I have access to clay, a wheel, and an electric kiln for bisqueing, but I need a lot more stuff for the pit firing process. I have decided to compile a preliminary list of materials I need and possible resources for those materials, and here it is.
For digging:
1. Shovels
2. Boys (I know how this sounds. But I have a fractured spine from figure skating and don't really want to dig a massive hole all by myself. And I have a bunch of guy friends whom I have promised to feed pizza to if they'll dig for me. Currently I have enlisted James, Robbie, Paul, Tim, John, and Jimmy, if you want to know.)
3. Open space in my backyard. My backyard is not nice, it's not groomed. No problem digging a massive hole in it, aesthetically at least. My dad swears he knows where all the pipes and power lines and buried treasure is and he'll make sure we don't dig through it.
For the fire:
1. Sawdust
2. Dry wood
3. Wood chips
4. Lighter fluid
5. Newspapers
None of this should be too hard to come by. I live in a forest, so I can just go get dead wood. Lighter fluid we have. I don't get the paper but some friends are saving theirs for me. For the sawdust, I'm going to see if I can contact the Unfinished Furniture Store, which is close to my house.
(The above info was gleaned from the pit-firing instructions in Alternative Kilns and Firing Techniques, by Paul Wandless and James Watkins)
For the pieces:
I need stuff to turn them colors. I plan to use any combination of the following:
1. Banana peels (for potassium, apparently turns green)
2. Seaweed (I looked at Greenstar when I was there and it is SO expensive. I think Wegmans/Tops might have cheaper stuff; I don't really care if it's organic if I'm not actually eating it)
3. Copper wire (to wrap the pots and produce interesting designs - don't know where to get this yet)
4. Salt
5. Baking soda
Other thoughts coming soon.
For digging:
1. Shovels
2. Boys (I know how this sounds. But I have a fractured spine from figure skating and don't really want to dig a massive hole all by myself. And I have a bunch of guy friends whom I have promised to feed pizza to if they'll dig for me. Currently I have enlisted James, Robbie, Paul, Tim, John, and Jimmy, if you want to know.)
3. Open space in my backyard. My backyard is not nice, it's not groomed. No problem digging a massive hole in it, aesthetically at least. My dad swears he knows where all the pipes and power lines and buried treasure is and he'll make sure we don't dig through it.
For the fire:
1. Sawdust
2. Dry wood
3. Wood chips
4. Lighter fluid
5. Newspapers
None of this should be too hard to come by. I live in a forest, so I can just go get dead wood. Lighter fluid we have. I don't get the paper but some friends are saving theirs for me. For the sawdust, I'm going to see if I can contact the Unfinished Furniture Store, which is close to my house.
(The above info was gleaned from the pit-firing instructions in Alternative Kilns and Firing Techniques, by Paul Wandless and James Watkins)
For the pieces:
I need stuff to turn them colors. I plan to use any combination of the following:
1. Banana peels (for potassium, apparently turns green)
2. Seaweed (I looked at Greenstar when I was there and it is SO expensive. I think Wegmans/Tops might have cheaper stuff; I don't really care if it's organic if I'm not actually eating it)
3. Copper wire (to wrap the pots and produce interesting designs - don't know where to get this yet)
4. Salt
5. Baking soda
Other thoughts coming soon.
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