A:Answer So you've probably read the "Important Safeguards" and it doesn't have the parameters for placement, but taking into account that nothing should be touching any external surface of the oven and one of the Safeguard requirements being, ". . . provide adequate space (at least 1 inch above and on all sides) for air circulation.", I'd say it's a one inch clearance requirement. The top does get warm/hot, but not to the point where it'd result in combustion of solid pieces of wood laying directly on the top of the oven. Newsprint or paper towels, though? Possibly.
