Here are the step-by-step instructions on doing a pit firing!  It was great fun! Fast, easy, and interesting results!

I know that this is a far step from the high fire glazes that I’m striving for and it does take me in another direction, but…it’s available! So I take advantage of these opportunities to learn!

Here are the pics and steps at the Murwillumbah Potters Group.
Ann Lee is the leader and guru of all things pottery!
Click on each small pic and it will go to a slide show and a larger version of all the pics!
Ann Lee getting ready to take pots from the studio to the firing area.
Shirley Featherstone examining the state of the kiln prior to loading it. The remains of the past firing had to be shovelled out.
Sheets of old corrugated tin were laid over the bricks on the bottom of the pit fire kiln.
The edges of the pit were lined with hard wood pieces.
Ronda Luland loading her pots into the pit.
Claire Byrne and Ann Lee preparing a piece by wrapping in foil and adding combustibles such as copper wire, seaweed, and copper carbonate.
Pots are placed in the sawdust. Next to the sawdust with no protection, pot will be black.
Copper Carbonate is sprinkled around each pot and throughout the kiln. The copper gives the reddish colour on the pots.
Here is the loaded pit prior to adding pine cones.
Murwillumbah Potters – (L-R) Ronda Luland, Lorraine Emmanuel, Claire Byrne, Shirley Featherstone.
Ronda Luland pouring pine cones into the pit.
Pine cones are the next level.
Claire Byrne carrying more pine cones!
Ann Lee making sure all pine cones are in place.
Pieces of wood are then added ontop of the pine cones.
A “hole” has been left at one end of the pit and is filled with shredded paper-highly combustible.
Ready to light the pit fire!!! (L-R) Shirley Featherstone, Ronda Luland, Claire Byren, Lorraine Emmanuel, Ann Lee.
It is lit!
It’s alight!
Burn, baby, burn!
Ann Lee showing how much air the fire needs.
The tin is vented with bricks to allow the flame to catch hold.
Lowering the tin a bit.
Leaving just a small edge up to allow air flow.
As I drove away, you could really see the smoke!!
Opening the pit by moving the pieces of tin.
The result!
Lovely result!
Ronda Luland’s lovely little carved pot.
Ronda Luland and her pot! Happy!
My pot with copper on the rim! Nice!
Cool oil spots on some pots!
Got lots of black and good variance of colour.
Oil spot on this side of my jar.
More pots out of the pit fire.
…and more…
…and more!

Chill and be chilled,

Luv,

Marian