Mini-pit firing

[morgaina]

I unloaded a mini-pit firing I had done the day before. Came out well. Among other pots was a beaker for Torfin and will see them this weekend.
I was nervous about the firing, I'm certain they are safe but for these mini-pits I use a lot of sawdust & wood shavings which sends out billows of smoke for a few hours. I half expected to see the county fire marshal. It has been my experience that local county, city, and state officials don't know much (anything) about kilns and firing. But some are very officious and have, a couple of times over the years, shut down my kiln and firings I have done. Usually in more public settings than my home. "Uh, look sir, my hand is touching the bricks, how can it be flash-point hot?" At school a couple of years ago I had five (5) different inspectors from different agencies all of whom told us different requirements for firing the school kiln. One would say the floors were fine but the vent needed fixed, the next guy would say the reverse.
All is well though, this firing is complete.

Comments

[jeanderson.livejournal.com]

Have you any pictures? That pit-firing sounds neat. I was involved in one raku firing, is it similar?

pit firing

[copper-oxide.livejournal.com]

My user-pic on this is a pit fired pot. Sad to say I can't include any more because hell puppy chewed through the cable that goes from the camera to the computer. Have to wait until I can afford a new camera because mine is older and they don't make the parts anymore. :-(
A pit firing is done in a hole dug in the ground and covered with wood, which is lit. It doesn't get as hot as a raku firing and the color of pit pots are from the smoke rather than glaze. Gwen took photos of a pit firing she and I did a few years back: http://www.dragonslaire.org/Articles/pittto_pottery.htm
Pit firings are early technology, used before, during and after SCA period and are still in use in some places today.
The similarity to raku is the exciting nature of the firing. Flames, throwing wood and more wood in the pit, glowing hot things in the black night.

Re: pit firing

[copper-oxide.livejournal.com]

My comments about the safety of my recent mini-pit firing were because I contain it in firebrick and let it do more smouldering than hot fire of a big pit.