The passion potters possess pertaining to pit fire pottery is a hot topic! The more I work toward this direction the more excitement builds – tempered with the grounding mantra “it’s an experiment” of course.

Here is a great example of awesome pit fire work, found on Facebook, Guarnera Potter – be sure to check out his other pieces on Facebook!

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Speaking of Combustables!

Ideas:

• Banana peel. Orange-ish
• Coffee grounds. Gray-ish, orange-ish
• Copper carbonate and salt. Green, red and black
• Copper, cobalt and iron sulphates. Blue and red colors
• Copper wire. Most often black – if lucky red or green
• Ferric chloride. Often used in splashes. Great tones from dark red to light pink
• Sea weed. Colors depend totally on the type, the amount of salt in it etc.
• Steel Wool (black patterns)
• Many different kinds of other organic materials, nuts, leaves etc.

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Great webpage and Pottery works: https://robertcomptonpottery.com/index.php/vermont-studio/firing-methods/pit-firing/

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Step-by-Step Instructions from renowned Marcia S., MSU, on ceramicartdaily.org

when teaching primitive firing techniques and firing local clay using a pit (in the ground hole) I did the following:

• 1. dig a hole about 2-3 ft deep.
• 2. cut an edge about half way up the wall that will support a grate or square BBQ grill. Can use more than one grill in a longer hole.
• 3. start a wood fire in the lower part of the hole, letting good coals accumulate.
• 4. place the grate on the ledge.
• 5. let the pots absorb the heat from the blazing fire.
• 6. place the pots upside down on the grate.
• 7. cover with well dried cow pies to a height at least 1-1.5 ft. above ground level.
• 8. Let it smolder. You can use sheet metal to seal off wind for better blacks.
• 9. AFter a few hours, flames will burst to the surface.
• 10. Let it cool and unload.
• https://community.ceramicartsdaily.org/topic/203-pit-fire/?tab=comments#comment-954

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A fun update on all three

Kilns

Excitement builds as bricks lay heavy in my mind.
In a good way.

Building a pit-fire kiln has tickled the daydreaming niches of possibilities.
Almost every day.

This book is hard to find

But I bought it anyway.

And this Blog

Inspired me in many ways!

Kilts

Always thought it would be fashionable to wear one of these – especially with the bold colors, strong patterns, with some hanging chains of some kind of functionality and maybe even a throwing axe? LOL

Kits

Yes, the next step towards converting an electric kiln to a Raku kiln is getting a burner kit. A few options exist, including the:

<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://&lt;!– wp:paragraph –> <p>Yes, the next step towards converting an electric kiln to a Raku kiln is getting a burner kit. A few options exist, such as the Raku Burner Kit from Axner.com/Laguna <br><img class="wp-image-1413" style="width: 150px;" src="https://oneidashark.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/raku_burner_kit.jpg&quot; alt="undefined"></p>
Raku Burner Kit from Axner.com

Ward Burner B3 Dual Burner System

Next steps for electric kiln to Raku conversion:

• Remove the wire elements
• Fill in or patch areas where soft (insulating) brick is thin or missing
• Drill hole in metal and insulating bricks… maybe at a slight angle so the fire/flames circulate inside the kiln OR keep straight on. Either way it may be important to have an angled soft (insulating) brick to direct the flames to affect more wares
• Refit the lid with ceramic fiber and/or other do other repairs.
• Add wheels to the kiln stand
• Secure the kiln to the kiln stand
• Create a wooden ramp from the kiln storage area to the outside
• Bonus: Possibly create a lid-sliding feature to act as a quick storage feature when opening the kiln during a fire
• *During this time, I’ll start collecting dried organic combustibles, including, but not limited to: newspaper, sawdust, pine needles, and dried leaves. Closer to the firing time I plan to use discarded banana peels too. The great thing about this is to experiment (with care).

Raku note, tidbits and infor:

Blog, tips: https://www.lickinflames.com/raku.html

Overview: CeramicArtsDaily.org https://oneidashark.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/1cbf6-rakufiring2014.pdf

Three months! Whoa

We survived the self quarantine. My heart and humility goes out to those who died or knew someone who died of Covid-19. Our lives were turned askew. We went through confusion, fear, depression and ultimately (hopefully) reconnected or connection with God and our higher power and Universe (deep self reflection). We are new survivors!

As states started to reopen in phases I found myself being gifted with kilns, as the universe heard my desire (or I fell in tune with my universal fate/destiny/path) to do some alternative pottery firings! I did purchase some hard refractory bricks.

Thank you!