The original Solo Stove Pi generally requires less routine cleanup with its optional gas burner than the Big Horn Outdoors 12-inch pellet oven burning pellets, because gas produces no wood ash. With both ovens burning solid fuel, neither has a proven maintenance advantage: stone care, ash removal, and dry storage matter most.
By the Big Horn Outdoors Product Team
Published: October 26, 2026
This Big Horn vs Solo Stove Pi maintenance comparison examines the current Big Horn Outdoors 12-inch Wood Pellet Pizza Oven and the original Solo Stove Pi—not the separate Pi Prime. It compares documented designs and care requirements, not timed, hands-on cleaning tests.
Which Big Horn and Solo Stove Pi Models Are Compared?
The Big Horn Outdoors model compared here is its 12-inch pellet oven with separately sold gas-burner and electric-heater compatibility. The original Solo Stove Pi is a wood-burning outdoor pizza oven that accepts a dedicated gas-burner attachment; its stone consists of 2 removable halves.
Identifying the exact oven matters because “Big Horn pizza oven” describes multiple products, while “Solo Stove Pi” is sometimes used loosely for different Solo Stove ovens.
A pellet oven burns compressed wood fuel. A gas-burner attachment replaces the solid-fuel heating arrangement with an approved gas system; it does not make arbitrary fuels interchangeable.
The following comparison highlights documented features that affect maintenance rather than maximum cooking performance.
| Maintenance factor | Big Horn Outdoors 12-inch pellet oven | Original Solo Stove Pi |
|---|---|---|
| Solid fuel | Wood pellets | Kiln-dried hardwood; manual prohibits wood pellets |
| Alternative heating | Compatible gas burner and electric heater sold separately | Dedicated gas-burner attachment |
| Solid-fuel cleanup | Pellet ash and combustion residue | Wood ash; removable ash pan and fuel grate |
| Cleaning access | Product page describes disassembly for cleaning | Removable stone halves, ash pan, and grate |
| Storage-related design | Folding legs and detachable chimney | Removable wood-burning components and stone halves |
The important distinction is fuel, not brand prestige. A gas-equipped oven avoids wood-ash cleanup, but still needs cooking-residue removal and gas-system inspection.
Compatibility also does not guarantee that an attachment is included. Check the exact package before comparing ownership costs or cleaning routines.
Does Fuel Choice Matter More Than the Brand?
Fuel choice usually changes maintenance more than the oven’s name: pellets and hardwood leave ash, while gas avoids solid-fuel ash. The original Pi manual specifies kiln-dried wood pieces approximately 4–5 inches long and expressly prohibits wood pellets.
Wood combustion leaves mineral ash even when the fire burns well. Incomplete combustion can also deposit soot, the fine black particles associated with smoky burning.
In general, damp fuel, restricted airflow, and excessive fuel loading can increase smoke and deposits. Keeping the fuel dry and following the loading instructions reduces avoidable cleaning, although it does not eliminate ash.
Big Horn pellet operation
The Big Horn Outdoors 12-inch oven’s pellet mode suits cooks who enjoy managing a live fire. The maintenance commitment includes checking the fuel area, removing cold ash, and keeping accessible air and exhaust passages clear according to its instructions.
Its separately sold gas and electric attachments offer different maintenance workflows. However, those accessories have their own installation, inspection, and operating requirements. Do not infer indoor eligibility or cleaning procedures from compatibility alone.
Original Pi wood operation
The original Pi uses a fuel grate nested inside an ash pan. Its manual states that normal use can fill the pan after approximately 2–3 hours, but that is an operating reference—not permission to remove it while hot.
With gas installed, Pi avoids generating new wood ash. It does not become maintenance-free: spilled cheese, flour, grease, and burner-area debris still require attention.
For a fair comparison, evaluate pellet against wood, or approved gas operation against approved gas operation.
How Should You Clean the Pizza Stones?
The original Solo Stove Pi’s 2 cordierite stone halves should cool completely before routine cleaning; its manual specifies a stiff nylon brush or plastic scraper. For the Big Horn 12-inch oven, follow its own stone-care instructions rather than borrowing Pi’s tools or procedures.
Cordierite is a porous ceramic commonly used for baking stones. The original Pi manual identifies its stone material specifically; that identification should not be transferred to another oven without verification.
In general, stone maintenance should remove loose food and raised deposits, not restore a factory-new appearance. Darkening alone is not evidence that a baking surface needs replacement.
For the original Pi:
- Allow the stone halves to cool before removing or cleaning them.
- Brush away crumbs and use the specified nonmetal tools for stuck residue.
- Do not use soap, chemicals, or a dishwasher.
- Do not submerge the stones.
- Reinstall both halves flat in their correct positions.
Pi’s manual permits a lightly damp cloth after cleaning, while warning against excessive moisture. It also permits reversing the stone halves. Neither instruction should automatically be applied to the Big Horn stone.
Thermal shock occurs when abrupt temperature differences create stress within a material. Putting water on a hot stone can cause cracking. Never hose down a hot oven or attempt to accelerate cooling with water.
A stained stone and a damaged stone are different problems. Stop using a chipped or damaged Pi stone as directed by its manual, and obtain model-correct replacement guidance.
What Ash and Burner Maintenance Does Each Oven Need?
Both ovens need cold-ash removal after solid-fuel cooking; gas operation replaces that task with fuel-system checks. The original Pi manual also requires inspecting its 4 rubber feet before every use and prohibits operation if any are missing or damaged.
A useful maintenance schedule follows cooking events and component condition rather than an invented universal cleaning interval.
After a solid-fuel session
Let the oven, stone, fuel components, and ash cool completely. Then remove ash using the access points and sequence specified for the exact oven.
Place ash in a metal container with a tight-fitting metal lid, away from combustible materials. Apparently spent ash can conceal hot embers. Do not empty it into plastic bags, cardboard, or another combustible container.
For Pi, the removable ash pan and grate make the collection area accessible. For Big Horn, use its prescribed disassembly process; do not assume the Pi assembly sequence applies.
Before gas operation
Follow the burner instructions for checking the hose, regulator, connections, ignition, and accessible burner openings. Leak checks must follow the manufacturer’s procedure—never use a flame.
If ignition becomes unreliable or the flame changes unexpectedly, stop and follow troubleshooting instructions. Do not enlarge burner openings, improvise fittings, or modify the regulator.
The original Pi manual specifically requires the ash-pan and grate area to be completely cool and free of ash before installing its gas burner. It also prohibits burning wood while using the gas burner.
Heat Management Prevents Avoidable Cleanup
The Big Horn Outdoors 12-inch pellet oven lists an 18–20-minute preheat and temperatures up to 887°F, but those figures do not establish a cleaning cycle. Preventing stuck dough and overflow is more useful than assuming maximum heat will remove every mess.
Pizza receives heat through several mechanisms. The stone conducts heat into the base. Flames and hot internal surfaces radiate heat toward the toppings, while moving hot air provides convection.
A large flame does not prove the stone is ready. Launching onto an insufficiently heated surface can leave dough stuck or undercooked while toppings scorch above it. An infrared thermometer measures surface temperature and helps assess the stone directly.
In general, reduce cleanup by:
- Using only enough flour or semolina to release the dough from the peel.
- Checking that the assembled pizza slides before launching.
- Keeping sauce and toppings away from the outer edge.
- Turning the pizza before the flame-facing side burns.
- Allowing stone temperature to recover between pizzas.
Excess launch flour becomes burnt residue. Heavy toppings increase the chance of tears, spilled cheese, and baked-on sauce.
The original Pi manual permits high heat to burn off food residue, followed by brushing after complete cooling. That is Pi-specific guidance, not a universal timed procedure for Big Horn.
For foods beyond pizza, the Big Horn product page suggests cast-iron cookware to avoid staining the stone. Use cookware suitable for the oven’s heat and dimensions; never place fatty foods directly on Pi’s stone.
Where Can You Clean and Store These Ovens Safely?
Operate these ovens outdoors when burning pellets, wood, or gas, and clean them only after complete cooling. The original Pi manual requires at least 10 feet from combustible materials; that is Pi-specific clearance, not a substitute for Big Horn’s own requirements.
Combustion can produce carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that can be fatal. A garage, tent, RV, or enclosed patio is not an acceptable workaround for outdoor operation.
The original Pi manual also excludes covered patios and awnings. Follow its placement restrictions rather than assuming any roofed outdoor area is safe.
For Big Horn, confirm the exact manual’s clearance and placement requirements before lighting. The current product page contains broad indoor/outdoor wording alongside multi-fuel marketing; do not interpret that wording as permission to burn pellets or gas indoors. Seek model- and attachment-specific clarification where documentation is unclear.
During cleaning:
- Keep children and pets away from cooling equipment.
- Do not spray cleaning products into burners or fuel openings.
- Keep water away from hot stones.
- Avoid abrasive pads on stainless-steel surfaces.
- Dry cleaned metal before storage.
Pi’s manual allows warm soapy water on a lint-free towel for its metal body and says to wipe with the brushed grain. It prohibits spraying cleaner directly onto the oven.
Heat tint and patina are not the same as removable soot. Aggressively scrubbing normal discoloration can scratch the finish without improving cooking performance.
Storage, Portability, and Accessory Fit
The Big Horn Outdoors 12-inch pellet oven weighs a listed 24.9 pounds and has folding legs and a detachable chimney. Those features support packing and storage, but they do not eliminate the need for a completely cold, dry oven before transport.
Portability involves the whole cooking kit: oven, fuel, tools, cookware, and a safe ash-disposal plan. A compact oven is inconvenient to pack if residual heat or embers remain when it is time to leave.
In general, dry storage limits moisture-related problems. Keep pellets in a sealed container, protect the cold oven from rain, and avoid covering damp equipment in a way that traps moisture.
The stone deserves particular care during transport. Prevent it from shifting or striking other equipment, and follow the manufacturer’s packing instructions.
Before ordering maintenance accessories or replacement parts, verify:
- Stone dimensions, thickness, shape, and support arrangement.
- Cover fit with the oven’s installed components.
- Burner compatibility with the exact model.
- Brush and scraper materials approved for the stone.
- Availability of model-correct fuel components and supports.
A “12-inch” label describes cooking size, not universal parts compatibility. Pi’s split stones and another oven’s stone should not be treated as interchangeable.
Big Horn Outdoors Expert Views
For the Big Horn Outdoors 12-inch pellet oven versus the original Pi, choose the heating configuration before judging maintenance. Gas removes wood-ash cleanup; solid fuel retains fire tending, ash handling, and combustion-residue care.
“Our practical guidance is to compare complete routines, not just the final wipe-down. Pellet and wood cooking require dry fuel, clear airflow, and responsible cold-ash disposal. Gas removes the ash task but retains burner and connection checks. For either oven, protect the stone from moisture and sudden temperature changes, and clean for safe function rather than a spotless appearance.”
Which should you choose?
Choose the Big Horn Outdoors 12-inch pellet oven if pellet cooking, folding-leg storage, and its documented attachment options fit your plans—and you accept cold-ash cleanup.
Choose the original Pi with its approved gas burner if your priority is avoiding solid-fuel ash and you are comfortable maintaining an outdoor gas system. With Pi burning wood and Big Horn burning pellets, the available documentation does not establish a clear maintenance winner.
Beginners who dislike fire tending should prioritize an approved gas configuration over a solid-fuel-only buying decision. Frequent travelers should plan cooling and ash disposal before departure. Patio owners should measure safe operating space before comparing storage footprint.
The next step is to confirm the exact model, chosen fuel configuration, care manual, compatible tools, and dry storage location before purchasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
These 4 questions address common ownership concerns beyond routine cleaning. They distinguish normal wear, replacement decisions, and fuel restrictions for the original Pi and the compared Big Horn model.
Does a blackened pizza stone need replacing?
Not necessarily. The original Pi manual describes stone discoloration as normal; damage or persistent performance problems require a separate assessment rather than replacement based on color alone.
Can I use the same pellets in Big Horn and Solo Stove Pi?
No. The compared Big Horn model supports pellet operation, but the original Pi manual expressly prohibits wood pellets and specifies kiln-dried hardwood for wood firing.
Can I pressure-wash either pizza oven?
Do not treat pressure washing as an approved cleaning method. It can saturate the stone and force water into components; use the exact manufacturer’s prescribed cleaning process instead.
Do gas and electric attachments come with this Big Horn oven?
The current product page identifies the compatible gas burner and electric heater as separately sold accessories. Confirm the selected package rather than assuming compatibility means inclusion.
Explore more in the Pizza Oven Guides.
