34. Pitfire with Organic Materials (+ other new Pit Fire experiments)

[@JeremiahIype]

You are putting a little bit of magic into the world, thank you

[@deMibPottery]

Thank you so much :-)

[@Skipperau]

I paused your video, and went in search of what we call ‘44 gallon barrels’ . I live in Australia, I could find former ones that held oil or petroleum, for $25 Australian dollars. New barrels were $700-$1000. Search will continue. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. I found you this morning and have been binge watching your channel.

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-) Go for a used barrel. Even if its dirty you can use it. Just fire the dirt (or left over paint or chemicals) away and you are set.

[@nihalkhote512]

love how you have simplified what can be a complex process to its elemental basics! I will definitely try this as it's more doable without too much investment! Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom!

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks. Good to hear 🙏❤️

[@heididettwiler9863]

You are like a wizzard cooking potions when you drap the vases

[@deMibPottery]

heheh thanks :-)

[@krissader4855]

I am looking forward to starting pottery. I am retiring as a fine art printmaker and will enjoy this next phase of mud. Your videos have been great for me to watch. The attitude is perfect for me in this stage. Thank-you. Great energy!

[@deMibPottery]

Best of luck!

[@321ReadysSetG0]

So many great tips - taking notes for when I get the chance again to sagar. Thank you for sharing your experiments - that's what makes it so fun.

[@deMibPottery]

Thank you so much. I am glad you liked it :-)

[@stickermigtigger]

You're videos are so good I'm not getting any pots made. :-)

[@deMibPottery]

hehehe - go do some pots :-)

[@tatianapetrov6206]

Thank you! that was fun. Would love to see how you finish and seal these pots.

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-) I do have a few videos here about sealing :-)

[@mishap00]

completely off topic, but I had to say it. My mother always said not to play with fire it would make you pee the bed. I heard you say that you loved to play with fire and I spit my drink all over the screen and almost choked to death laughing.

[@deMibPottery]

Some adults say so many stupid things hehe :-)

[@mishap00]

@@deMibPottery they do, they really, really do. she came up with it after one of my brothers played with matches and set his bed on fire. He then tried to put the fire out by peeing on it. He was about six at the time needless to say after the firemen left he was a family object lesson for years.

[@patriciaabuxapqui9976]

Thanks, I learn a lot from you

[@deMibPottery]

Glad to hear that!

[@lgtodd]

Thank you for the great clips, I have also been learning so much, I am just starting out on my pottery adventure and have really enjoyed watching and learning from you. I am about to do my very first pit fire and am very excited.

[@deMibPottery]

You are so welcome!

[@Cate7451]

How did t go? Pottery gives you lucky breaks so keep going as it takes time.

[@vivianpoulsen3675]

Thanks for sharing, great tips and inspiration

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-)

[@wcouch8]

Very nice!

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-)

[@lgtodd]

Do you mean you use them in your firing?

[@deMibPottery]

@@lgtodd Not sure what you mean? :-)

[@lgtodd]

@@deMibPottery it's okay I was having a joke

[@lgtodd]

I was referring to the previous person's name "peas and butter". Sorry it wasn't so funny

[@myfairytreasures]

Are you kiln firing first before you pit fire or are you only pit firing. Love your videos they are so creative and informative.

[@deMibPottery]

Yes I do. Thanks :-)

[@Cate7451]

Yes fire at cone 8, very low, but ceramic

[@Mayamcnicoll]

I love watching your videos, I always get so many ideas and so much inspiration. Do you always need to bisque fire your pots before you do the pit fire? or is it possible/ advisable to fire greenware? Thanks so much for all your enthustic content.

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-) Although you can pitfire greenware I never did and I think it is a lot more risky

[@lgtodd]

I also wanted to know that, so thanks for asking the question

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thank you this is very interesting. I make primitive pottery like Native Americans made in the US and typically fire with wood or charcoal. Are your pots prefired to the bisque stage? Is it necessary to use terra sig? Have you tried putting the organic material in the fire and not use a saggar, do the colors just burn off? FYI - the Hopi Indians fire exclusively with urine impregnated sheep dung and the sodium fumes and colors the pots a honey/orange blush. Very beautiful. Thanks again, I just subscribed.

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks. I always bisque fire first. I have a lot of longer pitfire videos on my KZbin channel where you can see more details :-)

[@stickermigtigger]

I saw an idea for preventing people from using this type of pottery bowl for food. If we throw or drill a hole in the bottom it won't be useable for liquids.

[@deMibPottery]

That is an option - but I would hate that. I do use these bowls for some foods such as oranges and bananas. But not soups or salads

[@Skipperau]

How did the Japanese Raku family potters make the tea sets water resistant? How can you fire to bisque without an electric kiln?

[@deMibPottery]

If you fire high enough it will be almost water proof. Enough to have water in a pot for a short time. Remeber, for thousands of years, simple ceramic cooking pots have been made this way. Its just if you want to have a vase, with water, that stay like this for many days - and maybe on a nice table, you don't want ANY humid to escape. And for that you need a sealant

[@rickstrodder129]

So, the pieces you're firing are just air dried before you add them to t the pit? Could you add charcoal between the pieces on the lower levels...any benefit?

[@deMibPottery]

No, they are all bisque fired first. They are too fragile if you don't. Some people do but I just don't see the point :-) I never use coal but I guess you could. Pure wood works well for me

[@alexanderscheed6434]

hi amazing videos of yours! 2 questions. 1st are you using a low fire clay body or normal stoneware? 2nd is are you bisque fiering your pots to a higher temperature for vitrification or can they remain rather porous?

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-) I usually use stoneware but have also pitfired with porcelain. I bisque fire to 950 or 1000 C so it is not fully vitrified. However, I seal the pots so they become fully waterproof - and with a special sealant for food safety when required.

[@alexanderscheed6434]

@@deMibPottery thanks for the quick answer! and as a last question, if i dont burnish my pots before the pitfire, they wont get as shiny i suppose?

[@deMibPottery]

Well, if you use TS that will make then very shiny too :-)

[@patcostarr]

Thanks so much for sharing with us! A question: as pit fire pots are not food safe, do you believe we can use them as plantters?

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks. Unless you use a very good sealant the pots won't be 100% water proof. Another solution is to combine glazing inside with pitfire outside. I have made a couple of videos about that

[@deMibPottery]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6DbgJxng7J5ebc

[@annagray6491]

So, are the pieces all bisque fired before you put the terra sigallata on? Have started looking for bins!

[@deMibPottery]

No, I apply the TS when its bone dry

[@LastEmpireOfMusic]

but how durable is the low temp firing? (800°C?)

[@deMibPottery]

Low fire pottery is a little more porous but I don't really have any problems with that. Remember, for centuries people have been using low fire pottery for everything :-)

[@Cate7451]

❤

[@deMibPottery]

🙏

[@ziyedhamrouni886]

What happen if the vase is entirely covered by cooking salt while firing ? I mean a lot of salt 😂

[@deMibPottery]

It is likely to make a very crusty surface. Not nice to touch but may look interesting. try :-) JUST be aware, that is salt is heated high enough it creates chloride fumes. So protect yourself!

[@DunoonVanRijn-dx1hr]

You could use Slip

[@deMibPottery]

I do, but most often not for pitfire as it leaves the pots a bit dull

[@DunoonVanRijn-dx1hr]

Ha ha ha 😂😂😂

[@deMibPottery]

?

[@DunoonVanRijn-dx1hr]

Put in newspaper filled with Salt in the Fire, temperature will increase.

[@deMibPottery]

I do use salt but it does not change the temp