment on my solar oven.  It has been almost 4 years since I last used it.  Cleaned up the double pane tempered glass this morning - and putting new mylar on the reflector tomorrow.  It will be nice to get this back in operation again.  Kinda seems wrong to be cooking my dinner with propane while we frequently have daily temperatures over 100° this time of year.  99,105,68,0,C

Solar Oven Day

Baked 6 loaves of Chupa bread and 4 Super Cookies for customers today...and dinner for me as long as the oven was all heated up - chicken, carrots, taters.  94,98,73,0,B

where the magic happens...

Just got a new cast iron griddle to absorb and hold more heat in the solar oven.  Also made an adjustment to the swiveling shelf by raising it an inch.  The shelf stays level as the oven is tilted to catch the full on sun.  Have to make a run to the hardware store tomorrow.  The inside is due for a fresh coat of high heat black spray paint.  96,100,78,0,B

oven repair

The solar oven repair is taking a lot longer than anticipated...but almost done.  94,103,78,0,B

flour shakers...

Quick Alpine run for oven parts.  Got some flour shakers in the mail today from my friend David Johnson.  I see more baking in my future.  90,105,75,0,C

Toasted...

Been doing a lot of baking with the solar oven this year so I thought I would freshen up the outside with a new skin.  Discovered the excessive heat has taken quite a toll on the insides - even through a layer of sheet metal (this charred piece was the bottom of the oven).  As bad as it was, the good news is the flash point of wood is 572° so it's doubtful the oven would have ever gone up in flames (although that would certainly make for a good video).  Getting parts and extra insulation tomorrow so I can start baking again by the weekend.   Just ordered aluminum plate and ceramic insulation for the smaller solar ovens I will be selling soon.  100,108,71,0,B  

coming soon...

Field Lab Solar Oven Super Cookie

84,91,68,0,B

Coming Soon...

Just got an order of tempered glass for some new small solar ovens I am building.  These will only be for sale locally but I will be doing a "how to" video soon.  89,98,60,0,B 

accessories...

Now that the solar oven is back in business...looks like uncooperative solar cooking weather for at least the next week.  Just got a new oven thermometer and great deal on a new pre-seasoned cast iron dutch oven ... for the next time there is enough sun to use them.  79,93,77,0,B

solar project...

Looks like I have something to keep me busy through the weekend.  I have committed to cooking a pizza when the film crew is here next Tuesday.  My big solar oven has been laying in the same spot since the stand broke last year.  A little welding and a lot of cleaning and it should be good to go.  Let's just hope we have a sunny day.  77,88,74,0,B

over easy...

Cooked another chicken in the solar oven yesterday.  Forgot to take the reflector (wind catcher) off when I was finished.  Must have gotten a little gusty last night from just the right direction.  The wind snapped the weld on the swivel post.  Luckily the cast iron pizza pan didn't break the glass and the reflector only has mild damage.  86,93,67,0,B

screwed

Modified the solar oven today so I don't have to use screws to secure the door shut (barrel bolts) or mount the reflector (draw catches).  78,86,60,0,C

chicken'n'biscuits

Cooked up a 6.48 lb chicken in the solar oven yesterday.  Took 4.5 hours at 300° to 350° as the sun went in and out of the clouds.  Cooked up a batch of buttermilk biscuits today.  Chupa really doesn't mind my eating chicken...in fact, he and Frank and Manny had some leftovers today.  75,84,62,0,B

no roosters were harmed...

Added a winch crank to make adjusting the oven a little easier.  Cooked up 3 chicken breasts, 2 potatoes, and a bunch of carrots.  77,90,55,0,C

It's not just pizza...

...it's my first solar oven pizza.  70,86,45,0,W

no reflecto

Quick late day test without the reflector.  59,70,52,0,B

reflecto

Reflector is ready to go...the oven will cook again as soon as the weather turns.

Gearing up for a new welding project.  56,66,61,0,W

storm bust

Looks like our first potential rainstorm of the year is a bust...just got a trickle out of it.  Discovered that mylar and water don't mix.  Half a roll that got left outside for most of a year was ruined.  Had plenty left over to cut the pieces I need for the new reflector surfaces.  58,65,53, .10",B

ready for some rain

Got the oven window cleaned up and put back together.  Stripped off the old mylar on the reflector, waterproofed the outside of it, and beefed up the bottom corners with some diy "L" brackets.

All stocked up to hunker down for our first good chance of rain. 

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