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Clay
Art Pottery
Presents the Raku
and Pit Fired Work of Vicki Hardin
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Have Questions? Email us. Following are some FAQs that may be helpful.
hi Vicki,
I have no tools, no kiln and would really like to make some simple coil
thumb pots using a pit fire.
I have absolutely no idea where to start, and was wondering if you could offer me some advise on what type of clay I should buy that would be appropriate for pit firing and how to make a simple firing outside. Any help or advice would be much appreciated
Kind Regards Nikky
Nikky,
While almost any clay can be pitfired with some care, I would recommend that
you use an open body, one with some grog. Translated…ask your supplier for a
raku clay or a cone six stoneware. The problem you are going to have
foremost is firing without a bisque, which is the initial firing which
drives the water off the clay and hardens it for glazing. A primitive firing
is quite involved when you are working with pieces that have not been bisque
fired because they are quite fragile when exposed the intense temperature
changes involved with an open pit.
My recommendation would be to see if you could get a potter in your area to
bisque your work first.
Then, it’s just a matter of stacking your work, filling the pit with fuel
and setting It on fire for which there is more information on my site.
Good Luck,
Vicki Hardin
