How to Make a Simple Cardboard Solar Oven
by solaroven in Workshop > Solar
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How to Make a Simple Cardboard Solar Oven
The sun is arguably one of the humanity's most important tool for survival. It gives off practically unlimited amounts of light that is used by plants to generate energy and animals for heat. It can be used to generate electricity with solar panels, hot water with solar hot water heaters, and many other uses. Even though technology can be very useful, for example gas ovens, natural and simple technologies like solar ovens can reduce fossil fuel use or even replace fossil fuels in places that don't have abundant resources, and it's an enjoyable project. The materials used can mostly be found locally from recycled sources which makes it even more sustainable.
UPDATE:
Thank you all for your insights on a better, more healthy oven.
First: use black cardboard paper or High Temp Black Grill paint for less chemicals in food
Second: Use Pizza Box for less volume to heat up for Pizza, Eggs, Hardboiled eggs, and put a thermometer in there to test that it is up to sufficient temperatures before eating
Third: For increased efficiency, heating use 4 foot aluminum foil reflector next to your oven facing SOUTH. For slow thermal cooking use a 1 - 1.5 cubic foot box with soda cans filled with water in to preserve THERMAL MASS.
Fourth: The larger alumnum foil will STRONGLY INCREASE HEAT in a fast way, with potential temperatures up to 300 degrees. Results will vary with climate and strength of sun.
Cheers and happy Friday,
Finding Tools and Materials
I recommend taking one trip to locate/buy tools and materials for this job. The following materials are necessary:
-2 medium to large cardboard boxes that fit inside each other with 3-4 inches or so of space around the sides of the box. Also you can use a LARGE and Medium pizza box and similarly create insulation and a smaller space to heat up. Also necessary is a large piece of cardboard for the reflector that is as wide as the widest part of the large box and about 2-3 feet long. These can be found at most stores, just ask an employee for boxes they don't need anymore.
-1 roll of aluminum foil (75 feet is enough)
-a piece of glass or plastic fits over top of the larger box. This can be found at window stores; they often have extra glass laying around for free.
-tape measurer
-razor knife
-school glue
-black spray paint or black construction paper
-enough newspaper that will, crumpled, fill a bottom row and the sides in between the two boxes. This can be found at recycling centers.
-duct or foil tape
-two small pieces of wood (optional)
Cutting Off Flaps of Smaller Box
Crumpled Paper on the Bottom
Spraypaint the Small Box Black
Either spraypaint with Char-Broil High Temperature Grill Paint on the inside bottom of the small box black or glue a sheet of black construction paper. fitted to the size of the box, to the inside bottom of the small box. I recommend doing this outside and try to not inhale the fumes.