Sunday, May 29, 2011

The Corbel Arch

Having just finished a workshop where the participants completed two mud ovens and one brick oven, we then needed to constrict the opening of the brick oven so it would better retain heat. We first piled up a few bricks and with two short lengths of angle iron, we were easily able to make the opening smaller.
Without angle iron, a corbel arch is also a simple way to accomplish the same task. This type of arch is found in many parts of the world, but it is particularly prominent in Maya architecture.
The aesthetics of your oven design can be a reflection of your own unique ideas. These simple low-cost ovens really lend themselves to your creative spirit. If you make a mistake, well, no big deal because you can try something else.