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VENTURER LOG
Agony and Delight:
Make this Lightweight Oven for the Trail
by Ian
Mitchell
IT WAS DAY FOUR OF OUR COMPANYS SIX-DAY BACKPACKING HIKE.
Supper was over, and we were gathered around a campfire. My mind drifted
off with images of mom's incredible sponge cake dancing through my head.
How I longed to dig into a big piece right now! I could see it, smell it, and even
taste it. If only we had an oven, I could have whipped up her sponge cake right
there. But, alas we did not
The next hours were sheer agony
as I wrestled with the delicious tastes
and aromas in my imagination. No one
should have to endure such hardship.
To save your Venturers a similar traumatic
experience, here's how they can
make a low-cost, lightweight reflector
oven. (John J. Poluhowich designed it.)
The oven packs away flat, and sets up
quickly, allowing campers to experience
tasty baked treats while on the trail.
Materials
These materials are available anywhere.
Gather them before your ovenbuilding
meeting.
• coat hangar wire: one piece
107 cm (43"), and two pieces
58 cm (23"),
• one 16 penny nail,
• two pieces threaded rod
3 mm (1/8") by 30 cm (12"),
U 6 regular 3 mm (1/8") nuts,
• 2 wing nuts with lock washers,
• 45 cm (18") heavy duty
aluminum foil,
• 30 cm (12") of thin wire,
• hacksaw or file,
• hammer and pliers.
Lightweight Reflector Oven
Directions
1. Make a 90 degree angle bend 15 cm
(6") from one end of the longer coat
hangar wire. Ten centimetres (4")
from this bend, form a loop by bending
the wire around the 16 penny
nail. (Here's a tip: lock the wire and
nail in a vice during bending.) Ten
centimetres (4") beyond the loop,
make another right angle bend. (See
illustration)
2. Make a third right angle bend 27 cm
(11") from the second bend. Make
another loop 10 cm (4") from the
third bend.
3. Complete a rectangle by forming
the last 90 degree bend. The wire
should overlap at the bottom by
about 2.5 cm (1").
4. With a hacksaw or file, cut some
shallow grooves into the wire where
it overlaps so thin wire can grip the
two pieces.
5. Thread a nut on each end of one of
the shorter rods and fit it between
the two loops in the rectangle with
about 1 cm (V2") of rod extending
through each loop. Place a lock
washer and nut on each end, and
tighten both down.
6. Bend a loop in the centre of the
two short wires. Do this by placing
the nail 26 cm (10T) from the end,
and then bending the loop.
7. Curve each piece so they fit inside
the short side of the rectangle.
Make u-bends in both ends of each
short wire.
8. Hammer the u-bends closed once
they are hooked to the sides of
the rectangle. Now open the frame
and run the second threaded
rod through the loops on the side
pieces. As with the first rod, use
two nuts on the inside, and complete
the frame by locking it in
place with the two wing nuts.
9. Now cover the frame with the
aluminum foil, but begin by forming
the shelf. Then cover each side,
followed by the top and bottom.
With care, the same foil can be
used several times.
Baker's Delight
When baking, place the oven near
your campfire and brace the back with
a small stick. Use the oven several
times before you take it on a long trip
— just so you know how it works.
Next time hunger pangs strike
for mother's incredible cake, you'll
be prepared to bake it wherever
you are... as long as you remember
to bring the ingredients in your pack!
"What do you mean you thought
/ was bringing the recipe. I've got
the oven!" A
Cover the
frame with
heavy
aluminum
foil.
Form loops in coat
hangar wire. Bend the
wire around a small
nail held in a vise.
Wire together the
loose frame ends.
Attach curved sides
to the frame by
making u-bends.
A removable threaded rod
held in place by wind nuts
supports the framework
Cover the back, sides
and top with foil.
THE LEADER, May 1998 17