Backyard Brick Kiln

[@pamelakincaid7489]

Doing the same thing with my fire pit. The bricks are a great idea.

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Very good, I hope it works for you. Each time I use it a couple of bricks crack in half. Now almost all of them are in 2 pieces but they still work fine.

[@GreatGreebo]

Thanks…great demonstration & gorgeous pots! I want to try this over the winter.

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Go for it, good luck.

[@llanitedave]

65 cents a piece for the paver bricks in our area -- and they look a bit rougher than yours. I'm firing in a 55 gallon drum for now, but I do have my sights set on a brick kiln for later. The steel bucket is a great idea!

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

The bricks and bucket were purchased at home depot. I don't know if their prices vary from town to town. A large drum would be nice to fire with. With my yard it wouldn't work very well. Thanks for watching.

[@GrannyGooseOnYouTube]

Gorgeous! I love the joy you seem to feel when practicing your art. Thx for sharing your experence!

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thank you so much! It is fun playing in the mud and building fires.

[@cliffordkelly5327]

Another great Video Wes ! Great video , Great pottery & Great outcome !

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

The kiln is modeled after one that Tony Soares made. It really makes it possible to fire pots in my back yard.

[@user-rw1ox1kl2p]

Cool. Great idea.

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@markgibsons_SWpottery]

Nice pots, sir! nice firing, and a nice video over all. Love that stuff!

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thank you, it is nice when it comes our the way you want it.

[@marthastrogen9001]

Wow, those pots look great!

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thanks so much

[@chrisinkansas8507]

I built something similar, found that regular charcoal (enough of it) got the fire to 1500F, so it can really get going. It took a while to ramp up, and I started to wonder if anything would happen, but then the temp began to soar.

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Nice, maybe the type of charcoal doesn't matter. I bought this at Home Depot and it is only a little more than regular charcoal. It certainly makes a nice fire.

[@GrannyGooseOnYouTube]

@@airstreamwanderings3683 our corner market in Central CA sells the chunky mesquite for a fraction of the price of K!ngsford. Comes from Mexico...called "Sonora charcoal 100% Natural Mesquite Charcoal".

[@SirenaSpades]

I think I just commented on one of your videos the other day, to try this very thing, and look, you are trying it (except a year ago)! I haven't tried any of this with pottery, my theory comes from being near American Revolutionary War forts in the northeast (Maine, in particular, Fort Knox) and while touring the forts you can see the brick ovens.

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Sorry for the slow reply, I've been out of town. I think there are a lot of ways you can use bricks to make simple kiln. I like it because I can easily make a safe fire in my back yard. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@PeteKiefer]

Nice job making the pots you do good work

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@scrappybobbarker5224]

That bowl is beautiful!!

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thank you. They don't all turn out so well.

[@scrappybobbarker5224]

Great video! Thanks. I'm glad your pots turned out really nice. I tried the campfire last week for my first firing. One didn't cook all the the way on the bottom. So I have to do it again. This looks like a great way to go.

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thanks for watching. Good luck with your firing. Did you have the pot raised up off of the ground? Yes, this system seems to work great even though it isn't the way it was done in the early days.

[@work2gather]

I have seen a few of your videos now, I think. I like the way you share the topics I have seen. This looks like a great option for firing a small amount of clay projects. With the holidays coming, these might be great gifts for family and friends. Do you know if there is a good pricing formula for selling these kinds of projects? No one talks about the potential problems with this kind of firing, or how it compares to using a kiln. I don't know much about any of this. I have been surprised to even find these videos. I am wondering if the fired clay lasts as long as a kiln fired project. Also wondering about the required steps, times, temperatures, thickness of the clay needed to make something from start to finish. I am wondering how you make the designs. I also thought each project had to be fired twice. Any videos on these topics will be welcomed. I will subscribe and see what you make for awhile. :-)

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thanks for watching and for your comments. If you go through the videos you may find a lot of your questions answered. Be sure to check out Andy Ward Ancient Pottery. Andy is a good teacher and has loads of information. He also has some on line classes. This is a low-fire pottery and it isn't as durable as the fully vitrified stuff you have in your home. It is resilient, though, and can be used in a fire to cook. You will see that some potters bisque fire their pots first in a normal kiln and then use a wood/sawdust fire to create color and make the pots look nice. I'm pretty sure Native Americans fired their pots once. Temps need to be 700C or more. Mine are usually 850 - 900C. This type of firing can be really fast. If you use a wood fire, it can all be done in a half hour. Charcoal just takes longer to burn and cool down. Give it a try, it can be lots of fun.

[@sharonh9239]

Just found your channel. Andy Ward recommended your video on cold weather firing. Thanks. Good videos.

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Very nice. Andy is amazing. May I ask what part of the country you are in. Our Minnesota winter has been so warm that temperature isn't much of a factor.

[@sharonh9239]

@@airstreamwanderings3683 Virginia. It's warming up here but wasn't sure how the outdoor temperature would affect it.

[@automatwinslaytracks]

Beautiful work

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thank you! Cheers! I'm using it right now as I type this response.

[@coopart1]

Very cool Wes! That would be a great setup to try some Maria Martinez black on black. Just maybe throw some manure under the grade towards the end.

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Nice idea, I'll give it a try.

[@markgibsons_SWpottery]

We all look forward to that,... I have seen pine needles used by people in my tribe. It does not get shiny as manure fume though.

[@robertgarber8601]

Nice job.

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thanks for the visit

[@brentons857]

Your pieces turned out awesome! I used this method also and it worked great

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thanks, I think that was the best firing I've had. Its nice to have a system that works.

[@bje2920]

Very nice makes

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@axelbrinck_]

Very nice!

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thanks for watching.

[@gabrielatoma9725]

Could you salt or soda glaze the pots in something like that? Maybe pour the salt in through that hole in the top, im not sure exactly how that works.

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

I think salt glaze was added during the firing but that is at much higher temperatures than with this type of pottery. I have put salt in the bottom of a kiln and that didn't do anything. Adding a salt solution into an organic material like peat or vegetable matter seems to work ok but the results are variable. Thank you

[@josetrigueros2012]

Wonderful!

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Glad you think so!

[@user-rw1ox1kl2p]

Wes. Can you provide the diameter and depth of this fire ring? I want to build it. Thanks. Love your Chanel.

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

I believe the diameter is 31" and it is about 8" deep. If I were to make one I would just put on a lip of 3-4" I've filled in most of the ring with brick and sand. The concave shape tends to reduce air flow. Good luck. BTW - here's a new video that I just made but it is "unlisted" kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWWWoIuMZ8xmoMU

[@suwlehim_takaz]

I tried that too, it worked great

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thanks for watching. I wish it were an authentic way to fire but it is hard to argue with success.

[@johnfree2833]

The water bongs I am going to create shall astound thee all!,Thanks man

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

I'm ready to be astounded.

[@PapaDan]

Pass it on ​@@airstreamwanderings3683

[@suwlehim_takaz]

By the way, bricks can be placed on edge

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thanks, that would certainly allow me to go taller.

[@bigbranch1]

Enjoyed the demonstration.....that small pot is wonderful....great design....did you create the design or is it prehistoric?...the bucket seems more fail safe than covering with chards.....

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

I would like to take credit for the pot but I can't. 90% was from an anonymous lady 700 years ago. It is hard to improve on the original.

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

I did another firing this week with a large jar and sherds. It was a solid firing but I didn't like the outcome with the painting. I need a bigger bucket and more bricks.

[@soniaquintella3858]

Nice try, awsome result !,

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@stephenwalford774]

Hi Wes great first attempt at the Soares style kiln..sure did come out nice..did the designs stay good ? i do the same and also i make the ring an extra brick or two more in circumference and fill with wood and use sherds..

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thanks, there seems to be a lot of variations to the method. The black paint was somewhat fugitive but not too bad.

[@trevorpayne5070]

@airstreamwanderings3683 I just finished Andy’s April pottery class this year. Trying to absorb as much info as possible. Our snow in Idaho just melted. Still too wet out for an open fire. How does this type of fire do with Reduced Iron paint?

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Welcome to the obsession. I really haven't tried it with reduced paint but I'm confident that the fire is fine. The trick is to get a good seal on whatever you cover your pot with. Make sure that no oxygen can leak in around the bottom. I'm hoping to get a reduction fire video out in the next couple of weeks. Good luck.

[@beboris1]

NICE!!!!!! ❤🎉😊😊

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@lauriebancroft9974]

What type of clay are you using?

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

To be honest I don't remember and my note taking isn't reliable. All of my clay, though, is wild clay. I'm pretty sure that these pots were slipped with a local clay that is abundant in the western side of the Twin Cities. If you come out this way I will point you in the right direction.

[@slowwound2656]

The (Royal Oak) lump charcoal is much cheaper at least where i live, than other charcoals,, and burns just as good if not better.

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thanks, I just purchased a bunch from Walmart at $.62/lb. with free shipping. I haven't tried it yet. It is surprising how much they can differ.

[@slowwound2656]

@@airstreamwanderings3683 it really is surprising. I've been using royal oak for years, and I absolutely love it,for pottery and the grill. I hope it works good for you too.

[@6bonjour]

@@slowwound2656 Thanks, I haven't really seen too much difference. I think the lump charcoal is a little hotter.

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Here's the link to Tony Soares video on the same topic. He deserves credit for doing this on KZbin kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5nUfn2KiMuSaNE Andy Ward also makes a similar kiln in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKWvn2Z4qL6ogJo

[@MotherBearth]

Agreed. I have seen both. Thank you for giving credit to the source.

[@LastEmpireOfMusic]

sadly temp is far to low to do anything proper.

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

I suppose that depends what proper is. I typically hit about 900C which is fine for primitive pottery. it would be nice if I could get enough heat for glazes.

[@oldugly9295]

nice video good info. one question are the pavers concrete? thank you tom

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thanks for watching. Yes they are concrete. I noticed that one cracked in half after the 2nd firing. Its hard to know how long they will last. www.homedepot.com/p/Anchor-8-in-x-4-in-x-2-25-in-Autumn-Blend-Concrete-Holland-Paver-10154769/202590611

[@oldugly9295]

@@airstreamwanderings3683 i have some used concrete pavers but i was worried that being concrete the would not do very well with that hot of fire. i may try anyway thank you tom