Comments on: Trash Can Firing – And Now the Rest of the Story

By: Lorraine

Lorraine — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 02:18:46 +0000

nice results! Check out the barrel firing I did Oct 2012 on my blog. playsinclay.blogspot.com. I use a downdraft barrel kiln. One reason for crusty pots is the use of plywood scraps or particle board for the fire. The glue is the enemy. Pine also expels resin which can stick to pots. Good luck with future firings!

By: NancyG

NancyG — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 20:23:36 +0000

Probably about 5 hours

By: nicole

nicole — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 17:29:19 +0000

how many hours would you estimate your fire burned?

By: NancyG

NancyG — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:03:07 +0000

Thank you for the tips and I will check the blog! You are really an inspiration. I can only hope to accomplish one third what you do in another 35 years. You are the woman!

By: Bonnie Staffel

Bonnie Staffel — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 20:19:00 +0000

I have a blog describing my trash can firing technique. My suggestion to you is to leave the salt out of the mix. Also dissolve the copper sulphate in water and pour or paint a wash on the pot where you want the red color. I also use the lid as a damper, closing in increments, always keeping the flames inside until most have died down so that the final closed lid produces the smoky atmosphere so needed for the reduction of the copper near the end of the firing. I have found that the salt may absorb moisture after the firing and start to flake off the clay affected by it. Not a pretty sight. Salt needs a very hot fire to melt well. Underfiring will cause the salt to flake the bisque clay. While the salt gives some amazing patterns when fired hot enough, you may find that it is not worth the loss after a few days or months of damp weather or high humidity. I have also found that too much copper may also create the crusty black appearance on the pot. It is such fun so keep experimenting and do listen to all the posted suggestions.

By: NancyG

NancyG — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 10:58:25 +0000

Thanks, Don – I’m doing another firing this weekend implementing peoples’ suggestions. I switched up the clay bodies on some and tried a lighter coat of terrasig before burnishing. Hopefully better results this time around.

By: Don

Don — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 18:49:29 +0000

Nancy,
I think you got great color on your pots. Congratulations. I fire up a barrel of pots a couple of times a year with some slight differences:
– I use red earthenware that I burnish at leather hard stage
- I pack the can as you do but my lid has a ‘chimney’ which seems to pull the flames/smoke up (can was made to burn leaves)
- once I brush/clean off the pots, I vigorously rub them with bowling alley wax (Butcher’s Block)
– the wax adds a nice gloss and pulls out the color
Good luck on your next experiment.
Don

By: NancyG

NancyG — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 02:21:18 +0000

Thanks so much for taking the time to make the suggestion – that’s a great idea about soaking the wood chips. I wasn’t crazy about the copper clumping either. Someone suggested via email that I might stay away from pine shavings due to the resin but I have a ton to use up. I may try to saggar the first layer and use the soaked/dried chips on the next layer just to see the difference.

By: Neil Estrick

Neil Estrick — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 01:57:09 +0000

You got some good color there, but it’s not totally covering the pots, and the copper tends to clump up on the surface. You may have better luck dissolving the salt and copper sulfate in water (not necessarily together) and letting them soak into the wood shavings. Then dry out the shavings before firing. It’s an extra step, but you’ll get better dispersal of the materials and a smoother surface. I’d say it’s a very good first run, though!

By: NancyG

NancyG — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:32:21 +0000

Thanks, Anna – the wire is a copper scrubbie from the grocery store, cut apart and stretched.