DIY Solar Oven! - High Temp Solar Oven! (375F/191C) - w/mylar for mirror-like shine! light+portable

Homemade Hi-temp Solar Box Oven! DIY Solar Box Cooker! very easy to make. it's designed to be lightweight, portable and powerful! sort of an "advanced cardboard solar oven". it weighs in at only 4 pounds, and has removable reflectors (think velcro) so packing it up is a breeze. it all packs into the outer box for 'grab and go' portability! to reach the high temps it's got lots of insulation and uses 12 reflectors (all covered in aluminized mylar). reflective mylar has a mirror-like finish (95% reflectivity). heats up fast (maxed at 376F/191C). video includes the full build instructions. two particular points of interest... the build starts around 3 minutes and there is a very interesting talk-thru on the details at 7 minutes and 50 seconds. it's a straight 3 minutes of me talking (no editing). that's rare. (one thing that is covered is why i don't use black paint. the short answer is that i'm getting better internal temps with foil). about mylar; reflective mylar is very strong. it's very hard to rip or tear it. it can scratch though. to clean it just wipe down with cellulose sponge or microfiber cloth (no steel wool or bristly pads). the reflective mylar comes in rolls and is sold on amazon. note that it is very important to use 100% silicone caulk to glue down the mylar. that is the only glue that i found that will both bond it tight and won't shrink when it dries. (if glue shrinks then the mylar will wrinkle). note that i used (green fiber insulation) but if you can't get that then crumbled up newspaper is a good second choice. if you like the video please rate, subscribe (click bell) and share!

[@jconbro]

Thank you for your amazing inventions and instructions! Im a 56 year old woman and am making a bunch of your ideas. The detailed instructions are excellent!!! The links are also great. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge!!!!

[@desertsun02]

your welcome 👍🙂.

[@ex-engineer6657]

Very good. Your consice narration is appreciated.

[@peacefulearth4us]

Thank you for taking your time sharing your knowledge with many details. I love the way that the materials don’t cost much and you explained very well so we could avoid mistakes and unnecessary cost. Thanks again for your kindness!!!!!!! Subscribed.

[@desertsun02]

you're welcome and thanks for subbing!

[@thegroove2000]

Fantastic work man.

[@sweetsavorywords3506]

I love you Dude! I knew you were gonna be in here somewhere and it was gonna be great! Easy to understand instructions, great reasoning on materials for best results. Only thing is ya didn't cook anything. But knowing your genius I have no doubt it works like a charm. I just cannot swing nearly $500 for this low tech solar oven. Thanks again♥️😁🔥

[@Nachos_with_a_slice_of_lime]

Under rated video!

[@2L82Sk8Bye]

Brilliant! I have to try this asap.

[@desertsun02]

Go for it!

[@championhomestead6273]

Ingenious brother!

[@desertsun02]

thanks 👍

[@2kruimels]

Great job.....as usual!!!! Thanks!!!!

[@desertsun02]

thanks and you're welcome 😎

[@MakesPaintings]

Love it!

[@overthenever4262]

Looks like my first indoor grow room.

[@desertsun02]

lol ✔

[@noahwiliams7214]

Great work. You have confirmed my experience concerning black or reflective interiors. Black absorbs visible light and emits IR (heat). Now think about it for a minute. Your goal is to heat the food. Not the oven. Any heating of the oven box itself is a loss of energy that should have gone into the pot. It increases the losses and need for insulation. A reflective interior redirects rays back toward the black pan to heat food. The crinkle surface of aluminum foil in the box tends to randomly scatter the rays and distribute them on the pan surfaces. This is different from what you want in a solar collector. Mylar or glass mirror surfaces are best here to ensure the rays enter the box. Then, scatter them around until they reach their target. But seeing ‘shiny’ when looking into the box is not a good thing. It indicates that the rays are being sent back out! They need to hit the pan to be useful. I suggest you look into using elliptical surfaces on the inside.

[@bokimne6697]

Awesome!! Thank you for sharing!

[@desertsun02]

sure thing. i'm glad you liked it 😎

[@FixItYerself]

Great build! That GE Silicone is also good for waterproofing. Good to know it doesn't shrink too

[@MaLiArtworks186]

Great build! I will make one this week.

[@desertsun02]

super! sounds good 🙂

[@MaLiArtworks186]

I made my solar oven with your design today. Will try it out tomorrow. I did add black contact paper to make it water resistant.

[@edbaranowski1958]

Great video. I'm working on a prototype myself

[@desertsun02]

sweet! 😎

[@petset77]

I'm going to make a cardboard trial unit like this for tweaking before making a plywood permanent version. There are a few others, like the one with angled interior reflective surfaces. $400+ in mid 2022 for the "All American Sun Oven" is a bit much to wave a flag for an insulated solar box cooker. Thanks for putting in the work and subsequent vid. Research and real American values are everything. Certainly better than greed.

[@Allen-yv3ue]

In 2005 I purchased my Global Sun Oven ( All American Sun Oven now). I have used it countless times over the years, rained on many times- even knocked over from wind and it still delivers. I have restrained top wood ( sun cooked). Yes it's big bucks, but I think money well spent. They have tweaked it over the years, larger inside - better solar glass, sun dial. A few years ago I was told it's American made except the gauge ( don't know about now). Very happy with my Oven ... Good for those who want to make their own 👍

[@ArizonaHighDesertHomestead]

That is awesome

[@desertsun02]

hi there. thanks 🙂

[@MrsamH08]

Excellent build. I very rarely leave comments, but I really appreciate your work here. That is a hot oven-probably great for biscuits! Have you used it? Can you link a video of you using it? Thanks for sharing!

[@msms-rl6zf]

Nice one! I'm looking for something to both heat shower/dish water and solar cook. How about a demo of using it for something common like a chicken? Times would be nice to know.

[@JR-zm2yu]

Very Cool Indeed! And i was about to toss boxes✔ out! 😂 I have the silicone✔ & hook✔ & aluminum foil✔ some mylar. Left to buy: glass, wood, more mylar and digital thermometer. GREAT video - i like the way you are very detailed - thank you!👍👍 😊💜🙏

[@desertsun02]

hi there. i had to dig deep into the closets to find those 2 boxes. i had things in them that i hadn't seen in 20 years. i actually had everything i needed to make it. i had plenty of green insulation left over after i built my last solar oven (my last oven only took about one-sixth of the package). i had even bought the mylar previously as i knew i would use it for various things. *you will see several more video projects from me in the near future made using mylar. i've got lots leftover and it's great for solar.

[@JR-zm2yu]

@@desertsun02 Wonderful - looking forward to the vids! And thanks for reminder of green insulation! 😊👍👍💜🙏

[@eyes2see438]

Could you use Styrofoam instead of the installation, around the Inside of the box?

[@seekingtko3146]

6:50 or so you showed us the charismatics of the mylar. that part of the video looks like area 51 discovery

[@AnthonyGrenier]

Id love to see you cook some meat in it!

[@desertsun02]

hi there. okay, that's the first thing i'll try.😎 (or the second). i've got russet potatoes all ready to go.

[@AnthonyGrenier]

@@desertsun02 👍

[@__WJK__]

Going to need some dessert after the main & side courses are done. How about try'n some mini cupcakes(?)

[@johnm2482]

Are you going to build some kind of rotating tray for your pans to sit on? Also if you do any more with this can you utilize an oven thermometer? Thanks for the build…

[@desertsun02]

hi there. i've got two 18" by 18" square pieces of plywood wood with a lazy-susan bearing in between them. that makes a good rotating platform. i'll set the oven on that - or just manually turn it from time to time 🙂 ...about the thermometer; i probably would have used the oven thermometer if i could have found it. those spring-loaded ones are notoriously inaccurate though. the digital thermometer is pretty accurate.

[@a787fxr]

That would work for a long time. Probably many years. !:- )

[@desertsun02]

agreed. as long as it doesn't get wet. (i had one cardboard oven last 10 years)

[@JR-zm2yu]

@@desertsun02 👍👍

[@stevecamp1759]

Really nice build. I have a lot of thin mirrors. Could I use all mirrors? I realise it will be heavy but I don't plan on moving it around.

[@desertsun02]

hi there and thanks. you can you all mirrors if you want to. 👍

[@nationalmatch1]

What would happen if you applied a clear coat of of spray enamel to the outside of the cardboard box? Maybe provide some weather-proofing?

[@Aeoxmusic]

I use chip bags :D

[@mikkoainasoja5018]

Thanks for the effort to share the information. For higher temp would you recommend this kind of reflective inside also to that advanced solar oven which you made earlier, or is there even so much different whether the inside is black or reflective?

[@desertsun02]

hi. you wouldn't want to use the mylar inside of a solar oven because it seems to be a plastic material. i tried using glass mirror inside of the advanced solar oven but ended up not using them

[@paulsprunken]

Great step by step narration but worried how to position the cooking pot while the bottom of the boxcooker is tilted. Curious to learn about your solution please.

[@desertsun02]

hi. one thought i had was something you could fit-to-form (like sand in a food-safe plastic cooking bag - or a non-plastic bag). you could set it on the bottom, press it down and level it out. might make a nice solid base and it could be re-shaped as needed.. or you could make a base out of cardboard or wood (wedge shaped) and fit it in.

[@bradwilson525]

You might could use a dish antenna to direct the sun into the box

[@barbaratrubenbach115]

great construction.when your cook box has to lay flat. once sun starts lowering you would need to keep moving box, but you still have to keep it flat. How do plan on picking up glass once done, is it not suppose to be hot? I do like the idea of folding it all up once done.

[@petset77]

Tempered glass.

[@__WJK__]

Did you add a small layer of insulation across the bottom, if not, I wonder if it might increase the temps a bit(?)

[@desertsun02]

hi there. yep the bottom is insulated too. the shot where i first show the green fiber insulation in the big box is all the insulation on the bottom. it's about the same amount as on the sides. roughly 1.5 to 2 inches of it. 🙂

[@baranjan4172]

Very cool build but how do you cook in it? It needs to be tilted and then the bottom is not horizontal. I wonder instead of running an oven to high temperatures would it not be better to use a simple panel cooker but with a double glass vacuum pot. Kind of like the evacuated tube but in a pot shape. I found glasses like that up to 650 ml volume but not larger. No luck with a double glass pot. Nobody is making such?

[@janosorio8563]

Hi, I’m making this for a class project, what size are both the cardboard boxes?

[@jhemnes1]

Are there any fumes from the glue and silicone when it gets hot?

[@desertsun02]

hi. 100% silicone is considered naturally food-safe and is rated to 400F so you're good there and when white 'school' glue (elmers) is dry it's totally safe (probably the safest glue on the market). it's actually totally safe even when not dry.🙂

[@doubtingthomas1312]

💜💜💜

[@johnhoyle6390]

I wonder if this could work in the North East US we here it's somewhat colder. And how outdoor temperatures and seasonal sun angle might effect it's performance.

[@desertsun02]

i would say it would work there for sure. i've lived up there and used solar cookers in that area. and with just 2 boxes, tin foil, and crumpled up newspaper for insulation i could get 300-325F with ease on most sunny days.✔😎 ~ just use lots of insulation (2 or 2.5") and the mylar

[@alienpsychomom]

I would like to try this. Thank you for explaining it so well. Could you tell me what size of a roll of mylar that you used? 25 ft? 50 ft.

[@desertsun02]

hi. i bought a 25 foot roll

[@alienpsychomom]

@@desertsun02 Thank you, can't wait to try this. I will let you know how it goes.

[@eyes2see438]

Where do you buy rolls of mylar?

[@desertsun02]

@Catherine Meza i get them on amazon

[@sdiane22]

I'm guessing there's no off-gassing of fumes from the Elmer's glue used to attach the aluminum foil in the cooking chamber. Do you know if this is true? Would off-gassing be a reason not to use silicone caulk to attach the aluminum foil in the cooking chamber?

[@desertsun02]

hi there. that is true. there is no off-gassing from the elmers glue. it's a very safe glue (one of the safest on the market). 100% silicone caulk is naturally considered food-safe and it's rated to 400F so you could use it to attach the foil but white glue (the elmers glue) is cheaper and totally safe too.

[@royals1833]

That's the question I had. Thanks for answering.

[@aarongans5985]

Quick question, what type of glass did you use? I need it to be very specific for a project,

[@desertsun02]

hi there. i just used basic plate glass. you can pick it up for under 5 dollars a sheet 😎

[@vickilafavers3392]

Do you have issues with the box breaking with the weight of the food your cooking? And what size boxes did you use? Is it an issue to use larger boxes?

[@desertsun02]

i haven't had issues with the boxes breaking (but you do have to be careful since it's cardboard). you can certainly use larger boxes if you want to.

[@justachick3114]

What kind of mylar did you use and where can I find it? Id like to build an oven and I want to make sure I get the proper stuff. The wrong mylar would be an exercise in futility. Can you help? Thank you.

[@desertsun02]

hi. i get it on amazon. this looks like what i used www.amazon.com/VIVOSUN-Horticulture-Highly-Reflective-Mylar/dp/B018VI75CS/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=aluminized%2Bmylar%2Broll&qid=1627336680&sr=8-5&th=1

[@lissa4306]

I'm still trying to figure out the type of rack to use. No matter the angle of the box, the food pan will still be tilted back instead of lying of level causing spillage & slanted baked goods. Any suggestions?!?

[@desertsun02]

i've been looking at using sand. that can be put in a flexible container and 'molded' to any shape you want. you just drop it in and level it. it will hold pretty much any pan and holds up to the heat

[@johnnichols2562]

How did you attach the aluminum foil to the inner box?

[@desertsun02]

hi. just standard white glue 👍

[@lyndabuchholz1216]

What Mylar did you use? How thick was it?

[@desertsun02]

hi there. per packaging it says... vivosun. highly reflective film. lightproof. durable puncture and tear resistant. no thickness it listed but i think it's 2 mil. i also think it has a poly backing (vapor barrier).

[@eunoia.2959]

Hi, are there any other alternatives for reflective mylar?

[@desertsun02]

the only other things i know of are aluminum foil or glass mirrors 👍

[@jenbrazell7301]

Certain mylar are 5hing tear easy.i have mylar bags.mylar emergency blankets.but they tear like paper. What kind how thick is that mylar.

[@desertsun02]

hi there. this stuff is almost impossible to tear. it's very tough. it's vivosun mylar. amazon has it. (i think it's 2mil)

[@Maggy1277]

Do you have a link for the aluminized mylar?

[@desertsun02]

hi. let me check amazon. here is a link. www.amazon.com/VIVOSUN-Mylar-Diamond-Highly-Reflective/dp/B01N5MHXQD/ref=sr_1_6?crid=3HEMLORILS2PZ&keywords=vivosun%2Bmylar&qid=1683214668&sprefix=vivosun%2Bmyla%2Caps%2C773&sr=8-6&th=1

[@briangingras5886]

I'll save this I've built a solar oven with similar dimensions maybe a little larger with mirror reflectors and it took enough to get up to 330 degrees Outdoors you look like you were measuring the temperature inside well we see the thermometer that doesn't lie but it's hard to believe that that's the correct temperature you don't even have it out in the sun Outdoors just sun coming through the window

[@desertsun02]

hi there. i'm not sure how you got that idea but just for clarity, i was only outdoors when taking the temp measurements. no point in taking any inside. the outdoor conditions were 99 to 100F, 6% humidity and no wind. in a few of the indoor scenes there was strong indirect light coming in the front window and it gave the oven a great looking shine but that was it. as far as i know, know heating occurred in the oven ... i just had a thought... maybe it looked that way because the camera automatically dims any shot that is extremely bright especially if it's filmed 'straight on'. the light in the oven (outside) was so bright that you couldn't even see the aluminum foil without sunglasses on. to see how it looks with little to no dimming - notice the shot i took from an angle showing the brightness of the oven (the scene with the giant red arrow) - that one captured what it really looks like to the eye. camera didn't auto dim very much because of the distance and angle.

[@juanitaferrer1463]

Is there anyway we could make something similar to heat up a room when there is no electricity

[@desertsun02]

hi. yes, absolutely. i've got many DIY solar air heater videos on my channel. all have a fan to pump the air into the house (but they all run off the power of one small solar panel) so the solar air heaters all run "off-grid". they don't need the "power grid" to work.

[@juanitaferrer1463]

Tku so much

[@47retta]

Doesn't mylar have plastic fused to it?

[@desertsun02]

hi. it does seem to be made partially out of a plastic based material.

[@petset77]

...which is why he didn't use it inside of the cooking box, but less reflective aluminum foil. Mylar was use for exterior reflector panels.

[@douglaspazini]

Hello! I've just replicated your design but using only aluminium foil (I didn't find mylar in my neibourhood and didn't want to wait from the internet). I HAD ONE PROBLEM I would like to share to know if you have come across the same thing: I tried to bake bread, but when the heating process started, the glass became cludy, full of water droplets. I suspect this blocked some of the light as my bread didn't bake. Do you have any tips? Maybe this oven is not baking bread... Thanks for sharing your project, It was fun to do anyways! Reggards!

[@desertsun02]

hey, it's great that you made it! too bad you couldn't get the mylar. it really helps. the issue of glass fogging on solar ovens is pretty common. there may be a way to vent the moisture out - i'm not sure exactly how to do it. maybe other commenters can give suggestions. i'd try using the oven to cook other things. i'm not sure if humidity has any effect. i don't usually have the fogging problem in the dry area where i live.

[@suejones433]

Nizzz. Can you show us how you cook in it plz

[@desertsun02]

hi. absolutely. what should i cook? i'm still trying to decide.

[@RehmatAliWriter]

@@desertsun02 whole chicken roast

[@MarySanchez-qk3hp]

Desertsun, I used to have a neighbor who sold solar ovens, on Sundays she'd make beef stew and bake brownies in her demo oven, out in the front yard. Both smelled divine and you could smell them across the entire block, and the smell drew curious neighbors. I'm vegetarian but brownies would be a simple food to start with. Most people like the smell of chocolate. The smell of roasting animals would turn me iffy and it takes much longer to cook meat to a safe temp, anyway. Try simple bread or brownies first. That's the lowest common denominator. :)

[@laurice8056]

Amazing! How effective would this oven be if we use a ceramic heat lamp? Maybe this would be helpful option when the sun goes down. Thanks for sharing.👍

[@mrbrown6421]

If you have power to run a ceramic heat lamp, use it for the toaster. Damn! You humans are stupid.

[@criss77771]

Why don’t you put Mylar on the walls of the little box ?

[@desertsun02]

hi. because it is made of a 'plastic-like' material. it could over-heat if you use it in the box. i don't like the idea of plastic fumes near the food 👍🙂

[@Vlfkfnejisjejrjtjrie]

Why did you put tin foil in the oven box and not mylar?

[@desertsun02]

hi. i didn't use mylar inside the oven box because it seems to be a plastic based material (hot plastic 'fumes' and food is a bad combination). the tin foil easily handles the heat though

[@hareth3911]

Can i use styrofoam as insulation?

[@desertsun02]

hi there. unfortunately, styrofoam can't handle the heat. i wish it could though.

[@hareth3911]

@@desertsun02 it melts ?

[@suejones433]

Hey, how bout some cookies, chocolate

[@desertsun02]

yummy!

[@kaizersoze]

3rd world countries living close the equator could use these. Mass produce and sell them.

[@MarySanchez-qk3hp]

Equatorial countries are usually developing countries, poor. I wouldn't charge anything, just teach the kmowledge, principles, and help them build their own for free. The whole point is to help humanity. Many poor people are just trying to find food and shoes for their kids. This should be universal free information. There's also a second issue: people are creatures of habit, and in the past, they've found they have to convince locals to change their habits and try solar. They traditionally use charcoal or wood, which resulted in deforestation, as well as dangerous unhealthy fumes and smoke from the cooking fires, often done indoors without adequate ventilation. It's hard to get folks to change, and you want to compound the issue by charging money that poor people don't have??? That's pretty unrealistic, and greedy. Not everything is about profit, CC. :(

[@jccooluser]

Need mylar use an empty chip bag , the inside part as the reflector

[@desertsun02]

party balloons too (often are made with it)

[@MarySanchez-qk3hp]

Desertsun, please don't use Mylar party balloons! The balloons inevitably end up in the waterways and oceans. The pu get lost and blow around, the strings attached to them entangle and kill seals and the balloons are ingested by wildlife, too! People need to be more aware of their impact on nature! No balloons!

[@creinicke1000]

I watched several dyi using the styrophome coolers.. but you said that they weren't good enough for the heat?? Vs your box and insulation.. but not being knowledgeable I'm hoping you can explain it better. Because I'd think the opposite!! I'd think a cardboard box would not be as good.. and the insulation you use would get pressed down and be less effective too... Obviously I know I should trust you.. you've obviously done your research...But my brain keeps saying it makes no sense.. why not use a styrophome cooler.. or at least styrophome inside a wooded box with a folding top already made? Top could be fixed with a mirror.. an interior box with the foil and side flaps of mylar could be also used.. and it could be folded up like you did and look like a cooler? Appreciated you telling why you used foil vs black paint or mylar.. I was wondering that until you said it in the clip.

[@desertsun02]

hi there. styrofoam is technically polystyrene. it breaks down (or starts to breakdown) at about 200F. 'styrene' (which is toxic) can permeate the air in the box and the food. you don't want to ingest that. it contains other toxins (like benzine) too so you should definitely not use styro-foam to make a solar oven. the best to things to use for insulation are green fiber insulation or something like crumbled up paper - that works very good. (it's okay to put hot coffee and things like that in styrofoam because coffee is anywhere between 120F to maybe 175F (but well below 200F). solar ovens almost always get way over 200F. the average solar oven is 300-325-350F and some get near 400F.

[@petset77]

Styrofoam "bead board", like cheap coolers are made of, gasses and even melts at pretty low "high" temperatures, as low as 210 degrees fahrenheit. Also, the material is made of toxic plastics, so you don't want warm to hot temperatures associated with any kind of "cooker" to introduce toxins into your diet. Black aerosol spray paint in the cooking box would introduce similar hazards, as might the plastics in mylar. But hey...

[@MarySanchez-qk3hp]

C Reinike, styrofoam is yet another petroleum-based, manmade, inorganic substance. All our human-created rubbish and plastics end up in the environment, particularly as ocean pollution. It can take 600-1000 years for plastics to degrade, and then they become. microplastics that never go away. They're dangerous, and Re already permeating the entire ecosystem on land and in the oceans. If the oceans die, we die too. But we've already got cardboard boxes that can be recycled, and which can degrade. Besides, simple and elegant is usually better, why get complicated with styrofoam we don't want near our food or in nature?

[@elliehines8435]

cook something and let us watch ...with timing...

[@desertsun02]

will do. what would you like to see?

[@RehmatAliWriter]

@@desertsun02 roast whole chicken