Sawdust Kilns: A Sensory Adventure in Pottery Firing — Spinning Pots

Pottery as an art date back to the oldest days of the human civilization. As the potter’s wheel gradually went from being an entirely manual tool to a technical machine that works on its own, so did the kiln which fires the pottery. Today, we have the largest range of kiln solutions and kinds to support our ambitious pottery ventures. One such type is the sawdust kiln, which may not entirely be a new solution, but when you discover it, the changes are immaculate. The kiln works primarily by incorporating sawdust, which leaves beautiful imprints on the pottery, which adds to its quality. Discover in this article the easiest way to set up your sawdust kiln and fire your pottery in it!

Sawdust firing primarily works on the principle of reduction firing. While traditional kilns work with the continuous flow of oxygen, a sawdust kiln restricts the access to oxygen for its pottery. While the pottery inside faces soaring temperatures, sawdust is introduced into this equation. With no oxygen, the sawdust smolders instead of combusting. The pottery is thus exposed to a diverse range of ways in which the designs will be affected. By changing the temperatures and amount of sawdust, various results can be expected.

Once you realize how well a sawdust kiln works, you can gather materials to make your own. Here’s how…