Reduction Pit Firing Experiments - Fixing My Past Mistakes

[@jergarmar]

Why in the world does this video have so few views? The algorithm didn't like it for some reason, but I think that pot shows you're on the right track.

[@doriswlongAgoandfarAway]

This is the way of art - not perfection - but learning, refining, trying and failing in order to find that beauty. Thanks for showing us how.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks for coming along as I learn.

[@DrTomatoSpaghetti]

I've been watching your videos a lot recently and it seems the coals might indeed be the key/missing thing here. The most successful reductions appear to occur when the items are either fully buried in coals, like with the ladle, or in scenarios where the coals can burn longer (as seen with the big sheep pot covered by a bigger pot). It might be beneficial to prepare a secondary fire solely to produce extra coals. These can be added around or on top of the item before starting the reduction process. Thank you for all the informative content. I've been a fan for some time and am inspired to fire my first pot in my backyard tomorrow, all thanks to your videos!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks for the insight. That is how I am thinking too, I need to make time to do another reduction firing soon.

[@willorocks]

Awesome and interesting results Andy! Both fires procured such different results too. Glad to see no random cow's wandered upon the goods while you were waiting! 😅

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks, yes, the cows were not around thankfully.

[@Poohze01]

The thing that comes to my mind re. forming an air seal is using overlapping wet hides &/or wet soil. Probably on top of dry soil to prevent wet stuff contacting the pots or coals. It seems to me those might be better than dry soil alone at keeping air out. You could maybe replicate wet hides with a half-dozen-sheets-thick wet newspaper. I love your persistence! 👍

[@coopart1]

I think they look real good ! This reduction firing stuff is maddening ! They did in ancient Iran , here in the SW USA and other places yet we still can’t master it yet in modern times.

[@AncientPottery]

I'm on the cusp. Things went wrong with this one, I should nail it in the refire. Thanks

[@andrewsackville-west1609]

​@@AncientPotterythis is the way

[@Raviolikid]

Good video! It really makes the importance of keeping records when one is involved in experimental endeavors.

[@AncientPottery]

Yes, making videos of every experimental firing is a good way to keep records.

[@LesterJennings-y7j]

Good as always, I think the fine powder dirt should seal better than chunks it packs around better chunks would leave larger air gaps just a thought

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks for the feedback, I am formulating a plan for my next attempt.

[@jillatherton4660]

Yucca for bowstrings AND brushes, of course. 👍

[@rosalindriley5893]

Interesting video, thank you! It reminded me of a charcoal-making kiln that I once helped with years ago in Wales. It was a modern steel kiln, not the primitive kind build with wood and covered with earth. We used fine sand to smother the vents - I think slightly dampened first. That particular burn wasn't very successful as one of the vents let oxygen in and half the wood got burned right down instead of leaving charcoal. But I can see that a sandier soil might well work better than that very fine silt. Ancient charcoal furnaces were also covered with turf, which would be hard to come by in the Southwest!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks for the feedback. We do have lots of sand around here I’ll give it a try.

[@1a1u0g9t4s2u]

Agree with your other commenters, looks like you are narrowing the method for success. As for the dirt, did you consider whether there were too much organic material in the soil, such as decomposing leaves, twigs, flower seeds etc? Just a thought, like to hear your assessment. Looking forward to the deep dive on making yucca brushes. Thanks for sharing.

[@AncientPottery]

Yes, there was definitely organic matter in the soil and I think that was my main problem. Thanks

[@markgibsons_SWpottery]

Pot turned out perfectly authentic looking, and we are assuming that far more heat and charcoal are necessary. We are going to overdo it with the charcoal and try to keep the temps hot enough to burn the carbon out even at the time of smothering... We are going to use too much charcoal, but our clay likes it extra hot and will not fire well at all in a surface fire... We hope to open our kiln on the first day of 2024.... I do think that a bulk firing will produce better results overall, because of the high temps and large amount of charcoal. Good show, Andy!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks. Carbon will start burning out over about 650 C so the pots are almost always hot enough to burn it off at time of smothering, and my pot was totally burned clean before I smothered. The problem is that once you smother, there is not enough oxygen to burn the carbon off and if the dirt has organic matter in it or the coals are still producing a little smoke, then that gets on the pots and will not burn off. That is what happened here. The thing is you can wait much longer before smothering to make sure there is no chance the coals will produce any carbon, don't be anxious like I always am. Also take precautions to make sure that you either use clean dirt or that the dirt doesn't come into contact with the pots.

[@andrewsackville-west1609]

As a novice observer, I agree, the soil you're using to smother may be a problem. The popping sounds you mentioned are possibly a clue. Perhaps there is oxygen being released from that soil so that the soil itself is spoiling the reduction environment? Also, loose dry soil seems like it wouldn't be a good oxygen barrier. At least, at the volume you're using. That sandstone slab the those old notes might be critical because it's an impervious monolithic covering? Fascinating stuff!

[@angeladazlich7145]

I learn something from every one of your videos. Keep on searching for answers

[@sheilam4964]

This vid still contains information to learn from. Thx for doing this and sharing. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@AncientPottery]

You bet!

[@tedoneil7464]

Hello there; I was happy that I managed to locate a couple of layers of clay; there is one that is a brownish deep coloured red and another layer a lot further up the cliff face that is a yellowish sandy colour. There seems to be two types of clay in the cliff near by which is good news for further exploration and clay collection. I have managed to collect the lower layer, which was the brownish red coloured clay and formed a coil mug on my third attempt but I am happy with this progress so far. I have also just found your website this evening; great stuff really enjoying this pottery it is a new experience for myself; hoping to collect more clay for more sculpting soon. Great channel glad I found out about it; really interesting stuff, best of luck with it all.

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you and have fun with that clay!

[@streetsmartintelligent]

Ran across your videos, when searching for how to get clay from the earth. I am stoked by your knowledge, your way of producing ancient original ways of making pottery, the history of it all, & your lifestyle. I've searched recently about what texas plants were used to make pure pigment paint, which I may attempt, problem is, I have a kiln. Maybe it wont be that big of a deal, at least the pot wont get stuck to kiln shelves, like when using glaze. I do have woods around me, however people watch like a hawk when they see fire or smoke. What is a pukie bowl? And whats the importance of having these?

[@mojavebohemian814]

Thank you.

[@billclinton3862]

Your glasses and hat suit you really well

[@CircleCRStudio]

Another experiment in the books. I haven't watched other videos....bit wonder if the fuel is part of the issue. Have you tried dried cow chips?

[@crystalsoulslayer]

If the goal of reduction is to keep the oxygen out, I can think of a couple things. Charcoal/coal/coke create what some call a "neutral layer," which blacksmiths have been preferentially putting their steel for centuries. It's a part of the fire where the atmospheric oxygen immediately burns up before it can oxidize the iron. That's probably why you've noticed that the charcoal needs to be really close to the pots, even touching. The neutral layer in coke forges is often below the surface of the fuel. If you cover up the sides with mud to keep the draft from pulling more air in, and then drop in something that burns easily and rapidly (dry leaves?) before you smother it, maybe that'll burn off the remaining oxygen inside? If you keep adding them until they no longer burst into flames despite the hot coals, that'll be a pretty good indicator that there's not a whole lot of oxygen left in the "kiln."

[@jessegreywolf]

Very instructive. Thank you

[@AncientPottery]

Glad it was helpful!

[@PSC9634]

Beautiful pieces.

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you!

[@TheHangarRat]

great work as always Andy. Thank you.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks

[@petrapetrakoliou8979]

Good experiment! What about covering it with (fresh) grass before covering it with dirt? I read about people doing this in Africa I think.

[@AncientPottery]

Yes, that is something I have thought about but at this time of year there is hardly any fresh green anything around this area.

[@gregoryhoefer3660]

Arts and crafts are the way.

[@Амин-т4х]

But how do you keep paint from oxidizing?

[@AncientPottery]

That’s why I smothered it with earth, to keep oxygen from the pot.

[@cagedavis9334]

What about experimenting by digging a Dakota Fire Hole. Love your videos

[@AncientPottery]

There is no evidence that Dakota fire holes were used in the Southwest either historically or prehistorically. I am trying to find a way that was likely used by the ancient potters

[@TheInfoworks]

What ever the method of firing there's plenty of opportunity for things to go wrong. From my experience the remarkable thing is that things turn out mostly OK but never as expected. Rule of thumb, No Expectations, cheers

[@AncientPottery]

Ha! That’s a good rule, be ready for anything.

[@Timmyjg2004]

Will my pots make hairline cracks if I take my pot out of the fire too early before it’s cold? What would help to stop hair line cracks? Can grog be too fine in the clay?

[@mystictree_potterings]

Have you tried smothering when there is more flame? I feel the more flame there is the more it will pull the oxygen from the iron oxide as it tries to burn. Can you get a carbon monoxide probe that withstands the heat* and would give you an idea of what is going on inside the firing? * do they even exist?

[@AncientPottery]

I have no idea about any atmosphere sensors but that would be helpful. The trouble with smothering when there is flame is that you will get dark pottery because the smoke will contaminate the pottery. You need to burn down to coals first so there is none of that.

[@Kargoneth]

Carbon monoxide may be part of the equation if it can strip the oxygen from things.

[@Kargoneth]

Perhaps fill the pot with well-fired charcoal, then build the fre around it, but not have the charcoal touch the pot.

[@Kargoneth]

Maybe half-fill with charcoal, build a hemispherical pile, and set the pot on top.

[@redriverpost]

👍

[@acavoxnegledajtelevizor401]

Whey maybe covering it with ash instead of soil in ancient times

[@AncientPottery]

I have thought about that. I would have trouble today finding that much clean ash.

[@cliffordkelly5327]

Howdy Andy ! Great video as always & i’m still pullin for ya ! You will get there soon , I feel it ! I for one will sacrifice ( smash ) a pot in your honor , when you do ! Keep plugging away at it !

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you

[@adrianhodges447]

Promo*SM 😉

[@Boss_gaming159]

First time i ever made clay, i was diging n hole right next to a tree and i cept pouring water in just paying withe the mud and i workerd it with my feet. The next day i saw it was still a little wet and i stuck my hand in and felt something sticky and i instantly knew it was clay, i made a little hart for my mom 😂

[@mihailvormittag6211]

👍