Gary Elfring on mon 9 aug 99
I'm interested in doing a number of sawdust firings this fall.
I have several books on the subject which give details of the
entire process *except* they don't describe the firing container.
They mention firing in a metal drum or (in the US) one of our
big metal garbage cans. But there is no real information on
whether you need to make air holes in the can to keep the fire
going, and if so, how many and what size?
Does anyone have any information on this end of the process?
Dale A. Neese on tue 10 aug 99
Just a regular metal trash can will do. Take a drill with a good size bit
and make holes all around the can. You can space them at random. Start with
some sawdust in the bottom of the can. Place sawdust of various particle
size in and around the pots. Dry leaves, bark, twigs, hay, straw anything
combustible can produce different effects too. I have seen other people use
dry dog food, corn, nuts, etc. I some times have used wire screen to
protect some layers of the pots from falling on those below as the sawdust
burns away. When the can is full, just light some charcoal briquettes on
top of the sawdust and put the lid on. Just leave it cracked a bit until the
sawdust catches. Burnished clay seems to work the best.
I don't do as much sawdust firing since I concentrate on stoneware. But it
can be a fun departure from time to time. Easy to do for a class project.
Good luck,
Dale Tex
Ben Shelton on tue 10 aug 99
We just stacked up some bricks in a circular chamber about 2feet high, lit a
small fire on top of the load of pots/sawdust and covered wqith a metal lid.
Viola!
-----Original Message-----
From: Gary Elfring
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Monday, August 09, 1999 11:06 AM
Subject: Sawdust firings in garbage cans (metal containers)?
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I'm interested in doing a number of sawdust firings this fall.
I have several books on the subject which give details of the
entire process *except* they don't describe the firing container.
They mention firing in a metal drum or (in the US) one of our
big metal garbage cans. But there is no real information on
whether you need to make air holes in the can to keep the fire
going, and if so, how many and what size?
Does anyone have any information on this end of the process?
Philip Davenport on tue 10 aug 99
Gary:
This is the technique I use for my High School classes and it works
great. I used a 1/4 inch drill bit and drilled holes from top to bottom
spaced about 2 inches apart. The can I used had vertical ridges so I
drilledthe holes parallel to the ridges.
Good Luck!!!
Phil Davenport
Texas
Cindy Cabrera on wed 11 aug 99
I have done sawdust firings in the garbage cans. I
have small holes, 1/4", in different areas of the can,
maybe 15. Otherwise, without the holes everything
will turn black. Good luck.
--- Gary Elfring wrote:
> ----------------------------Original
> message----------------------------
> I'm interested in doing a number of sawdust firings
> this fall.
> I have several books on the subject which give
> details of the
> entire process *except* they don't describe the
> firing container.
>
> They mention firing in a metal drum or (in the US)
> one of our
> big metal garbage cans. But there is no real
> information on
> whether you need to make air holes in the can to
> keep the fire
> going, and if so, how many and what size?
>
> Does anyone have any information on this end of the
> process?
>
===
Cindy Cabrera
San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Susan Park on wed 11 aug 99
Are these pieces bisque fired prior to this sawdust firing?
susan in seattle
Jeri Palmer on thu 12 aug 99
I am eager to try this garbage can firing but I need to know how hot are you
going? Should I go get some lowfire clay or will I get enough cones to go
with my highfire? Jeri
WHew536674@cs.com on thu 12 aug 99
I have always bisque fired my pieces before sawdust firing them. If you
bisque at 05-06 you get interesting variations on the pieces. If you bisque
at 010 they will turn black all over. Try a low fire red and a low fire
white, both can produce dramatic results. I burnish three times, twice
before the piece is dry, and when it is dry use vegetable oil on the piece
and burnish again. After firing I use neutral shoe polish and it gives it a
nice shine.
Joyce A
Mission, TX
Antoinette Badenhorst on fri 13 aug 99
Jeri, you can use any clay that will be strong enough at a high bisque
firing. The pot will still be porous. Burnishing will make it more
strong. The organic material fires away almost instantly when coarse.
Fine sawdust will smolder for a while if it get oxygen. If oxygen only
come from the pots, the pots will turn black. That is why you need
openings so that air can flow and "feed" the fire.
Normally the bisque firing dictates the hardness of your pot. It must
still be porous though, to create fire changes.
Try this first with one or two pots and see the results to understand.
If you do not like it you can always put it back in a normal bisque
fire. It will re-oxidize in full.
--- Jeri Palmer wrote:
> ----------------------------Original
> message----------------------------
> I am eager to try this garbage can firing but I need
> to know how hot are you
> going? Should I go get some lowfire clay or will I
> get enough cones to go
> with my highfire? Jeri
>
===
Antoinette Badenhorst
PO Box 552
Saltillo,Mississippi
38866
Telephone (601) 869-1651
timakia@yahoo.com
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