The purpose of this article is to help you maintain your All-American Sun Oven. Whether you bought yours recently, new or on the used market, of have had yours for decades, the bezel is the one part of the Sun Oven that requires occasional attention.
If you are shopping for a Sun Oven on the used market (eBay, Facebook, etc.) the bezel is one part you want to inspect closely. Read on....
The purpose of a Sun Oven is to reach cooking temperatures simply by focusing the warming power of direct sunlight. The inner and outer shell, tempered glass door, and anodized aluminum reflectors, all contribute to this heat. Most Sun Oven users get all of that. There is one part of the Sun Oven that does get questions from users, and that’s the wood bezel.
This singular wooden element of the sun oven is very important to the function of the Sun Oven. Today, I'm going to focus on wood bezel of the All-American Sun Oven to explain its purpose and the best maintenance routine.
About the Wood Bezel
At the top of your All-American Sun Oven, you may notice that there is a square wooden rim which caps the oven box. The reflectors and glass door both attach to the bezel, and the bezel is, in turn, attached to the outer rim of the sun oven's cooking chamber.
The wood bezel is smooth, made of solid and high-quality poplar wood, and is built to last with a water-resistant stain. It does require slightly more care than the metal oven itself because it is a solid hardwood component.
A Mounting Point for the Reflectors and Door
The first and most important purpose of the wood bezel is to hold up the reflectors and provide a mounting point for the door hinge. If you look closely, you may notice that all of the essential moving parts of the Sun Oven design are screwed into the hardwood bezel instead of into the ABS plastic exterior of the oven box itself.
This provides greater stability and durability for a long-lasting Sun Oven design. Because the reflectors and door attach to a hardwood bezel, the anchor points remain firm and reliable - sometimes for over 20 years of regular outdoor cooking.
A Cool Surface that is Safe to Handle
In addition to providing an excellent anchor point for the moving parts, the wood bezel will also remain cooler than the oven box. This can allow for safer handling when you are placing or retrieving food from inside your sun oven. Wood is often chosen for elements that will not become too hot in direct sunlight.
For illustration, if you've ever used a GoSun solar oven, you'll know that design is all metal. When the food has been cooking a while it becomes a real challenge to relocate or realign the oven because it gets so hot. It is also sometimes a challenge to remove the cooking tube without burning yourself. This is not the case with the Sun Oven because of the bezel.
The wood bezel simply provides a convenient 360-degree handle with which you can grab, hold, or carry the Sun Oven easily.
Potential Challenges Under Extreme Use Conditions
The Sun Oven design is incredibly durable. But of course, the wood bezel has the greatest potential for wear-and-tear because it is made of a natural material.
If you leave your Sun Oven outdoors all the time and don't consider maintenance, you are likely to see signs of wear earliest in the wood bezel. Mainly, the wood will become too dry and sun-bleached, and may eventually start to split or form cracks as any wood will do when left in extreme temperatures or all weather throughout the year.
Generally speaking, small cracks and splits are a natural element of wood, and these will not cause any problems.
Basic Maintenance of the Wood Bezel
High-quality poplar wood is extremely hard and durable, especially when treated with a water-resistant stain. But like any wood, it can take damage if left in dry, hot conditions or left outdoors for much of the year. Fortunately, just a minimal amount of maintenance can make the difference between 20+ years of reliable design vs issues with splitting dry wood.
1. Store Your Sun Oven Indoors
When you are not using your All-American Sun Oven, store it indoors, or at least set it in the shed, out of direct sunlight or moisture, instead of leaving it out in the sun. As you know, direct sunlight can wear down on almost any material, and the wood bezel of your sun oven is no exception.
In particularly dry climates, indoor storage can also reduce the amount of long-term structural moisture is lost from your wood bezel over years being left in the dry outdoor air.
2. Apply Linseed Oil Every 3-4 Years
The only other maintenance tip you need for your wood bezel is to oil the wood every 3-4 years. In cases of daily use in hot, dry, environments you might even opt to do this every year. This is good advice for any hardwood furniture, tools, or trim, and it takes very little time.
Simply wipe down the wood bezel of the All-American Sun Oven with linseed oil to revitalize the wood and help to lock in structural moisture. You can prevent sun cracking and ensure your sun oven maintains the attractive shine from the day it arrived.
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