Sculpting the Oven and First Plaster Layer

Once again, RAIN. But that didn't stop me from working on the oven. Before we went out for breakfast I added to the chimney, making it taller and wider in order to allow it to accept the stove pipe. Then we left for breakfast. While we were gone it actually dried...well a bit. The next step was to cook up some wheat/rice paste to add to the sand/clay/wood chip mix. This makes it "sticky" enough to sculpt it. I decided to make a Sun/Moon/Stars design. Wayne's an amateur astronomer, we are always aware of where the stars and planets are along with the equinox and solstice. Seemed fitting AND it I like it!

OK, the sculpting is done...adding the plaster

  So, you can kind of see what it looks like from here. I'm actually adding the first plaster layer here.

Further along in the plastering

The actual plaster layer consisted of VERY fine silica sand, clay, wheat paste, and of course water. I mixed it up with a drill mixer until the drill couldn't take it any more. :). Last step...adding poly fiber for added strength. The consistency is like POI. Yes, that gluey starch from Hawaii.

I took handfuls into my handled bowl and started smearing it on the layer before. It went on nicely! Perfectly sticky by hand. No gloves here...nothing but fingers and hands. Kind of like pudding.

Evening update: Even though it's raining....looks like it's drying.....S-L-O-W-L-Y....which again....it's a good thing.

Weather forecast is that the sun will come out tomorrow. Yaaaay! 
Tomorrow....second layer of plaster and then even possibly the third. WITH COLOR!

Top of the Oven