How to Make Pit Fire Ceramics
Ceramics is one of the oldest crafts known to mankind. It has been used for thousands of years to make functional and decorative items, as well as bricks and other building materials. Pit fire kilns are thought to be the first kind of kiln used by mankind, and they are still in use today. While you cannot use glazes in a pit fire kiln, many designs and effects are possible by adding different organic material to the kiln.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Bisqued ceramics
- Wood
- Kindling
- Sawdust
- Matches
- Newspaper
- Corrugated iron sheet
- 1 brick
Instructions
-
-
1
Choose the pit location; there should be at least 15 feet between the pit and any building, and no combustible vegetation close by.
-
2
Dig the pit at least 3 feet deep, and as wide and long as you need for the amount of ceramic pieces you have. At a minimum, make the pit 3 feet wide, as well, to ensure the fire becomes hot enough. Place the brick upright on one edge of the pit.
-
-
3
Lay around 5 inches of sawdust on the bottom of the pit. Wrap pottery pieces in newspaper and lay them on the sawdust.
-
4
Place a layer of newspaper on top of the ceramics, to help cushion them from the wood.
-
5
Fill the entire pit with wood. Place kindling and newspaper over the top and light the fire with the matches.
-
6
Wait until the fire catches completely and is burning well. Take the corrugated iron sheet, and drag it sideways over the entire pit, leaving one edge resting on the upright brick to provide a cross draft for the fire. Covering the pit creates a more insulated, and thus hotter fire.
-
7
Let the fire burn out. This takes anywhere between 4 to 12 hours, depending on the size of the pit and the types of wood. Generally, light the pit at sundown, and it will be ready to unload at sunrise.
-
8
Unload the ceramics carefully once the fire is cool. Brush off any soot and ash.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Place organic materials or other items on the surface of pit-fired ceramics before firing to achieve different patterns, colors and designs. Steel wool, banana leaves, garden leaves, metal pieces and different fruit peels can be bound to the surface of the ceramics with newspaper and twine---any variation is possible, and the results are always different.
Pit firing is extremely dangerous because of the open nature of the fire. Always have fire-fighting equipment, such as hoses and extinguishers, at the ready.
Always check that an open fire kiln is permissible in your jurisdiction.
Never let children, pets or inebriated individuals next to a lit pit fire kiln.
Always have at least one person supervising the fire, even if it is lit overnight.
References
- Photo Credit ceramics pot image by inacio pires from Fotolia.com
