23. Pitfire Pottery - Tips & Tricks

[@jojacobs305]

Love how there is a picture story on all of your pieces - stormy clods crashing into mountains, an old pirates map or a foggy morning in the Chinese mountains. The second to last pot looks like the Australian ancestors from the dream time just beautiful

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks. And yes, it's like looking at clouds in the sky :-)

[@jojacobs305]

@@deMibPottery sorry not clods but clouds

[@triciac1019]

That was sure a lot that fit in that barrel. They all turned out so beautiful!

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-)

[@goinblinddoggone]

Fascinating hour of watching you at work/play. I've stumbled upon a true artist and scientist. Your pottery is certainly something to aspire to, it's absolutely incredible to behold. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge ☺️

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks a lot :-)

[@sonalimishra1901]

Just beautiful and gorgeous! Loved each and every piece, and also appreciate how generously and meticulously you shared your knowledge!

[@deMibPottery]

Thank you ❤️

[@theox23]

6 months into wheel throwing and addicted. Wish I had seen your video before I did my first pit fire this weekend! American here and was just in Copenhagen 2 weeks ago visiting son (he’s studying there) and man I wish I could have seen you pit fire in person. 😀 great videos. Thanks

[@deMibPottery]

Tanks a lot. You would have been more than welcome to join me in a fire :-)

[@annefagrew5807]

The porcelain bowl is magnificent ! I love your enthusiasm, I'm like a kid in a candy store when i finally see the results of my labours.. Thank you

[@deMibPottery]

Thank you so much :-)

[@willemh3319]

that white porcelain bowl, you did it ,GREAT

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-)

[@rickstrodder129]

What a great out come... no breakages! I haven't made a pot for years because I had no where to fire it... this solves that problem! (Ialso have no wheel, so it'll be coil and slab work) And I just love the finishes and unpredictability of what going to happen. Thank you for making this film... I've only just found your channel,, so, I'm going to watch the rest of your content. Love your work and thanks again.

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks. I am happy to inspire you :-)

[@margiegandy9189]

That is one of the best results I’ve seen! Absolutely beautiful!

[@deMibPottery]

Wow, thank you!

[@Bonsaicrazy]

Hi Mikkel I’ve been following your pit fire pottery videos. I’m actually doing my own video on the topic this weekend, video will be out next week!! I’m doing something that you may find very interesting and useful ti your pit fires and what you do. I may have discovered a way of upping the temperature, I hope, by a great amount, Like I say it may be very useful for you so if you don’t mind I’ll drop my video link to you when it’s done. ? Thanks loads 👍👍

[@deMibPottery]

Sounds good. Yes, just send it to me :-)

[@charlieevergreen3514]

I think it would be a blast to pit fire with you. I love your experimentation and your enthusiasm! I’m eager to see the end of the video!

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks. I do very much enjoy every pitfire :-)

[@knightclan4]

Outstanding finished pieces. Great photography!

[@deMibPottery]

Thank you so much :-)

[@MissGroves]

I have learned so much from you, thank you for sharing :)

[@deMibPottery]

Thank you - I am so happy you did :-)

[@hulkamania5071]

holy cow, i was not expecting the end results to be so beautiful. great work, and thanks for the vid and information.

[@deMibPottery]

Thank you so much :-)

[@mariepeterson4445]

Tack för mycket välgjorda filmer. Så inspirerande att få se hela processen och resultatet.

[@deMibPottery]

Tak - det er godt at høre :-)

[@reginaf.2719]

Hello from Huntsville Alabama, USA.....just came across your video's....love your content!

[@deMibPottery]

Awesome! Thank you! :-)

[@lgtodd]

really great that you use such a variety of clays, I love that you experiment

[@deMibPottery]

Thank you!

[@gallerylodge7692]

Hello from Alaska. Thank you so much. Learned a lot about pit firing...

[@deMibPottery]

Thank you :-)

[@charlieevergreen3514]

Man, you got some beautiful work out of that! Fine pieces to explore; I’d be happy for you to include as many photos and angles as you want to share. Very inspiring. I’m going to try some things I wouldn’t thought of, for a pit firing this weekend!

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks a lot :-)

[@hanneisabelthorsdalenstyhr1494]

Jeg er så glad jeg fant kanalen din. Du er en inspirasjon! :D Takk for at du deler!

[@deMibPottery]

Tusind tak. Det er jeg rigtig glad for at høre. Det giver mig lyst ti at lave endnu flere videoer :-)

[@beinghere1494]

Thank you for sharing your expertise and experimentation and your excitement. It’s contagious and uplifting 🤗👍

[@deMibPottery]

My pleasure!

[@jillheath2804]

love the results. very impressive! porcelain bowls and tall vases so beautiful. Thank you

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks so much 😊

[@uschiramakhutla9903]

Am inspired and a new fan. Thank you for sharing and explaining everything so well. 🙏🏾

[@deMibPottery]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@chantaldevos5894]

Super video i have learnend from it ….thank you A fan from Belgium 😉👍

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks! :-) Glad you enjoyed it!

[@adamjanowski2650]

So many tips :) thx! And so nice effect! Great job!

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks - I am happy you liked it :-)

[@gottagift]

You any others are truly inspiring me to dip my feet into the waters. I was honestly wondering about using a spool of thin copper wire to wind around a vase when you revealed the piece with the steel wire. Thank you for sharing your work.

[@deMibPottery]

Glad I could help!:-)

[@causticvision]

Thank you for sharing the experience! Amazing results, I love your work.

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks - happy you like it :-)

[@MarikaRealtor]

It's an amazing, beautiful job!

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-)

[@susanneericksson6805]

Wow! How beautiful they became! Would be interesting to see and compare the results if you did the same way and used the same material , but burned in the raku oven. As you did in a another video you did. Thank you for all the inspiring videos you make and for all the tips you share!

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-) Saggar fire pots in a raku kiln and a pitfire kiln does not produce quite the same results. In the pitfire it tends to be a little more washed out/fumed and the flames and ashes also leave some traces. Maybe its also the longer time it fires that does something. In any case - I love the result of both methods. However, for the raku fire you do need clay that can sustain a bit more thermal shock as it fires up and cool down faster.

[@susanneericksson6805]

Ok. Thanks for your reply! Where do you buy sulphate and chloride? How do you mix them? With water? Is it possible to use a barrel that has had oil in it? Grateful for your answers!

[@deMibPottery]

Ferric Chloride I buy mixed in a 40% solution. You can get it from electronic component stores. Sulphates you can get from some ceramic suppliers. I get some from Rakuvaria i Holland. Some you can also get in garden stores, as some of it is used as fertilizers.

[@tisadnilas5701]

It's realy beautiful. 🙌

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-)

[@greenonionlandscaping8439]

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing.

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-)

[@tammypearson2843]

I love your videos. You have inspired me some much.

[@deMibPottery]

Thank you so much :-)

[@carryonmalarking]

Super inspired! Thanks so much

[@deMibPottery]

Thank you :-)

[@ehaballithawy3711]

really so nice results

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-)

[@patriciaabuxapqui9976]

Wonderful results, congratulations and thanks

[@deMibPottery]

Thank you!

[@cathy3851]

Such beautiful pieces! I love how you tried this with porcelain and they succeeded, contrary to popular belief. Not sure if you have a video that shows how you throw for a pit fire, but I would like to see that if the process is a bit different. You have proved that pit fire can work with pretty much any clay body, but when throwing what kinds of things are you paying attention to (ie. wall thickness, base thickness, etc)?I know that the way you throw a piece definitely contributes to its success so that could be helpful!

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks 🙏❤️ i will be making videos like that this sesson

[@bandwilkalviwilk8437]

This is Joy !!

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks - it's actually a joy to make too :-)

[@dawnjones7706]

You are awesome!

[@deMibPottery]

Thank you so much :-)

[@sheriffjarju498]

So beautiful.. thank you so much

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-)

[@dyllanjoyce5284]

Wow!! Amazing work! They look incredible. You have inspired me to delve into the flames figurativly speaking. I wonder if you could share more about the sulphates and chlorides? You have them in liqued form. How do you mix them up and what ratios do you use if you dont mind sharing? Thanks again! 😃

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks - so glad to inspire :-) I mix the 50-200 gram sulfates in 1 liter water. First I did little now I do more as I did not get enough colors on my types of clay and firering. But it's something that you need to test with your clay and way of fire.

[@dyllanjoyce5284]

@@deMibPottery thankyou again! Im so keen i just booked myself in for a pit fire in december in Brisbane Australia. Im curious on you thoughts about using terricotta in a pit fire? The teacher here has mentioned we csn bring terricotta pots in and use them. Not sure if i should use terra sigillata on them. Have you any experience with terricotta firstly in a pit fire and secondly terricotta and terra sigillata? I have had no luck on the net findjng any info about the relationship between the two. It would be amazing if you did a video of this 😉. I wonder how terricotta would perform in such circumstances. Again, thanks for you videos and wize words! Just bought myself some gloves for burnishing as well haha.

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-) I have no personal experience with terricotta but all kinds of clay I have used so far works well in my pitfires, so it will probably work too.

[@kathrynnewsom765]

Thanks for sharing your process in such detail! I also do barrel firing and find it so exciting. I'm wondering what the recipe is for your oxide solutions? I've never tried pouring them on my pots before. Your pots are stunning!!

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks! :-) I rarely use oxides. I use Copper Carbonate in powdered form. The fluids I use are: Ferric Chloride (40%), Copper Sulfate (15-30 gr per liter water), Cobalt Sulfate (50 gr. per liter water), and Iron Sulfate (100 gr. per liter water)

[@kathrynnewsom765]

@@deMibPottery Thank you. Pardon me...I guess those chemicals are not oxides. I use copper carbonate, iron oxide and colbalt carbonate, in powder form, in the barrel. I'm going to give the fluid a try for some variety.

[@deMibPottery]

The sulfates are great. They create quite a different set of patterns and nuances.

[@sabanikk]

Thanks for sharing🙏🏻 can we use earthenware bodies in pitfire?

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-) I never did but I think you should be able to. The heat will not get over the limit of most earthenware

[@t.l.c.5510]

Thanks for this

[@deMibPottery]

My pleasure!

[@lynneyoung800]

Absolutely stunning! Please can you let us know what causes the lovely reds? Many thanks 😀

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-) Most of the reds comes from the Ferric Chloride. Some can also come from organic materials but that is more unpredictable.

[@lynneyoung800]

@@deMibPottery Thank you! 😃

[@missyrnmissyrn7479]

All of your pieces are stunning!! What do you use to seal the pots? Do you pour a sealer in the inside?

[@deMibPottery]

Thank you so much :-) Inside I most often seal with a fluid from Rakuvaria in Holland. Outside I also use that, or acrylic spray or Min Oil (a sort of soft was that leaves a really nice silky surface)

[@judithfarley6990]

That was amazing, well done.👏 What temperature do you bisque fire your pots to before putting them in the pit firing?

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-) I used to have some problems with Tera Sigilata flaking off. So now I fire at 1000 C and that helped

[@stuhaysman135]

Really enjoying all of your pit fire videos and learning so much - thank you 🙏 I wondered if you ever get complaints from your neighbours about the smoke? Looks like you have a lot of other houses nearby? I’m definitely going to give this try myself 👍 but a bit worried about the neighbours as people in the UK can moan a lot… 😂😂😂

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks a lot :-) I only had complaints one time. You can fire with more or less smoke (hay, fresh leaves, sawdust and such creates more smoke). If you are allowed to have a bonfire in your garden this should be no different.

[@nadiamiller6482]

Thank you so much for sharing. Your pottery is beautiful. I too love to fire my pottery in the same way. I use an old cast iron barbecue that I gutted. This is perfect for me because I have a small back yard. Also the barbecue is elevated so my concrete is protected. I have a few questions that I hope you will be generous enough to answer. First, you shared your clay types, but are they mid range(cone 5/6) or high range (cone 10)? And second, do you bisque fire your pottery first, and if so, at what temperature?

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-) I bisque fire all pots before pitfire. The clays are I use are in the 1200-1280 C range - so yes, high cone clay

[@annefagrew5807]

Hi, could I use offcuts of MDF or particle board in the fire ?

[@deMibPottery]

Yes, I use all kinds of scrap wood. As long as it is not painted or include any bad chemicals. However, keep in mind that not all wood have the same energy. MDF have very little

[@hannibalannie]

@@deMibPottery thanks, just thinking of using it to " bulk up" my wood supply... thanks for the inspiration! Have a great day .

[@rwphoto52]

You’ve really gotten me excited about pit firing. Have you had any success pulling your pits from the fire when they are hot enough to apply horsehair? My first attempts worked well but lately my pots have been cracking and I’m not sure what it doesn’t seem Im doing anything differently!

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-) I never did that but you will need a clay that can sustain that sort pf thermal chock

[@richardruckert7954]

Great results. I look forward to seeing the polished studio photos. What do you think would happen to the colors, if you further fired to cone 04, then clear glazed and fired to cone 6? Would the subsequent higher temperatures burn out the colors?

[@deMibPottery]

In the end of the video you can see some of the studio photos :-) If you glaze and fire the pitfired pots most of the pitfire colors will burn away - and also, the burned away fumes may harm your electric kiln. So, with pitfire - and any other low fire pottery, you have to live with the fact that it is les sealed that glazed pots. However, keep in mind that this is how pots was made for thousand of years before we got glass glazes and high temperature fire.

[@richardruckert7954]

@@deMibPottery Thank you...glad I asked before trying. Do you have a video on how to make the various sulfates? If not, please describe how in a reply. I'm most interested in the iron sulfate

[@deMibPottery]

I do not make the sulphates - I buy them and just disolves them in water. Rakuvaria in Holland have most of them and their books explain much more details about how to use them I(and much more)

[@TecorlebeAcademy]

Do you have a course program? I want to learn

[@deMibPottery]

I expect to have an online course ready in 2025. I will announce it here

[@annefagrew5807]

please would you share the link to how to make a pit fire kiln in a steel drum? thank you

[@deMibPottery]

I actually do not have just one specific video about that. I should probably do one. I will :-) There are tips to the kiln spread out in the pitfire videos but it is really simple. I just drill a couple of holes in the bottom and around the edge about 20 cm from the bottom - and thats it

[@hannibalannie]

@@deMibPottery thank you Mikkel, I've been working my way through all your videos, & saw there are so many hints & tips. I've learnt so much from your videos, from my 1st lesson at art college, (almost 50years ago), I've been "hooked" on clay, after a break I want to get back into it.. thank you for inspiring me. 👏

[@lvanzyl1416]

😅 Hello Mikkel love what you doing, and thank you!!!! Wow the bowls are stunnig. Im new to all this, are your items greenware when you are doing this pit fire?

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks s lot :-)

[@deMibPottery]

I bisqure fire before i pitfire

[@lvanzyl1416]

@Mikkel deMib - Pottery Tips thank you, still watching one of your videos now enjoy your day, love the videos.

[@lvanzyl1416]

May I ask how do you bisque fire in a electric kiln?

[@adrianaaguayo7579]

Amazing work, I’ve been experimenting with pitfiring for awhile and its not easy. For the final burnish, what do you use? I’ve been having trouble with some pieces used for planta and outside. Is it because they are not fully fired ??

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-) I use a soft wax or acrylic spray. However, pitfire will never bee 100% water proof

[@aysegulgunduz4998]

Harikasın!!!

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-)

[@BaconIover69]

I don't worry about the wood fire my question is is the sulfate after the pitfire toxic? Pls answer, I am going to try this pit fire in the next few weeks.

[@deMibPottery]

To be sure you would have to test it with the specific clay and fire schedule you use. I would personally stay away from sulfates and such if you intent to use it for food.

[@BaconIover69]

@@deMibPottery ok thanks for the answer. Is there anything I can use as a glaze when pitfiring? Most glaze recepies need higher temperatures. I am still a beginner, a hobbyist at best. I want something that isn't black or grey (I can get this with the reduction), needs a low temperature and should at least not be deadly. Thanks again for your time. It's a great video btw👍🏻

[@deMibPottery]

I would not recommend using a glaze in your pitfire. All the askes and wood would stick to it if you got the heat high enough to melt it. When I combine glaze and pitfire I make the glazing first and fire it in my electric kiln before moving on with pitfire.

[@BaconIover69]

@@deMibPottery alright that's what I guessed. Thank you 😉✌️ for the confirmation, I will stick to the ornamental stuff for now. I will report back to you when I get a kiln.

[@mariaraud5663]

fantastiskt roligt att se dina videos! Fråga: har du löst upp dina ämnen med vatten i flaskorna?...och är det stålull du putsar med efteråt, blir det inte repor av det? Undrar Med vänlig hälsning,/Maria

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-) I am not sure what you mean with your question. Can you explain?

[@mariaraud5663]

​@@deMibPottery Hej igen, jo, många använder ju pulver av olika slag, som de häller på eller gör små paket av, ex kopparsulfat, men du har det på flaska. Köper du det färdigblandat eller blandar du det själv, med vad i så fall? Jo, en fråga till, du har säkert nämnt det och jag har missat det, men är det stengods el lergods? Du nämner porslin vid ett tillfälle..Så funkar denna bränning även på den typen av gods? Dina föremål blir så fantastiskt vackra, jag är djupt imponerad! :)

[@deMibPottery]

@@mariaraud5663 Ahh OK. The Ferric Chloride that I use a lot, I buy mixed up in a 40% solution. The rest - primarily sulfates I mix myself based on powder. I use both stoneware (with and without grog) and porcelain but I do not work in eartenware. With the way I fire (slow) I get good results with no cracking from it all.

[@willemh3319]

i like it the way you are telling no autocue shit nice free learned a lot too real northern european freedom👍👍🇾🇪🇾🇪

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-)

[@anne-mariemarkvardsen2846]

Super smukke sager, du har lavet

[@deMibPottery]

Tusind tak. Ja, jeg forgløder altid først

[@anne-mariemarkvardsen2846]

@@deMibPottery Tak :0)

[@scottartsandcraft]

How do I kept them from turning all black? Everything I try the still come out all black

[@deMibPottery]

Sounds mike you get too much smoke. Try better wood

[@shelleyboniface9569]

Yippee!!!

[@deMibPottery]

🙏😆

[@kurtlarsen5735]

Et lille spørgsmål, kan man brænde blåler i pitfire?

[@deMibPottery]

Ba, det tror jeg, men har aldrig gjort det selv :-)

[@lisbethchristensen6656]

Wauw....fantastisk resultat. Endnu engang tak fordi du deler. Har alle vaser mv. fået Terra Sigillata inden? Kan du give en kort instruktion i, hvordan det bruges. Jeg kan se, at det kan købes hos Rakuvaria.com.

[@deMibPottery]

Tak :-) Jeg giver ikke alle vaser Terra Sigilata. Nogle polerer jeg bare. Du kan godt købe den TS hos Rakuvaria, men du kan også lave den selv. Det er meget let. Du kan finde mange opskrifter her på KZbin og på Google. Jeg laver selv min egen med ca. 1300 gr ball clay og 2-3 liter vand

[@luanlopeslopes5484]

Seus vídeos são ótimos, mas por favor coloque legenda pois outros países, Brasil, está de assistindo

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-) On most of the videos KZbin make automatic subtitles. Thats the best I can do. If you click on the CC symbol you get them

[@joncrute4453]

I like your energy but you need to put small holes at the bottom of barrel and flaps at the side to encourage updraught and more heat. A chimney at the top too. Keep going learn more and use hardwood for more heat.👍

[@deMibPottery]

If you watch my video about how how I have made the oil drum kiln you will see that I do have holes in the bottom :-) I get a very good top temperature (over 800 C) with this one and I do not want more draft because it will increase the temperature too fast. In this one I can fire any kind of clay - including porcelain without ever breaking it. I most often mix pine and hard wood. The pine actually creates more rapid heat - the hard wood burn longer but not as high temperature. The combination works really well for me.

[@joncrute4453]

Buddy hard wood burns hotter chop it up small👍

[@emilieneubauerova4699]

😲🥺👍🤏👏🍀🍀💯🙋‍♀

[@deMibPottery]

🙏❤️

[@Sheepdog1314]

food safe? Our ancestors survived thousands of years with porous food bowls

[@deMibPottery]

Yes - but also they did not live for long hehe :-)

[@43jodel]

Z

[@deMibPottery]

Z? :-)