Preheating Pottery for a Pit Fire

[@sheilam4964]

Why not? 😊 Thinking outside the box. Love it. You thought it. You tried it. And it worked. Now you have shared it for all to benefit. Thanks for sharing. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@tonysoaresnativeclays1434]

Been doing this for 30 plus years 😜

[@coopart1]

Thanks so much for sharing your long experience with us! Your an awesome potter.

[@tonysoaresnativeclays1434]

Thanks spread the good Word 🙏🏼

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Thanks for your continued videos. I've been drying mine in the oven on low at first and then to the maximum temperature (550 on my stove) and then immediately take them to be fired in my back yard. That way I don't need to preheat them again next to the fire. It seems to work.

[@tonysoaresnativeclays1434]

You should only need to heat them once, I’ve heated pots then let them cool and they are good for weeks if not months. A few days is not a problem at all.😀

[@Whispering_goddess]

Thank you for sharing, my mother and father met in ceramics class in college and my father made a lot of pieces they still use today. I am now taking an interest in pottery to create some of my own and was curious if this was possible, very good knowledge to know!

[@tonysoaresnativeclays1434]

Only for preheating tho

[@deanatankersley6851]

I do this sometimes. Did this once with paperclay..uuumm never again. Smokey!! 😍 Love your sweet pup lookin for attention 😊

[@granmabern5283]

Thankyou! Did your paperclay fire well afterwards? Did you use a kiln or a pit fire?

[@deanatankersley6851]

@@granmabern5283 It did..I learned to love paper clay at times..as it can be forgiving..even after firing..things. an be added afterwards..which is why I'm partial to it. Pitfired paperclay for me tends to work very well..but I do honor the true pure clay aspect..especially in pit firing. As my pure clay pieces sometime cracked during pit firing. It's why I looked to paper clay. But, I'm so enamored with Tony's experience.

[@ericuribe85]

You are the man Tony!

[@GrannyGooseOnYouTube]

Tony, your videos have taught me so much. I noticed in this one that you mentioned chemicals being in commercial clays. I do NOT use commercial clay...however, I collect it in a very busy agricultural area, and I wonder all the time about pesticides in my clay. Should I be concerned about that, or do any contaminants likely burn off in a pit fire? Thanks so much for another great video. You are my idol.

[@tonysoaresnativeclays1434]

Yes be careful of the pesticides, they could absorb in your skin or fume in your house oven, they should be plenty burned out in a pit fire

[@GrannyGooseOnYouTube]

@@tonysoaresnativeclays1434 Thank you!!!

[@ranchoraccolto]

This channel is gold!!!

[@mattwilliams3504]

Tony, thank you Sir for passing on your skills and teaching us. Can you tell us what commercial clays you get when you get them? I live in Alaska and the ground is solid for many months of the year. Thank you.

[@tonysoaresnativeclays1434]

I have only tried a few , buff sculpting clay and soldate 60 were ok clay bodies from Laguna clay. I’m not a fan of commercial clays because they don’t usually have tensile strength in building and the clays like to pop. Maybe a raku clay might be good for pit firing

[@granmabern5283]

You can also add grog to commercial clays so they build better. I’m going to try using bonemeal for grog.

[@townbell2248]

Town Bell 0 seconds ago @Tony Soares Sorry if this is a silly question but can rice (or rice flour) be used in place of sand or sawdust to prevent thermal shock for beads? Also could beads done on a stove top? I have processed my local clay but havent had a chance to try to fire it a pit. I cant afford a kiln

[@granmabern5283]

Thankyou

[@jarlsoars1150]

Would a pot that's just been in an oven 'slake' in water again? What's the minimum 'temp of no return' for a clay body in other words? Thanks for posting your processes and techniques!

[@oldugly9295]

great video and good subject. i was wondering, once the pottery has been preheated in the oven, dried out and then cooled how long can they wait before they go into the fire? thank you Tony for sharing your knowledge and skills with us. tom

[@tonysoaresnativeclays1434]

I’ve waited a couple weeks. It is very dry here. I think if it gets hot enough it is pretty good for a while😜

[@blancawyatt3092]

Hi Tony! Awesome video. Can I do the same with micaceous clay before I put it in the fire pit thank you.

[@tonysoaresnativeclays1434]

Yes

[@blancawyatt3092]

Thanks for replying right away.

[@jasongannon7676]

I will give it a try tomorrow

[@bje2920]

I have been doing this for months it work's good have you ever made any black on black pottery I fired my first one today I Looks good

[@tonysoaresnativeclays1434]

Yes from time to time

[@rodfoulds8352]

Sup Tony nice vid I'll send it to Derek. LOL