1. Building a Solar Oven begins with Evaluating the Tools and Materials that You Have to Work with.

* A month or so ago we had a window donated to us. Initially we were going to incorporate it into a cold frame structure however it seemed appropriate for a solar oven. All of the cuts were made in accordance with the dimensions of one of the panes which were 33.5"x26"

2. Designing the Solar Oven

* As with most structures it is a good idea to browse images of other designs; this allows you to identify features that are consistent among the designs as well as exposing you to possibilities you might not have been aware of.

* In general you can determine the angle at which to position your solar panel by:

latitude - 15o (summer)

latitude + 15o (winter)

Because Sebastopol is located at 38oN the ideal angle for incident solar radiation is 23o.

*It is also important to have in mind the positioning of the reflective panels when designing the frame of your solar oven. Make sure that you can open your oven while maintaining flexibility in adjusting the reflective panels.

3. Making Measurements, Cutting Pieces, and Constructing the Frame.

* Remember heat should stay in the oven; be precise in your measurements and cuts. Large gaps will only make it harder when it comes time to caulk.

Quantity Size Purpose

1 2"x4"x36.5 Front Refelctive Panel Attatchment

1 2"x4"x33.5" Front Wall

2 1.5"x11"x26" (angled) Side Walls

*Note: Between the height of the window pane and the heights of the back and front walls I was able to determine the measurements of the side wall and make cuts with the table saw.

1 1.5"x11"x33.5" Back Wall

4 2"x4"x11" Back and Back-Side Reflective Panel Attatchment

2 2"x4"x2" Front Side Reflective Panel Attatchment

2 2"x4"x8" Inside Supports for Back and Side Walls

2 1"x1"x15.5" Front Window Lip

1 1.5"x36.5"x28" Floor

2 0.5"x16"x36.5" Front and Back Reflective Panels

2 0.5"x16x28" Side Reflective Panel

4. Painting Black, Caulking, and Attatching the Window

* Painting the inside black assists the solar oven in retaining as much heat as possible. Using a paint with a high gloss provides a sheen that can retain more heat.

* Be sure that the caulk you are using can sustain the high temperatures that your oven will reach.

* I was lucky enough to have a window pane that I could screw my hinges into. It also came with a locking mechanism that I removed and attatched to the front wall of the frame.

5. Sealing in the Heat

*Insulating the gaps where your window meets the walls is a good idea; it will allow for higher temperatures to be reached.

6. Attatching the Reflective Pannels

* Although there are many materials that can provide the silver reflective properties that you are looking for be sure that what you choose is easy to work with. In my initial plan I had included mirrors; however, due to the fragility of glass and a need to make specific cuts, I chose to work with the reflective insulation material that is often associated with winshield solar protection. I was able to shape this to my cuts of wood easily and attatch it using a staple gun.

* Figuring our how to make your angles adjustable yet secure is tough. I used hinges for each panel and added an additional adjusting hinge to hold each pannel in place. Attatch your hinges to the previously assigned parts of the frame in a manner that does not conflict with the opening and closing of the solar oven's window.

*Note: You will probably want to install a thermometer to monitor the temperatures inside of the oven