JNF Fire Workings Posted May 23, 2020 Report Share Posted May 23, 2020 Hello eveyone!! I'm new here to the forums, and I love making primitive style pottery, just getting started doing this, been a thing on my mind for a long time as I've always been fascinated with natural clay, so I've decided to refine my own..I do not own a kiln or a wheel so its all pinch pot and coil for me. Having a blast getting set up and started, I will post some pre fired pics up as I have not yet fired anything just yet. Last year I did a test fire a simple little ash try but I seemed to have misplaced it.. .. Take care everyone. ..Ill be happy to answer questions when I can..as I learn as I go!! Here is a pic of one of my freshly finished mugs. Ill post up more pics as I fire them..hopefully soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JNF Fire Workings Posted May 23, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2020 Here are three other items I have dried completely, this is all, I have so far. I plan to get some more studio time in very early tomorrow morning and then Ill be pouring more natural clay onto my bats to dry, wedge and store for use. I will also be digging for more clay, I have only about 30 pounds now, but I will be digging 2 full 5 gallon buckets to refine. I will report back with my fired pieces as soon as I can, I may experiment with a wood ash glaze as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted May 23, 2020 Report Share Posted May 23, 2020 46 minutes ago, JNF Fire Workings said: Here are three other items I have dried completely, this is all, I have so far. I plan to get some more studio time in very early tomorrow morning and then Ill be pouring more natural clay onto my bats to dry, wedge and store for use. I will also be digging for more clay, I have only about 30 pounds now, but I will be digging 2 full 5 gallon buckets to refine. I will report back with my fired pieces as soon as I can, I may experiment with a wood ash glaze as well. Keep in mind that wood ash glazes are typically higher melting than you would normally achieve in a pit fire. I suggest a primitive kiln build if you're interested in that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JNF Fire Workings Posted May 23, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2020 9 hours ago, liambesaw said: Keep in mind that wood ash glazes are typically higher melting than you would normally achieve in a pit fire. I suggest a primitive kiln build if you're interested in that Yes, that is the plan, pit fires have too big of a risk for uneven heating and developing cracks and breakage. Last time I test fired the small ash tray and other small items I made a quick makeship barrel kiln. As far as what cone it fired to....I have no clue, howeverI also do metal casting and forging so I definitely can make some heat, of course I dont want to get too hot and melt the clay. Thank you for the reply! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted May 23, 2020 Report Share Posted May 23, 2020 Try printing out a color/heat/cone chart that will allow you to approximate the temp inside the kiln by the heat color. Not accurate, but approximate, and with some cones in the firing you will be able to estimate when to stop stoking! best, Pres Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hulk Posted May 23, 2020 Report Share Posted May 23, 2020 ah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted May 23, 2020 Report Share Posted May 23, 2020 Sorry Hulk, but I like the one on white paper as it does not interfere with the color as much. best, Pres Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JNF Fire Workings Posted May 23, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2020 Thanks, I did forget to mention I have a temp guage I'm possibly planning to use as well, I really wish I could use my forge but it is way too difficult to slowly ramp up the temperature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted May 23, 2020 Report Share Posted May 23, 2020 Since you fire the forge, you have some understanding of heat color which is a really good thing. I fire much of my ^6 firings using my understanding of heat color, but use cones to verify my firings. best, Pres Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hulk Posted May 24, 2020 Report Share Posted May 24, 2020 "Sorry Hulk, but I like the one on white paper as it does not interfere with the color as much." Not at all (I read the words - not looking at the colour swatches, having worked in a machine shop, a steel mill, and spent more hours welding than most … the progression of heat/colour is familiar enough.)! Good point - get a good chart and print it on good paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted May 24, 2020 Report Share Posted May 24, 2020 I did a batch of pit firing one time, with all the wares being green. Almost none of them survived, and those that did had a lot of spalling. Needless to say, the next time, I had everything bisqued first. I have heard of people, some on this very forum, who do primitive firing, and used a standard oven to preheat the wares, before putting them in the actual fire. So that's always a possibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted May 24, 2020 Report Share Posted May 24, 2020 8 hours ago, Benzine said: I did a batch of pit firing one time, with all the wares being green. Almost none of them survived, and those that did had a lot of spalling. Needless to say, the next time, I had everything bisqued first. I have heard of people, some on this very forum, who do primitive firing, and used a standard oven to preheat the wares, before putting them in the actual fire. So that's always a possibility. Yes some photos of pots stacked around kiln edge prior to firing also. Search for member Alabama .He practised with local clays and primitive firings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JNF Fire Workings Posted May 24, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2020 Definitely have to pre heat the stuff when it comes to the primitive pottery, as well having more than one of the same items in case of breakage. This is why I want to make a barrel kiln or something similar to more evenly heat and ramp up temp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted May 24, 2020 Report Share Posted May 24, 2020 6 hours ago, JNF Fire Workings said: Definitely have to pre heat the stuff when it comes to the primitive pottery, as well having more than one of the same items in case of breakage. This is why I want to make a barrel kiln or something similar to more evenly heat and ramp up temp. Check out Alabama His stuff and pics in his gallery. And Marcia Selsor's top hat raku kilns ,also a member with great experience Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JNF Fire Workings Posted May 27, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2020 Thanks everyone for all the input, as soon as I get my kiln up and running I will post up a review of how it goes. Im really thinking about creating a YouTube channel of my progress for anyone else interested in learning with me as it would be a learning experience for me and those who may follow, however YT is tons of work and very time consuming as I have a channel that is no longer active...it was a lot of work and dedication. It had nothing to do with pottery tjough, but its all the same work and I have not yet decided if I want to commit to that again. We shall see, Ive been taking video and documenting my work when I have time. I'll keep everyone here posted on my progress... So far nothing new has happened..just a couple more vessels made from my natural clay. Thanks again everyone!! Jim JNF Fire Workings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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