I Am Building a Solar Oven?

Question

I would like to know....
1. What materials should I use, (I want fastest cooking time possible), materials that trap heat the best.
2. The best possible designs, I have seen many designs, and would like some original ones, remember fastest cooking time.
3. Tips- I have never done this before so tips are definitaly appreciated.
Thank You If You Provide Quality Information!!!!!

Answer 1

OKAY

I take it that cost is not a primary concern since
you said you wanted the fastest possible etc., etc.
So, while not going for the most expensive, I will
aim you toward something you can actually build.

Go to a Plexiglass/Lexan Plastic supplier.
Look through their catalogs until you find
mirrored plexiglass or mirrored lexan sheet.

It will be available in 4 foot X 8 foot sheets.

You need one sheet.

That will make your solar mirror to focus the sun's rays.

Next you need some 1 inch diameter aluminum tubing.
Bend this tubing into two arcs of 180 degrees such that the lengths of the aluminum tubes are curved and 8 feet long (three of of them).

Next, you will need aluminum end fittings for one inch aluminum pipe:
four ELLS
two TEES
Place them onto the ends of the aluminum pipe curved frames so that you have three curved ribs all connected together into a nice structure.

Now fit the mirrored plexiglass inside of this curved structure and drill holes to allow screws to pass through the plexiglass and into the aluminum pipe. That will secure the plexiglass to the aluminum frame.

You have just assembled a solar mirror which will concentrate sunlight into a thin line two feet out from the inside edge of the plexiglass material. Anything placed along that line will become "VERY" hot.

To further develop this idea, you need to build some kind of mounting assembly, and steering rig so that the mirror can be aimed at the sun, and track it across the sky as the day progresses.

It will also be necessary to make some kind of a rotary spit gizmo that will hold the food you plan to cook in the hotest place in front of the mirror.

Those last two things are refinements of the basic setup so I will let you deal with them as your money and ability dictate.

Happy Cooking.
Zah

Answer 2

The best designs I have seen are like large reflector ovens. They don't actually absorb heat but reflect it One design a friend made was like a box cut on a diagonal at the ends with extra flaps to reflect more light into it. She cooked stuff on a spit that rested in notches cut into the top edges of the ends. This worked well for Shiskabobs and things like that. I guess you could rig a tray to fry on if you wanted but I am not sure it would work well.
Trying to describe it now. Think of one of those reflector ovens for camping with a fire. Now think of it about two feet long. Made out of shiny aluminum. Add some extra flaps at the front and top, punch holes with a nail and wire them on. She used little sticks to prop them open at the right spot. This contraption looked like a V shaped trough laying on its side.The angle was wider than a letter V more like a 90 degree angle, she cut the ends big enough to adjust this.
She propped it up at an angle to catch the best sun. The ends were triangles. she wired them to the sides of the trough to make ends. When she was done cooking the wires were untwisted and it all folded up. This was a bit of work to set up but not a whole lot. The worst part was propping everything up at the right angle to the sun with stones.

I have also seen them made round like a half pipe, and ones that looked like an umbrella on a steel rod. The umbrella one was fast. you just pushed the rod into the grond in line with the sun. If it cast a shadow from the rod it wasn't pointed straight at the sun.

The Aluminum folding one she had was best, it might not have been fastest to cook, I don't know about that, but it was very easy to transport. It was also easy to clean. She used copper wire to put it together(free scraps from an electicians work). I suppose you could use little hinges and rivets or nuts and bolts but wire was handy, worked well, and allowed it to fold up easy for traveling. You still want a sunny day, no good in the rain. We took it with us on picnics all one summer. Shiny stainless steel would work but it is hard to cut and shape, as well as much more pricey. Shiny tinfoil and cardboard would work well enough for an experimental version. You might be able to hang what you are cooking in front of it or prop it into place like a hotdog on a stick.
I know my description leaves a lot to be desired, oh well.

I almost forgot, the spit was a piece of steel rod of about a 1/4 inch thickness, And remember to smooth of any sharp edges, I got cut once on that thing enough to curse out loud.

Answer 3

the in elementary words way i understand the thanks to make a organic oven is with a lengthy beveled piece of glass(like a magnifying glass), and to position it over like pine needles or some style of timber on a tray. All i understand is that that is for starting up fires...