How to Build a Wood-Burning Kiln

Wood-burning kilns are typically made of brick.

Use a kiln to heat and fire clay to make various types of pottery. Modern types of kilns use gas to provide the heat and fire, but traditional kilns burn wood. One type of kiln design uses brick that you can stack to form a structure without using mortar. Certain types of brick, such as firebrick, are heat-resistant and are a suitable material to use for the firebox of the kiln.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Tamper
• Firebrick
• Cinder block
• Metal sheet

Instructions

1. Determine the size of kiln that you want to build. The shape can be a rectangle that measures 3 feet wide by 6 feet long.

2. Excavate the area where you want to build the wood-burning kiln to remove the grass and at least 12 to 16 inches of dirt. Level the area with a tamper.

3. Place a layer of firebricks on the ground at the bottom of the hole. Lay the bricks in any type of pattern you prefer.

4. Stack firebricks along the edges of the hole for the walls of the kiln. Offset each new row, so the bricks will overlap as each row is added. Continue adding bricks until you reach a height of two feet above the ground.

5. Place the cinder block in rows around the firebrick wall. Offset the cinder block in the same manner as the firebrick. The cinder block supports the firebrick structure.

6. Add at least 4 to 6 inches of sawdust to the bottom of the kiln. Place the pieces of ceramic or pottery that needs to be fired into the sawdust.

7. Lay pieces of wood on top of the pottery and light the wood with newspaper.

8. Place the metal sheet over the kiln once the fire begins to burn steadily. Wait for the fire to completely burn down and take out the pottery after the ashes have cooled.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not touch the pottery in the kiln until the fire has gone out.

References

• Fairfax County Public Schools: Outdoor Kiln Firing
• Robert Compton Pottery: Pit Kiln