Tandoor firing?

[East_Bay_Potter]

I am making a tandoor (Indian cooking vessel). The instructions I have are to let it air dry, to cure the inside with molasses or buttermilk and then to build three consecutive small fires in it, letting it cool after each fire and then it is supposed to be ready for use. I am wondering if this will really be enough of a firing to make it permanent??? It is essentially a pit fire, but because it is only inside the vessel, I am just not sure if that will be enough. Anyone have any ideas? This vessel has no glazing and is about 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide with an opening at the top and bottom. It is used by building a fire in the bottom and roasting breads on the walls of the inside as well as meats hung by skewers inside the vessel. The opening at the bottom allows you to remove ashes and add wood or charcoal.

Any advice would be appreciated!

~devany

[Andy Clift]

This is one of those things that sounds like there is no way it will work, but I have a feeling the directions are correct and it probably will work if you try it.
The likelyhood of it being "permanent" is unlikely though. I would estimate that it will probably last 1-3 years.

Anybody else got an opinion? HELLO
What else can I do to get people to start using this resources?

Good Luck Devany,
Andy

[Andy_Aldam]

What material are you using or have used to make the tandoor - I am using one that i sourced from India, it is working well and i need to make another one larger than the one i already have.

The one i have is made of clay but what i am hearing is to try and build one using ceramics.

Anybody got an idea as to what material to use (ceramic).