Pit firing was used in prehistoric times to create household ceramics such as bowls and pitchers.
Ceramics require a firing process to dry and form pottery. The most common form of firing today involves kiln firing. Did you know that your toilet was fired in a kiln during production? If you do not have access to a kiln, the pit method offers a low-cost way to dry your ceramic creation at home. The pit method has existed for centuries. During prehistoric times, people used pits to harden ceramic bowls, pitchers and statues.
Instructions
Ground Pit Firing
1. Dig a 3foot-wide to 4-foot-deep pit in the ground using a shovel. Fill the bottom of the pit with 2 to 3 inches of sawdust.
2. Place the ceramic items on top of the sawdust layer as close together as possible. Pile dry firewood, wadded up newspaper and sawdust around the ceramics. Use a slow-burning hardwood, such as oak, for firewood.
3. Pour lighter fluid on the pile of wood, sawdust and paper. Light a piece of the wadded newspaper in the pile using a fire igniter. Fire igniters with long necks used for lighting grills decrease the chances of getting burned when lighting a larger fire.
4. Fire the ceramics in the pit for 35 to 45 minutes. Add additional firewood if needed. Allow the fire to burn out and cool before removing ceramics. Place a sheet of metal 3/4 of the way over the pit when the fire begins to smolder, which will contain the heat.
5. Remove the ceramics after the pit has cooled. Scrub off the ceramic pieces using water and a wire brush. Pit fired ceramics are porous and are not recommended for liquids.
Charcoal Grill Firing
6. Clean out the charcoal grill before use, removing any charred remnants. Place charcoal in the grill and pour lighter fluid over the coals. Light the coals using a fire igniter.
7. Place the ceramics on the grate of the grill and allow the coals to heat up. When the coals begin to gray around the edges, remove the pots. Take the grate off the grill and spread out the charcoal to create an even surface.
8. Place the ceramics on the charcoal bed. Cover the grill with the lid, leaving a 2- to 3-inch opening on one side. Place the fan next to the grill and allow a medium stream of air to flow toward the opening of the grill. Remove the ceramics to cool after firing for 30 to 40 minutes.
