Pottery can be fired in a small kiln.
Every piece of pottery fired in a small kiln is unique because of the varying range of environmental conditions. The smoke and fumes will burn permanently into the clay surface, resulting in unpredictable color patterns. Try different types of sawdust to achieve different effects. A small kiln can be built easily and inexpensively in your backyard.
Instructions
Building a Kiln
1. Choose an outdoor area that is clear from anything that may catch fire and sheltered from the wind.
2. Bricks can be stacked on the ground or on a concrete slab.
Gather materials needed for the kiln. Sawdust kilns require at least three rows of stacked bricks. The other dimensions of the walls are determined by the size of the object or objects to be fired in the kiln. Build an appropriate sized kiln for the article to be fired. Leave at least 6 inches of space around the object. Leave small gaps between bricks for air. Bricks can be stacked in a circle, square or rectangle pattern. The bricks can be stacked directly on the ground or on a concrete slab.
3. Sawdust is placed around the objects in the kiln.
Load your kiln. Fill it with sawdust up to the bottom three bricks. Place chicken wire over the sawdust, resting on the bricks. Add another row or two of bricks over the chicken wire and bricks. Place your object to be fired on the chicken wire. Cover the object to be fired with sawdust. If desired add another layer of chicken wire and two more rows of bricks to add another object to the kiln. Again add sawdust around second object and continue layers until desired height is achieved. Do not build higher than seven bricks.
4. Light the fire using newspaper and kindling.
Light the fire using newspaper and kindling directly on top of the top layer of sawdust above the object to be fired. When the sawdust is smoking, cover the kiln with the large metal trash can lid.
Allow the kiln to burn at least 24 hours and until it has stopped smoking. Allow it to completely
cool down.
5. Example of pottery fired in a kiln.
Remove the lid and dismantle the kiln layer by layer, carefully removing each object. Unless the objects were glazed, they will usually come out completely black and can be buffed or burnished to a gray. Depending on different environmental conditions such as types of sawdust, humidity, temperature and location of the object in the kiln, the result may be different colors ranging from black to gray to orange. The kiln will need to be rebuilt for every firing.
