Don't Fire Pottery Outdoors Without This

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks for watching. If you found this video enjoyable, I have lots of other videos about outdoor, open pottery firing check out my playlist on the subject here kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHfdd4Cmjq6UpJo

[@bondpaz]

Very enjoyable and informative. ❤️😊

[@thombaz]

Be carefull, do not breath in a lot of the smoke when you use galvanized bucket, especially the first time you use it. It can cause "fume fever" because of the zinc burning down at these temperatures. Mostly It's a problem with welders, and maybe It's causes no problems because you fire in the open air, but It's something to be aware of I think.

[@cysewskiscustomchippin9691]

Your thumbnail is amazing! Thanks for a great video on the importance of cover shards. Hope you have a great rest of your day Andy !

[@EXARCWithGrandpop]

I thought that was great too.

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you. It was after the video was all made and uploaded to KZbin that I was struck by the idea of putting that bucket on my head.

[@lostpony4885]

Awesome info thx! Will use

[@AncientPottery]

Glad it was helpful!

[@QuailCanyonAnthropolgy]

I fired my cover sherds with my other pottery and the cover sherds are all that didn't crack, break, or explode. Kinda funny and very sad at the same time! Ha Ha wah!

[@AncientPottery]

Well you must have done something right.

[@ScottWConvid19]

I had thought a potsherd was merely a piece of broken pottery with no other purpose than to scrape boils and scratch itches. So cool to learn new things. Thanks

[@AncientPottery]

I also grind them into temper for my clay

[@onorasa9691]

You are legend, i am looking for this kind of video since long time. I was took course but just basic making potery. You explain like pro. Thank you so much.....

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks glad you liked it.

[@isntjames]

That x-15 hobby lobby clay is good for mixing wild clay with to make your wild clay strong and brighten the colour a bit. Some wild clay can be weak or otherwise less then optimal, but the x-15 may help. X-15 definitely needs added temper though. It fires pretty low.

[@AncientPottery]

Good tip, thanks. I could see it being useful that way.

[@CeeJayKay]

I missed the QRanch this year (2022). I hope you do it again some time. (like next year?)

[@AncientPottery]

Don't wait too long, some day I will have my last workshop there.

[@CeeJayKay]

@@AncientPottery Oh no !! I’d really like to go to one.

[@GrannyGooseOnYouTube]

Nice overview of cover shard creation!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks Granny, I hope this helps.

[@drakekoefoed1642]

one of my two pots that didn't break was under a coffee can. a pretty easy thing to make. ;) i think the radiant heat will heat the metal and then you get conduction, convection and radiation inside. my theory is it reduces uneven heating and very rapid temperature change. i made a video for you of my wet clay processing, which is on yt. that is something i knew how to do. keeping the pots from breaking, still working on that.

[@AncientPottery]

You can only get conduction if the pot is touching that thing so even if it is touching the metal it is only in a small place and the metal does not hold onto heat well because it is thin. Radiation off of the bucket, again very minimal. Inside that bucket it is 99% convective heating. Which is much slower and more even that the other two.

[@Natasha-ft3es]

Amazing Sir. Please make a video about what happens to pots if they are over fired?

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks for that idea. Check out this video which shows what happens when you over-fire kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3y8kn2vgrFqq5o

[@angeladazlich7145]

I have a massive amount of commercial clay to get rid of. Guess I have my next project with it. Thanks!

[@AncientPottery]

It's a good use for that unwanted clay you have laying around.

[@oriundodelbosque7912]

I learn so much in this chanell! great work as allways.

[@AncientPottery]

Awesome, thank you!

[@bondpaz]

I’m glad to see you be silly. We would get along great. I wish I could work more on my pottery but we are starting to plaster/cobb our straw bale home. It’s a lot of work.

[@AncientPottery]

Oh well there are many similarities between cobb and pottery. I am also very interested in adobe construction. Try not to get too hot out there.

[@Julian-jc3xd]

have you seen the slab built - yixing teapots - how they do the base of the teapot is pretty interesting. you should try that :)

[@AncientPottery]

I had never heard of them but looked them up after seeing your comment. Thanks for teaching me something new.

[@Julian-jc3xd]

@@AncientPottery a very difficult art for sure

[@petrapetrakoliou8979]

This is the video I needed when I was first burning pots without cover sherds. Thank you for clarifying that they are quite necessary. In a recent burning one pot was covered by sherds the other not and it got spawled, while the covered one remained intact - a good thing for it was my favourite and I drink tea out of it now (a neolithic carinated burnished and stamped type of pot from the old continent). Funny that you try to avoid the reducing effect of cover sherds: it's a good tips for those who don't use organic paint and actually do want to reduce their ceramics 😄 !

[@AncientPottery]

Don't confusing reducing with smudging. The problem is that we use the same word, "oxidizing" for oxidizing iron and carbon so reducing is the opposite of that but it is all quite confusing. I have a video coming up about how to reduce a pot, (real reduction not smudging). Oh and thanks, glad you liked the video.

[@petrapetrakoliou8979]

I'm looking forward to see the video on reducing. I was meaning that you probably don't want to reduce the pots if you have organic paint on it, otherwise they won't stand out on a darkened background, but those who do not have paint on it and want to have darker tones or who are using clay slips for black paint, are not afraid to get a reducing effect. As for smudging, I still think it comes hand in hand with reducing. The fact that the interior of the sherds remains red may be due to the fact that there was first oxidising then reducing (and smudging).

[@ronaldhuffstatler6062]

Will Ceramic tiles work for cover shards

[@AncientPottery]

They will work for one use only.Because they are not tempered they will probably crack up during the firing.

[@stephenwalford774]

Good tip on adding more temper to the sherds..been having trouble with a couple of large pukies cracking when firing..will give that a go later..Thanks .

[@AncientPottery]

Hopefully that will help your problem, Thanks for watching.

[@LeilaAtaya]

Another amazing video. So much useful info. I wonder if it's a good way to store wine and oil like centuries ago rather than doing it in plastic and glass.

[@AncientPottery]

You would need to seal it first, earthenware is slightly porous so your wine and wild would slowly seep out.

[@bearshield7138]

Thank you for this I have been learning so much from you

[@AncientPottery]

I'm so glad!

[@lisalovelylpa]

That’s really interesting , I wonder if that concept would work in my gas kiln I designing.

[@AncientPottery]

I suppose it could. Do you get carbon on your pots from the burning gas?

[@lisalovelylpa]

@@AncientPottery I not know yet , the gas kiln is still being designed and built , it is small kiln , two cubic feet , I not so concerned about carbon but maybe the thermal shock could be reduced by using that concept. Hope to attend one of your classes some day ! Thanks for the reply.

[@life.takeslife]

Very interesting important stuff...great works, thanks man.

[@AncientPottery]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@devanhaseejiram2709]

So informative. I'm new to the pottery club, I've only made one thing, but your videos make me excited to make more! You've shown me that its do-able.

[@AncientPottery]

Awesome, glad to help

[@myfairytreasures]

I just love your channel. I have learned so much. I have a quick question about mineral powders. I just ordered some natural earth and oxide powders. Are these what I need to make mineral paints?

[@AncientPottery]

Yes, mineral powders can be used for paint but you will need to mix some clay with them to make sure they harden in the fire. This video will be useful to you in explaining mineral paints kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqLTaZiGncxqjc0

[@myfairytreasures]

Thank you so much. I believe I watched that video and it’s in my play list.@@AncientPottery

[@nahidrayat3413]

Thank you very mach❤

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome 😊

[@toysoldiernerio7172]

thanks for this id been wondering the best places to get em.

[@AncientPottery]

No problem 👍

[@williamwarner6036]

Great as always!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks Bill

[@sarahwing7468]

Andy, do you think I would be able to fire pottery in a smoke house? I haven't used it yet, I have just moved into a new house. It's a little shack with a brick structure on the inside for smoking meat. It has some holes in the roof just from being really old and dilapidated

[@AncientPottery]

I have no idea. My understanding of smoking meat is that you need to keep the temperature relatively low which seems counter to the goals of firing pottery, but hey anything is possible.

[@bje2920]

Good video

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks

[@bje2920]

@@AncientPottery your welcome

[@DabblinDawn]

Great video, Andy! Love the thumbnail image! I’m gathering the necessaries to do my first surface firing. I made a couple of clay cover sherds but I’d also like to get a metal bucket. I’m curious, what are the dimensions of the bucket you show in this video? I like that size, and maybe one a little bigger, maybe? Thanks!

[@AncientPottery]

I don't know maybe 12" wide by about 8" high

[@DabblinDawn]

Yeah, I purchased a 6 gallon galvanized steel bucket that I think is going to be perfect! Enjoyed your last live stream. You answered all of my questions and about the bucket then. It was fun and educational, Andy! Thanks 🌸

[@eflores9232]

Hello, Andy. While watching your videos about firing and Kilns, I thought of an idea of using 2 chimney starters on top of each other. The kind you use to start barbeque coals. Those things get really hot. The one at the bottom would have the fuel and the top one would have the pottery. What are your thoughts? I would love to see a experiment video like myth busters. Just an idea.

[@AncientPottery]

I'm not sure that would get hot enough. Have you seen my charcoal firing technique? kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKWvn2Z4qL6ogJo

[@stephaniebm]

Andy, I would like to fire glazed work. Would I be able to fire pottery a second time, after glazing, in the ways you teach, without a kiln?

[@AncientPottery]

I am not aware of any method of glazing that could be done without the use of a kiln. But then again I am no glaze expert.

[@edoardo2]

Hi Andy, do you think burying with sand may work as a shed? I have to fire a flat tile and it's my first pottery ever. Thank you for the great content!

[@AncientPottery]

No, you will not get hot enough if you cover the pottery with sand. Notice in the video how I discuss the importance of air circulation in a pottery firing.

[@edoardo2]

@@AncientPottery Right, it makes perfect sense, thank you. Finally I used a spare ceramic tile I had in my backyard. Unfortunately the ceramic tile exploded and my manufact apparently broke under its weight. Next time I'll make sure to use well dried sheds! I enjoyed the experience nonetheless 😊

[@Woolmouse]

What does temper?

[@AncientPottery]

Temper is non plastic material added to the clay. It allows the clay to dry more evenly and protects against thermal shock in the firing.

[@EXARCWithGrandpop]

Hi Andy, I know you dont use commercial glazes, But do you know if you can use a low fire glaze with a wood fire outdoor kiln? I just tried and failed. I am trying to figure out what went wrong. I guess I did not get it hot enough. However, I dont feel like burning an entire cord of wood just for one or two pots. Any suggestion? I guess I should add that I have a "Philosopher’s" style kiln with a fairly lagre fire box and about 6" of air space below it with a 5' x 8" round duct coming out of the chimney.

[@AncientPottery]

I have never heard of anyone glazing in this sort of fire. What temperature is required for these "low fire" glazes? It is rare to get an open fire much over 1000 C. John Olsen got his fire over 1000 at the kiln conference last summer but mine usually top out around 900 if I am trying to get them as hot as I can.

[@cysewskiscustomchippin9691]

Wes from airstream wanderings has experimented with clear glazes in a simple wood fire. He uses a leaf blower to greatly increase the temps. He’s got a channel here on KZbin check him out !

[@AncientPottery]

@@cysewskiscustomchippin9691 Those are lead based glazes, those are doable in outdoor firings. I have also played around with that kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIDVfHlppNZ8h7c

[@EXARCWithGrandpop]

@@AncientPottery They claim to fire at cone 06-05 temps. The only way I think you can get that hot is by using a lot of wood. Which is why they had huge kilns in the past. I am just not sure what the smallest "big" kiln is required to get to Cone 05-04 temps. I guess it is back to trial and error.

[@EXARCWithGrandpop]

@@cysewskiscustomchippin9691 I am familiar with his channel, but missed that one. Thanks I'll check it out.

[@simonphoenix3789]

But isn't temper just broken up bits of fired pottery? Once those cover sherds are used in a firing, they essentially become inert material that is the same as unground temper don't they?

[@AncientPottery]

All of my cover sherds eventually become temper, it takes a few years for them to break down into small enough pieces to not be usable for cover sherds any more.

[@hettikel000]

Thoughts on placing the pottery in a Dutch oven?

[@AncientPottery]

Maybe

[@6bonjour]

Thanks, all of my scraps of clay go into a bucket. When it fills up they are turned into sherds.

[@AncientPottery]

Great idea.

[@BaconIover69]

Die I get it right? With cover sherds I can bisque fire pots with out preheating the for hours? 😮 I will get those. thank you this a great video as always. I could refire the pots to get the pitfire look right?

[@AncientPottery]

You still need to pre-heat

[@sarahfay8642]

Can I use modern plates and bowls (from thrift stores) as my cover sherds? Or other options besides a metal bucket? I cave a cast iron cauldron I can use but I’m afraid it will block too much heat. I want to make cover sherds but it’s not an option now and I don’t want to have to fire them before I can fire my pots I’ve having the kids make. I could buy some six inch terra cotta pots also but that gets pricey!

[@AncientPottery]

Most modern, store bought ceramics are not tempered enough and so will break to bits in the firing

[@sarahfay8642]

@@AncientPottery thank you!

[@latetodagame1892]

I read the title as, defund your pottery! 🤣

[@AncientPottery]

LOL, I guess you could say that too since I don't spend a penny for clay.

[@mattparker9726]

HAHAHAHA That thumbnail was funny.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks, trying to illustrate the point.

[@ladychicfashion1961]

🥰👏

[@latetodagame1892]

Watch your language!

[@AncientPottery]

Not sure what you mean, I do not use bad language in my videos or in my personal life.

[@stickyfox]

Radiant heat is also the reason people burn stuff in the oven, like 3D printer filament; even though the air temperature is below the safe limit. Also, YT introduced the like button over ten years ago. I find the large gaudy animations of mouse pointers clicking on thumbs and bells to be very distracting. They're getting bigger and bigger. You put it right over the fire. I think it's OK to stop beating us to death with the like and subscribe buttons. Sorry, I know it's how you make money and thanks for not putting a jarringly loud bell sound in for no reason. :)

[@AncientPottery]

A quit asking for subscriptions and likes a long time ago as it seems tacky and desperate. I do like the animations because I feel they are less intrusive. I appreciate your thoughts and will try to place them in less annoying locations in the future. There has a be some sort of balance where I can remind people without being annoying.

[@Heraclitean]

Everyone else in the English speaking world calls them shards. Pottery enthusiasts have to be different.

[@AncientPottery]

It's more of an archaeologist thing than an "pottery enthusiast" thing and it's in the dictionary so I assume other people in the English speaking world use the term.

[@Heraclitean]

@@AncientPottery Hand me that ferk. The hell is a ferk? It's a fork but I'm a chef so I say ferk.

[@AncientPottery]

@@Heraclitean LOL

[@oldugly9295]

another two thumbs up. thank you

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks, glad you found it helpful.

[@pleasureincontempt3645]

Wonderful info. Respect.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks