BBQ Smoker Kiln + Hopi Blush Experiment

[@marleneruddell9395]

Great to see, looking forward to the next instalment, love that canteen!

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thanks for watching. Lets just say that refiring definitely helped.

[@coopart1]

As always thanks for letting us join you on your adventures! I have been having good luck firing my pots in a Dakota hole. Starting doing it mostly cuz of the windy nature of where I live but it really works well.

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thanks, I have wondered about the use of a Dakota hole and how it might provide better ventilation. I would be interested in a picture if you have one. [e-mail].

[@angeladazlich7145]

Intrepid spirit + inquiring mind + artistic talent = Wes Pruett pottery! I'm keeping notes on your success since I have a large smoker grill thingy I want to convert to a kiln later this summer

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thanks, I think they could work if set up properly. It either needed more fuel or better insulation. I've thought of cramming it full of wood to see what happened. Another possibility would be to continually feed fuel into the bottom but it needs better air flow and better heat retention. Let me know how it works for you.

[@angeladazlich7145]

@@airstreamwanderings3683 I've also considered the wood bombing idea but my gut says that airflow control is where it's at.

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

@@angeladazlich7145 I think this is basically an updraft kiln. Roman kilns were made of clay and bricks and had good insulation but I suspect they needed a lot of fuel to heat up the kiln and the pottery plus good air flow. You could potentially put insulation on the inside or outside but at some point it doesn't work as a portable kiln and isn't worth the trouble. My brick-surround set up seems to work best for me so far. I don't know how you fire.

[@johnatdewclaw]

A 1/2 layer of refractory blanket, lining the inside, would solve your problems. Your pots rock!

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thanks, I think you are totally right. I'm planning to make a garbage can raku kiln with a week burner. I'm not sure how it would work for the fiber blanket to be in contact with the charcoal.

[@johnatdewclaw]

The weed burner would bring your temps up to near or above cone 07-06. If using a standard 30gl trash can, I would increase the refractory blank to 1in (preferably 2 layers of 1/2 in. So you can of set the seams). This would easily bring your temps to 05.

[@cliffordkelly5327]

Howdy Wes ! That was a very interesting experiment, I had high hopes for you , on that Smoker-Kiln - - maybe a larger exhaust at the top ? I do love that Hare/Tortoise canteen, always very original ideas coming from you ! Can’t wait for the next video !

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thanks, I had high hopes to but first tries often don't work out. Maybe bigger exhaust is the answer. I never developed the air flow that I expected. Good news, the 2nd firing was a success.

[@llanitedave]

One issue, I think, is that the metal walls of the smoker act like a big radiator, dissipating a lot of heat away from the pot. Also, a lot of the air flow gets directed up along the sides of the walls, bypassing the pot which is blocked by the support tiles. So most of the heat energy never interacts with the clay. Glad to hear the second firing worked. I'd like to see what you did for that!

[@angeladazlich7145]

Dave, if you lined the smoker with bricks-- say it was larger than Wes's - would you get thermal insulating properties?

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

totally agree, it is easy to see where the heat stopped.

[@markgibsons_SWpottery]

That seemed like a fantastic idea and I am sure it would work better with a bit more effort! We are waiting for the rains,... I love that rabbit! or Hare!

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Yes, it isn't a complete failure but I'm not sure how much effort I'm willing to put into it. Thanks for the comment. I am waiting for the rain and wind to slow down. 🙂

[@mihailvormittag6211]

👍

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Cheers.

[@mihailvormittag6211]

@@airstreamwanderings3683 Greetings.

[@willorocks]

Interesting Video Wes! I'll have to fight the temptation to test this out on one of my floor models (I sell grills at my store) haha, Having said that, I wonder if the metal used was the heat problem? Our weber grills outsourced to Chinese steel and it's thinner gauge, and they don't hold the heat as well as they used to by far. That came to mind when I was watching this.

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

I think you are right. I'm not sure if a heavier steel would make a difference or that any steel conducts heat too easily. If Yeti made an insulated smoker we might solve the problem. :)

[@christophermauchline2586]

I think with my limited experience, one thing if you built up a chimney over your hole in the top would dramatically increase your draft and thus probably you temperatures.

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Sorry for the slow reply. Yes you are probably correct. Also some insulation would help.