Homemade sawdust kiln
May. 6th, 2007 03:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
trystinnFor the life of me, I cannot remember who I was talking to about making one of these. Thankfully, we've a wonderful book in the bookstore "Crafts for the Spirit: 30 Beautiful Projects to Enhance Your Personal Journey" by Ronni Lundy that has a great set of directions.
Kiln Materials for Raku firing
"Old galvanized trashcan with a sturdy bottom and lid
Sawdust
Onion skins or banana peels (optional - for coloring)
Newspaper
Matches
Tools
Metal drill with 1/4 inch bit
1. Drill holes spaced approximately 4 inches (10 cm) apart, all over the trashcan and on the bottom. Do not drill1. holes in the lid.
2. Set the can up on blocks to allow ventilation from below. Place about 4 inches (10cm) of sawdust in the bottom of the can. Gently place several Raku pots on the layer of sawdust, allowing space between the pots. Put sawdust inside the pots too if you want coloration there. For additional surface coloration, you can throw in some onion skins or banana peels around the pots.
3. Place approximately 2 inches (5cm) of sawdust over the pots. Place your next layer of pots on top, continuing the process until you are near the top of the can. You do not have to fill the can with pots if you have just a few. Put three inches (8cm) of sawdust over the last layer of pots, allowing about 4 inches (10cm) of room on top of this for a layer of newspaper.
4. Take three sheets of newspaper doubled over, twist and then bend them in half. Make enough of these twisted paprs to cover the sawdust and fill the can. A generous amount of densely packed papers id required. Light the newspaper. When all the newspaper is burning, cover the can with the lid, and let everything smolder.
5. Check to make sure that smoke is escaping through the holes you drilled, and crack the lid open if you need additional ventilation.
6. The firing should take at least 12 hours. It is best if you can check the firing every few hours to make sure the sawdust is still smouldering. If it is not, you may need to fan the kiln to spark the fire again, or even make another layer of newspaper and light it. The longer you fire, the more carbon will go into your pots, causing a range of grey to black colors.
7. Let the smoldering ashes cool before removing your pots from the bottom of the can."
* You will need to allow your freshly shaped raku pottery to dry out for several days before firing them in the kiln.
Kiln Materials for Raku firing
"Old galvanized trashcan with a sturdy bottom and lid
Sawdust
Onion skins or banana peels (optional - for coloring)
Newspaper
Matches
Tools
Metal drill with 1/4 inch bit
1. Drill holes spaced approximately 4 inches (10 cm) apart, all over the trashcan and on the bottom. Do not drill1. holes in the lid.
2. Set the can up on blocks to allow ventilation from below. Place about 4 inches (10cm) of sawdust in the bottom of the can. Gently place several Raku pots on the layer of sawdust, allowing space between the pots. Put sawdust inside the pots too if you want coloration there. For additional surface coloration, you can throw in some onion skins or banana peels around the pots.
3. Place approximately 2 inches (5cm) of sawdust over the pots. Place your next layer of pots on top, continuing the process until you are near the top of the can. You do not have to fill the can with pots if you have just a few. Put three inches (8cm) of sawdust over the last layer of pots, allowing about 4 inches (10cm) of room on top of this for a layer of newspaper.
4. Take three sheets of newspaper doubled over, twist and then bend them in half. Make enough of these twisted paprs to cover the sawdust and fill the can. A generous amount of densely packed papers id required. Light the newspaper. When all the newspaper is burning, cover the can with the lid, and let everything smolder.
5. Check to make sure that smoke is escaping through the holes you drilled, and crack the lid open if you need additional ventilation.
6. The firing should take at least 12 hours. It is best if you can check the firing every few hours to make sure the sawdust is still smouldering. If it is not, you may need to fan the kiln to spark the fire again, or even make another layer of newspaper and light it. The longer you fire, the more carbon will go into your pots, causing a range of grey to black colors.
7. Let the smoldering ashes cool before removing your pots from the bottom of the can."
* You will need to allow your freshly shaped raku pottery to dry out for several days before firing them in the kiln.
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no subject
Date: 2007-05-07 05:02 am (UTC)I am really interested in pottery, i've taken one class in College and enjoyed it greatly. Hopefully someday i can master the craft...
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Date: 2007-05-07 05:22 am (UTC)I haven't any luck with sculpting pottery, but I really do adore painting it. I'm going to have to find some clay and get me a metal trashcan to do this!