How to Fire Ceramics in a Wood Fire
Firing or baking clay creations does not have to be a high-tech experience. Firing ceramics in a wood fire is an ancient practice that has been modernized by building kilns; it can, however, still be practiced in its simpler form. The use of pits for low firing clay is a folk art tradition where the earth is the kiln. Wood is the fuel and the results are unpredictable and beautiful.
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Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Sawdust
- Old newspaper
- Crushed charcoal, or rock salt (optional)
- Firewood
- Corrugated steel, enough to cover the predetermined pit size
- 4 cinder blocks
- 6- to 8-foot steel rod
Instructions
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Prepare your clay creation well in advance of the firing day. Allow clay pieces to dry for at least a week, perhaps longer depending on the humidity. Make certain that the clay work is completely dry before firing. Wet clay will crack or explode. Keep your designs simple for pit firing without delicate details sticking out from the surface.
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Dig a rectangular pit 3 to 4 feet deep and a length appropriate for the amount of wares you are firing. Orient the pit with the long side parallel to the wind direction. This is important because you want to encourage a cross draft within the pit.
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Put 4 to 8 inches of sawdust into the bottom of the pit. Rock salt, crushed charcoal, and wadded newspaper can also be added to this layer for a variety of effects on the finished pieces.
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Lay your clay wares on top of the sawdust.
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Crumple newspaper and put 12 inches of this material on top of your clay pieces.
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Fill the pit with dried firewood until it is heaped up over the pit.
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Light the fire in several places.
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Allow the fire to roar for 15 to 20 minutes.
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Cover the pit with the corrugated steel: Overlap each piece where they meet.
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Place cinder blocks on the ends of the corrugated steel to keep them stable.
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Use the 6- to 8-foot steel rod to pry up the short ends of the pile. Prop these rods through the cinder blocks. This will facilitate the necessary draft.
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Allow the fire to burn for four to 12 hours. If you start the fire at sunset, it will burn through the night.
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Unload your clay wares when the fire has completely cooled, another day at least.
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Tips & Warnings
Trash cans can also be layered as above and used for "pit firing."
Wrapping your clay creation with added materials will give it decoration. These include banana peels, flower petals, potato skins, copper scrubbers, very fine steel wool, seaweed, and copper foil. Experiment as there are many substances that will leave marks on your pottery. Wrap newspaper tightly around the pottery after you have applied this material and tie with twine.
Cow dung may be added on top of the newspaper layer.
As with all fires, use caution
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Fumes emitted by the fire may be toxic, so stay a safe distance away.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
