Homemade Ceramic Hobby Kiln

Fire your ceramics in your homemade hobby kiln.

Ceramics is a growing hobby world-wide, but it is in itself one of the most ancient of crafts known to mankind. Many hobby ceramicists have to find and use a kiln at a professional studio or college to fire their pottery, but there is always the option of making your own kiln instead. Many feel that the science of kiln making is too complex to make a successful hobby kiln, but if we go back in time, to way before science got hold of kiln making, then a simple pit kiln works wonders, and is perfect for an at-home firing for ceramic hobbyists.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Firebricks
• Sawdust
• Ceramic pieces
• Woodchips/kindling
• Newspaper
• Firewood
• Matches/lighter
• Corrugated iron sheet

Instructions

1. Dig a hole around two by two feet wide, and three feet deep, minimum. Make it larger if the pieces to be fired are large.

2. Line the base and sides of the pit with firebricks—you don’t need to mortar them together, as they expand when heated to form a well-insulated fire box.

3. Cover the base of the pit with around three inches of sawdust and then place your ceramic pieces on top of the sawdust. Pack the ceramics in with woodchips or kindling and newspaper and then cover with firewood.

4. Light the fire and wait until there is a good blaze going. Add more firewood, then drag the corrugated sheet over the entrance of the pit, leaving a small opening at one end for ventilation and to add more firewood through as necessary.

5. Tend the kiln, adding more firewood every couple of hours, for at least 12 hours. Let the fire burn out after that, and unpack the pit once the fire is cool.

Tips & Warnings

• Add metal oxides, salts and organic matter to the pit to achieve various colorations on your ceramics.

• Always make sure kiln firing is allowed in your jurisdiction.

References

• Glendale Community College: Kiln History and Basic Design
• Pottery Magic: Pit Kiln