Things You'll Need:
- Iron bucket 1 foot tall, and 1 foot wide with a lid.
- Clay
- Sand
- Graphite
- Wood or cork measuring two inches in diameter, and three inches long
- Thick paper
- Metal or iron pipe 1 inch in diameter and 2 feet tall.
- Cylinder shaped wood measuring 8 inches long and up to 8 inches wide.
- 2-inch wide strip of sheet iron
- Power drill
- Heat source for kiln: Bunsen burner, open fire or plumbing torch
-
Step 1
Use an iron bucket for the top of the ceramic kiln. Iron buckets can be purchased at home improvement stores or kitchen supply stores. The bucket needs to be 1 foot tall and no larger than 1 foot across. The iron bucket must have a matching cover, which fits snugly on the opening.
-
Step 2
Cut a 2-inch hole in the bottom of the bucket with a power drill.
-
Step 3
Cover the hole with a removable piece of wood or cork. Cut the word or cork to fit snugly in the bucket hole. Cut the wood long enough to protrude at least 2 inches into the center of the iron bucket.
-
Step 4
Cut or purchase a piece of wood in a cylinder shape measuring 8 inches long and 8 inches wide. This will be the core of the ceramic kiln.
-
Step 5
Mix a combination of clay, sand and graphite. The mix ratio required is 60 percent clay, 25 percent graphite, and 15 percent sand. Knead the mixture together until thoroughly combined.
-
Step 6
Line the interior bottom and sides of the bucket thick paper. Cover the wood core piece with thick paper.
-
Step 7
Layer the bottom of the bucket with the mixture. The layer of mix needs to measure at least 2 inches thick.
-
Step 8
Center the wood core inside the bottom of the bucket. Press the core firmly into the soft clay mixture.
-
Step 9
Fill the inside of the bucket with clay. Firmly pack clay around the core, completely filling the interior of the bucket.
-
Step 10
Cut a 1-inch hole in the top of the cover with a power drill.
-
Step 11
Encircle the bucket cover with a 2-inch strip of sheet iron.
-
Step 1
Allow all pieces to dry for two days.
-
Step 2
Make a container to hold ceramic items for glazing. Create a 2-inch cylinder-shaped hollow clay piece and allow it to dry. The glazing cylinder is referred to as a "muffle." The cylinder will keep dust away from firing items during the kiln process. Mold a piece of clay to create the cylinder. The clay cylinder walls need to be 1/2 inch thick. One inch of space between the cylinder and kiln walls is required for proper flow of heat. Allow the clay to dry for two days.
-
Step 3
Remove the wood or cork plug from the bottom of the ceramic kiln.
-
Step 4
Attach a pipe 1 inch in diameter over the cover hole. The pipe needs to be 2 feet long and serve as a chimney for the ceramic kiln. This step is optional, but allows for higher firing temperatures.
-
Step 5
Place the kiln above the desired heat source. Sit the kiln on bricks over an open flame, placed over a Bunsen burner or a plumbing torch. Add heat gradually to prevent cracking inside the iron bucket.
