How to Build a Firing Kiln
Hobby potters often build their own firing kilns because of the high cost and bulk of electric kilns. Building your own kiln allows you to place the kiln in the middle of your yard, reducing the chance of fire in your home or shed. Designers come up with different kiln ideas, from those on wheels to huge kilns the size of an average living room. To meet the demands of most hobbyist potters, only a small, wood-fire powered kiln is necessary. Keep in mind though, fire kilns are not guaranteed to provide high enough temperatures to transform pottery into stoneware, especially when the kilns are small.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Insulated fire brick
- Shovel
- Level
- Miter saw
- Pencil
- Saw blades for cutting brick
- High heat mortar
- Wood and sawdust
- Drill
- Masonary drill bits
Instructions
-
-
1
Purchase enough firebricks to make the size kiln you wish to build. A 2-cubic foot kiln will fire several pieces of pottery at once. A 2-cubic foot kiln will measure 2 feet on each side - a perfect cube. You may make your kiln bigger, or smaller, but it should be at least 1 cubic foot. The amount of insulated firebricks you will need to purchase will depend on the size of the kiln, and also the size of the bricks. Purchase your brick in person to better judge how many you will require.
-
2
Dig out a level area for your kiln. For additional insulation, and to prevent fires, you may dig a hole big enough to place the entire kiln underground; this may prevent firing when the ground is wet, as water may seep into the kiln. So choose a location that is on high ground to better protect your kiln.
-
-
3
Place bricks in a square pattern at the base of the dug-out area; push the bricks tightly together. You do not have to mortar the bricks together, as the mortar often prevents expansion of the bricks and causes the bricks to crack.
-
4
Sit the walls of the kiln into place by staggering the insulated firebrick in the typical brick pattern. Use a miter saw, pencil and appropriate cutting blades to trim the bricks down to necessary sizes to complete the walls.
-
5
Purchase a large slab of the insulated firebrick to use as the lid for the kiln. The lid will be heavy, so you may need help lifting both when you build and when you use the kiln. Measure the dimensions of the top opening of the kiln and have a firebrick slab cut to fit your needs. Drill a few holes in the top of the slab for ventilation. This will provide oxygen needed to keep the flames burning during firing.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Place wood and saw dust at the bottom of the kiln as a bed for the pottery. Add more wood and sawdust on top of the pottery pieces and light your fire. Allow the fire to catch, then cover the kiln with the insulated firebrick slab.
