Nowhere, in anything that I read, did it say that you need an inch of  sand in the bottom of the oven with the 4 tiles (supplied) laid on top.  I was hoping that I could just tip the oven over in order to get the ashes out (not with sand inside).  The mouth of the oven is quite small.  I will not be able to bake bread in the oven except for the flattest type of bread.  But for the money, it is a great pizza oven.