Newbie -- Dump Question Part 2

First, Thanks for all your help....

What type of clay should be used in a sawdust fire pit?

"NoSpam" wrote in news:b9Leb.38877$a16.31190@lakeread01:

First, Thanks for all your help....

What type of clay should be used in a sawdust fire pit?






First off dont use treated sawdust. Some timbers are treated with arsenic
compounds and other nasties

The main thing about the sawdust and/or wood shavings is to make sure
that they are dry even if you have to dry them out before you use them.
If it is damp the sawdust may just smoulder away releasing very little
heat. The dryer it is the more heat you will get and the higher fired
will be your pottery.

As to the clay I would use a raku clay which has an open texture and will
stand the green firing. It will also mature at a lower temperature and
you may get a harder pot

If you do not use oxides ar treated timber there is no reason why you
cant use your product eg a platter to serve food on. Only be aware that
you won't be able to wash it afterwards

You are probably not aware that the native population of the Fiji Islands
have a pre european history of pottery making as their islands are
volcanic and hence they had clay. Their pots are fired in an open fire
and when they are taken out and still hot the insides are rubbed with a
gum from a tree. The gum melts into the porous clay and seals it from the
inside so that they are virtually waterproof.

If you wanted to get a higher temperature you could build and fire a
paper kiln. I have no doubts if you google "paper kiln" you will find
articles on how to make one.

You could also build a small wood fired (or gas using a simple burner and
a LPG cylindar from the barbeque.) kiln out of standard housebricks which
you can fire right up to earthern ware temperatures. Also good for glaze
(gerstly borate based) fired raku work.

Experiment and then experiment some more and build up your knowledge
base.

Regards

Uncle John from down under
We are heading into our summer
Oh the sunshine, blue skies and golden sands

"NoSpam" wrote in message news:b9Leb.38877$a16.31190@lakeread01...
First, Thanks for all your help....

What type of clay should be used in a sawdust fire pit?

I would recommend a Raku clay which can withstand thermal shock.

Thanks.... for all your help
"NoSpam" wrote in message
news:b9Leb.38877$a16.31190@lakeread01...
First, Thanks for all your help....

What type of clay should be used in a sawdust fire pit?