Beginner Guide To Making Primitive Pottery

Check out Andy Ward here on KZbin for a lot more info on this subject. Almost everything I do here was learned from him. He is a great teacher. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss my next video!
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#survival #pottery #primitive #camping #bushcraft #outdoors

[@CeilingOpossum]

Im glad that you included all the slip-up in the video , I think showing the “failures” can be much more useful when learning a new craft than only seeing success!

[@johnnywoods5549]

It also proves that it's not fake, like some of the other channels that I won't name.

[@jasongannon7676]

A little trick I used to dry my clay about 2×faster is place a towel in a plastic bag then your pot and a towel on top of the pot with the sides of the pot exposed. Close the bag and place it in the sun heat up the air space sweating the clay. The fabric captures the excess moisture. Do to the high humidity the clay drys evenly or evenly enough to prevent cracking. With sum experimentation you can develop a technique that is very useful.

[@ucantSQ]

I'd really like to see your process of finding and refining your clay. Can't wait for the rest of the series. Ceramics is the foundation of civilization... or at least one of the many pillars.

[@MattFitzgerald-v8r]

I agree!

[@TUKByV]

"Primitive" isn't synonymous with "incompetent", folks.

[@vladimirpain3942]

We were "primitive" for like 90% of our history, so lets hope it is not :)

[@chocolatemilk457]

@@vladimirpain3942 I mean isn't all of the past primitive, if its referring to the historical development or early stage of evolution eventually everything becomes early stage as we progress more and more.

[@Beuwen_The_Dragon]

​@@vladimirpain3942 more like 99.9%

[@partyinthecloudkingdom]

the bright side of failed pots is you can reuse them to grog your clay, which works as a temper for the clay

[@Texasthebeststate-in-u.s]

What do you mean by grog

[@hannahkemarly6089]

@@Texasthebeststate-in-u.s fired pottery that broke either in the firing stage or during use was often ground down finely and added to unfired clay as temper in ancient times. because it has already been chemically altered by firing but is still a bit porous, it stabilizes the moisture content of the clay and allows it to dry at a more even rate, as well as increasing the structural integrity of the clay the same way sand is shown to in the video. seems like that's what they're talking about

[@Texasthebeststate-in-u.s]

@@hannahkemarly6089 thank you that helps a lot

[@sirkai007]

I've seen clay tempered with fired pottery that was ground down to powder. A great way to recycle the failed pottery.

[@JeremyClark-wu6eb]

Really hope for a future finding and identify clay. I want to start making pottery but want to source it from the area im at instead of the store

[@cristymenapace677]

It’s all around you…go to any river…guaranteed you find it there😊

[@billlarsen-ruffin2869]

If you have crawfish/crayfish in your area, they bring it to the surface for you.

[@joshuaweezorak7042]

If there's a river or stream, there is clay. Might have to dig a couple inches but it's there.

[@vulpesvulpessapiens]

Dig into the ground, if the soil is red it's probably clay rich. Clay is heavier than sediment, so you separate it in water. Let it sit for 30mins, drain, repeat. Add sand. Clay

[@MrGaza74]

This was exactly what happened to my first attempt. Thanks for showing failures as well because we learn so much from them. Now I know I need to put more grog in it and put into the fire gradually. 👍🏼

[@kurtisbrattinga3002]

Everybody like this video cause I wanna learn more

[@jaymendezxv]

I got you

[@richardlynch5632]

Had no idea you knew how to throw clay...!😎👍👍 Excellent video and looking forward to more on this subject. 👍 Would like to see a vessel like an oil lamp...? Your knowledge is valuable and appreciate that you enjoy sharing what you've learned😎👍👍

[@sagesmokesurvival]

I make a style of oil lamp that I guarantee you've never seen a video on. It casts more light than normal oil lamps, easier to make, and can use liquid or solid fuels and even pine resin. I'll have to make a video on that next

[@richardlynch5632]

@@sagesmokesurvival Excited to watch when available 😃👍 Thanks😎

[@SavvyGirl515]

Me too excited for that video. Unless it's already out, in which case, I suppose I'll find it! I'm new to the channel, currently binging videos and enjoying every bit.

[@dingushasacamera8379]

Thank you for showing the failure with this process! It gives me hope on mine that Ive broken and have been super sad about too

[@woodsroamer6175]

My father owned several brick plants in the Frontera region of North-eastern Mexico. Some of the plants were for making handmade bricks, and others used an extruding process to make brick with machines. I grew up in that milieu. We made thousands of bricks. I speak your language when it comes to the chemistry of clays. I’m glad to see your channel.

[@simonfail2942]

Hey man love ur vids pls don’t ever stop posting u make stuff so easy to understand and always I treating topic. ❤❤ what are some simple projects I could do with just a knife and tini tony hatchet thx ❤👍👍👍 keep up the good work

[@sagesmokesurvival]

Thanks so much! With just a knife and a hatchet, I'd suggest trying to carve a rabbitstick. check out my recent video on that for instruction

[@simonfail2942]

@@sagesmokesurvival thx

[@OsborneOutdoors1]

Right on! I for one appreciate your being honest and sharing your failures as well as triumphs. If we had more honesty in the world, we may begin to trust one another again. Thanks Seth. ✊

[@jf2369af]

Thanks for the class I can't wait to try it out next time I try to

[@markgibsons_SWpottery]

Truly, any pottery you can use is priceless!!! Good show!

[@MrDragon6771]

I would love to see more videos on finding the clay and making stuff with it

[@danielpatriquin7023]

I would love to see more videos on any sort of Bushcraft!

[@cmhrr]

You can also use a large stone to form a vessel over, upside down. Also, since cracking is more likely to happen when different parts of the pot dry (and therefore shrink) at different rates, you can slow down the drying process on the thinner and/or more exposed parts (e.g. the rim) by protecting them with some pine pitch. It will burn off in the pit firing.

[@greenleif]

🚩 You are such a talented person! Thank You for sharing your knowledge. Lost arts like this are a connection to our past & we shouldn't forget about them. God Bless You & Yours🤗💞🙏🏻🕊️✨

[@Bingo-lu1dh]

Petrichor is both one of my favourite smells and favourite words. Brilliant video! Hope you make some more on pottery.

[@DungeonWhispers]

I appreciate that you show mistakes. That actually helps build my confidence more than just watching everyone's best stuff.

[@irkallaLustre]

Thank you man i really appreciate you putting this vital wisdom out in the community

[@jasperoliger]

Very good idea building the fire over the pots! They can explode even in a modern kiln, so it's good those logs are there to stop any shrapnel if they do go boom 👍

[@orpheuscreativeco9236]

Chelation also breaks down stone ✌️✨ I was taught to cover pottery as it's drying so it doesn't crack. Something like a thin kitchen towel works well and holds some humidity in the immediate vicinity. I know you mentioned plastic bags as well. Thanks for sharing! 🙏

[@newageneanderthal5680]

Nice video, inspired me to pick up my pottery stuff and start working with it. I need to diversify my channel a little. Again I really appreciate the shout out! Looking forward to future projects!

[@JuaneDosesII-wj6dd]

If it’s possible leave the pottery to dry in a closet or cave for a week. Using a chipping brush to leave a brushed surface is used in the concrete business, this helps with cracking if you don’t mind a rough surface.

[@carolinelloyd1858]

That finish you got using the smooth stone reminds me of the surface inside the Babarr "caves" and ancient sculptures the experts insist were carved 🤔🧐

[@pattymc614]

Love your videos! Thanks for including your "failures " They are part of the learning process and definitely give a beginner, like me, the motivation to keep trying!

[@adrianlarsen1106]

Excellent video! There are clearly a lot of tricks and techniques to learn and you did a great job of sharing them. I feel like I could actually do this. Hard to believe you are literally starting with mud you found in the ground and ending up with useful pots, plates, cups, etc. So cool!

[@amandaschuster5895]

Need more primitive pottery content please!

[@ratatoskr1069]

I find the burnishing with natural stone the most addictive part of it all.

[@leprechan9]

3:14 the area that you collect your clay form could also contain flint

[@gittyupg007]

Some things money don't buy, many thx for your talents.

[@latemcire8387]

Great information! I look forward to the next video

[@anonymousopinion228]

I really would like to see how you process it or like a simplified way of it, for if I just wanted to make a small cup or pot at a river, I go to camp.

[@vonries]

Personally I appreciate the fact that you show a fail. If it happens as often as you say, it's nice to see what happens to the pro. Now I won't feel so bad if it happens to me. Plus I get an idea of what happens and what it looks like. I never knew you could fire at such low temperatures.

[@BryanKoenig379]

I love your channel man thanks for sharing these skills

[@unicornbbq]

Well done. I'd like to see you add primitive glaze to the mix at some point.

[@polarmouse3943]

Whoa i never knew how pottery was made! Amazing, and now i know where to find clay in my area 😄 You explain the technique really well, i've tried molding before and of course it was asymmetrical and of irregular thickness. I never saw those tools before, great content

[@HitokiriRaiden]

Really enjoy the videos. and glad you show when something doesn't work out.

[@ronaldgoodrich5460]

I never had problems with firing. I made over 35 pots. Probably 80 percent success. I dont think people let them dry enough. I give them at least a week.

[@MiauMichigan]

Thank you for the tip

[@jcknives4162]

I think your clay has calcium Carbonate in it. Do you see the white spots where it spalled? You can levigate out the Ca Co2 by pouring off the water a few times. You could call it ringing the clay. Any way, your problems won’t go away with adding temper. Andy Ward at Ancient Pottery is great at this.

[@JohlBrown]

notably a pot polished on the outside will reflect heat away. pot polished on inside reflects heat back into itself

[@shelbylowery2748]

The clay could've been a lil too thick and/or wasn't dry enough on the inside. But heck yeah! I'll have to try this.

[@nathanaelmcnaughton4054]

I would love to see how to collect your own clay. i hope you do a series on this

[@gorillaqueen]

This was amazing to watch. The most important parts were the things that went wrong. I learned a lot from that! Thank you and keep up your mission.

[@fvls_2110]

I made some pottery too. Some went good, some not...still gonna try a lot!!

[@suet.r.4815]

Can you use the spalded dishes anyway? Not in a fire, perhaps, (because of uneven heating, at the very least) but perhaps as dippers and scoopers? Or will you break them down into fine grit and use them for temper?

[@ilikeguavaalot111]

Tnx for the video, just a little note - bacteria, fungi and even chicken help to break down stones to dirt...

[@Jana_Rea]

I loved this video. Thanks a lot for such an educational class!

[@timmynormand8082]

I'm definitely going to try this. I live next to a river an I see these large bands of grey clay So I will collect some Not to sure abt adding the sand to temper it though I been subbed for a while now. Love your content. Even tanned my deer hide last yr

[@bigcntry194]

Great survival skill. Thanks

[@sagesmokesurvival]

My Bushcraft Knife: sagesmokesurvival.com/products/bushcraft-knife

[@toothnfang69]

Well done. Great video. Excited to give it a go.

[@macdev77]

If I was out in the middle of nowhere and needed to form a clay pot, what are some tips for finding the right clay? And is there a naturally occurring sand substitute? I get shaping and drying but without picking the right base of ingredients it won’t work. Good info in the vid thank you

[@asmith7876]

I so desperately want to try this...I think there is a clay deposit where I go camping, I may try this next weekend if I have enough time. I've searched the creek behind my house but haven't found suitable deposits. Don't know where you live but it looks awesome!

[@conyermud1]

Brilliant video, thank you.

[@sophroniel]

Oh man I wanna know so much more! It's hard to find in my neck of the woods cos I'm on a stretch of the south island of nz that is just greywacke. This facenates me!!

[@shawn4664]

Love your videos, man. Thanks for making them. My dad was an expert with this sort of thing and I regret not learning more from him before he passed but am happy to find this knowledge on youtube now. Do you have any tips on where to look for good clay? I recall finding good clay in caves as a kid but there aren't many caves around where I now live. Lastly, do you have a discord or community server like that? I imagine you have built a pretty interesting community.

[@jf2369af]

What a knowledge drop with that hole he who masters using the worst of materials is normally better than the one who only used the best of materials. I love making diamonds out of turds myself too.

[@thebigrigtrucker7277]

Do you ever send off samples of the soil you use to test for heavy metals and/or contaminants?

[@user-sw1wh2to2v]

When Ash work for temper?

[@arlahunt4240]

I sure enjoy your channel.

[@leemay7780]

def gonna give this a go I like your channel

[@LucciShack]

Very informative for me i know i cant do that from nature

[@karlgru3n654]

Fascinating! Thank you for sharing. ;)

[@rorywest4937]

My first firing went like that. 😅 Maybe next week I will try again with some changes and hopefully a better result.

[@camedelic1365]

I am more interested in the process of finding, collecting, and cleaning different types of clay at the moment. I am new to clay, but I like to dig holes and clay is fun to collect. What is the best method of cleaning it, and collecting it without getting so much dirt with it? Where I live the clay is orange and red with tints of yellow, while the clay here at the beach is more grayish and dull in color. What is the difference between the two?

[@bearnaff9387]

Can you grind up the fired clay from these failed wares and use it to temper your wet clay? I admit I got the idea from the Primitive Technology guy, but is there any reason it wouldn't work?

[@spindlywebs]

IM SO OBSESSED WITH THIS VIDEO ITS SO GOOD I WANNA BRING MY BOYFRIEND TO DO THIS WITH ME

[@MrRedd-tf7rv]

I think this is really cool

[@ulysses-101-]

Aw yeah

[@robertbenson1957]

Your description if primitive pottery could also apply to things made from copper, bronze, or iron.

[@BAR-Lifted]

This was very informative and inspiring! Great date idea.. question: Can the clay/material hold the same if there are irrigation holes at the bottom say for cacti or other succulent plants?

[@yo_mama6414]

Oh I just did some off camera mining *Makes whole other pot and pipe*

[@haywire4212]

Im always down for more bush pottery! Andy Ward is great, but it seems like he intentionally leaves out info at times. Im definitely no master potter, but it is my understanding that you shouldnt burnish if you are using certain temper materials, with sand and grog being two that you shouldnt.

[@Texasthebeststate-in-u.s]

Could you show us how you get the clay, the stuff I get is usually super watery

[@mrdante9154]

new subscriber!

[@sagesmokesurvival]

Thanks!

[@nitrophoenix9910]

How well does burnishing help to retain liquids? I want to make a few bowls to eat out of, but I have a feeling soups and other liquids might seep in and spoil, making it less than sanitary.

[@sagesmokesurvival]

Melt beeswax and swirl it around the warmed bowl. Pour out the excess, and wipe it dry. It becomes pretty watertight after that

[@tomato9651]

very nice video

[@hipihypnoctice]

I believe your leaving air bubbles in the pinched coils

[@sagesmokesurvival]

Sometimes that’s not as detrimental as modern potters think. This clay is porous from the sand that was added, and expanding air is able to escape

[@dustinsmith8341]

Wont those "failures" still work for your purpose though? Especially the bowl which doesnt look like it has any cracks

[@WhistleintheWind]

Can one use potting soil and sand?

[@MidnightBlade22]

I want to add that people need to know what is in their soil before they attempt to eat or drink from homemade clay vessels. There is an area where i like to go hiking or camping that is known as the lead belt. There are natural deposits of lead that get erroded and mixed into the soils around there. Clay scavenged from that area should not be used for food or drinking water. The natitional parks in the area all have signs warning people not to eat off the ground, or make sure their kids dont eat the dirt.

[@joeltower5964]

How long does it need to be red hot in the fire before the cooling process?

[@JuaneDosesII-wj6dd]

As a primitive, I approve

[@ucantSQ]

I tried doing this last year, but I developed a temporary hyperthyroid condition that lasted about two months. I'm not sure, but I'm guessing that the clay I was working in was poisoned somehow. I lost nearly 30lbs, it was a miserable experience. I think I'll make my pots out of pine branches coated with pine pitch instead.

[@YeahahWakand]

Boosting algo

[@loriekaczmarek9788]

That orangish clay pot, is it made from ohio clay? We have that kind of clay in n.w. ohio.i use it for pots. I like to do incision decorations after I fire mine. That orange color shows up good with the shiny black . As for pipes, get a small Y stick. Skinny side is your stem, fat side is your bowl. You might have to bend it a bit to get the shape you want. Anyhow, then press clay around entire pipe skeleton, smooth and press it so it's even thickness all over . Burnished and decorate as you did on pots. Then fire. Stick will burn out.

[@loriekaczmarek9788]

I use sand ,cottonwood fluff, and old clam shells that turn into powder when you crush them for temper with the orangish clay where I'm at with good results.

[@ronaldgoodrich5460]

Dose useing a plastic bucket taint the primitive?

[@Someguy25745]

where do you get clay

[@underoakhobbies858]

Where can I get a gourd scrapper if I don’t have any gourds till I grow some next year? Any suggestions/recommendations?

[@sagesmokesurvival]

From Andy Ward’s website. Search him up here on KZbin.

[@longjohn8735]

So I've gone out and gathered clay near a stream bed sadly it's red clay but I'm gonna try an figure it out. I know I can find grey a bit further up stream but I might try and figure out how to use this red clay it just seems to be a little too wet is this common?

[@cmhrr]

Just let it dry out until it feels right. But there is more that goes into processing wild clay for use, depending on its qualities. For instance, if it's not plastic enough (i.e. cracks/tears when you make a coil and wrap it around your finger). You can fix that by mixing in some other stuff, like some water from boiling rice + a splash of vinegar. But if it's naturally too plastic, that means it's very dense and is more prone to cracking as it dries; that's where adding temper comes in, making it more porous so water moves through it more evenly for drying, and giving it more structural integrity by reducing shrinkage. All wild clay will require temper, but at different ratios. Lots of trial and error.

[@ratatoskr1069]

Latin: primitivus; English: first of its kind

[@Yuri-we9be]

This is what a "reality TV show" strives to be.

[@user-eg3mo3dy5y]

🤠👍👌

[@egay86292]

"duh!" said the primate.

[@Self-DiscoveryExploration]

People can’t believe this is real so they aren’t clicking on it lol

[@alexyang8922]

Get yo self a friend who’ll smell and rank clay with you