Hey everyone, I just noticed that I straight up lied in this video, I don't know what got into me in the last part of this script but I've certainly had MANY more than three pots fail and you can clearly see that my two footed pot also suffered damage in that batch. All I can think is I wasnt paying enough attention while writing this one. Coming back to this video now I have no idea what I was thinking. I would say the vast majority of my pots have survived(80-90%) and when a pot does fail it almost ALWAYS traceable my poor pottery(I.e. bad joints, poorly mixed clay, etc) so maybe I was excluding those? I feel I can honestly say only two or three pots have broken that i didnt screw up.(the cylindrical pot in this video for example broke along a slip-joined seam that I rushed) I cant help but feel it was a very dishonest statement on my part. I really dont know what I was thinking but I wont repeat that mistake. also some quick notes on fire safety I feel I really should have mentioned in the video: -immediately after firing the pots will still be hot enough to start fires for some time, normally i let them cool in the kiln or on the shelf leading into it till theyre cool enough to touch -though the pit makes having a fire substatially safer(in some localities pit kilns are exempt from certain seasonal fire regulation) its still best to clear the area of dry plant matter, this is something i neglected to do in one of these firings which was a careless mistake, luckily nothing happened, but better safe than sorry -remember to keep 2-3 ways to extinguish a fire on hand. i always like to have a bucket of water and something that can act as a fire blanket within arms reach. Ive never had to prematurely put out a pit firing but its good to know you can -its best to wet the embers after the fire, do this after you pull the pottery out as water on very hot pottery could shatter it, but those hot coals can stay hot for days and extinguishing them some how is typically a good idea. once theyre cooled and dry I like to save the coals for temper or to use as biochar good luck! and happy firings!

@TheRojo387

8 ай бұрын

The coals could be useful for heating though. Waste not, want not.

Alchemy led me here, and I'm a potter. I love you!

@alisalman3539

Ай бұрын

Same here

Thank you for these videos on pottery! Andy Ward has inspired me too. But rather than wanting to recreate native pottery from another region I like the idea of creating something local and more hybridized for modern uses. I love the whimsical touches I see on your pottery, like the chicken feet on that thing with holes. I wish I knew what that thing is! All the items you showed being fired seem to have some specialized use intended which I cannot guess. I hope that you'll share what they are in another video.

I see you are also an enjoyer of Andy Wards channel! Keep up the great vid's, I like your scratch built ethos. Original and engaging.

@fraserbuilds

8 ай бұрын

thanks! Andy wards seriously done us all a service with the information hes put out there! seriously amazing stuff. I also really like the 'potted history' channel for alot of the same reasons.

I love the pot with chicken feet

Thanks. That was a nice video. I'm not currently making ceramics, but it is a hobby I hope to take up in retirement. I've been watching several videos to glean information from others on how to do things simply without a lot of expensive equipment. I had never seen charcoal dust used as temper. That was very interesting to see. It's something I will keep in mind once I get started.

@justinw1765

3 ай бұрын

It's ok to use for these lower temp firings, but in the professional ceramics world, where they use very high heat, the temps get hot enough to burn charcoal/carbon. It burns off in the range of 1200ºF - 1400ºF. He's probably getting the temps in the range of 700 to 900F, so the charcoal stays intact. Note, not all carbon is exactly the same. Amorphous carbon burns at a lower temp than crystalline carbon forms. Charcoal is kind of in between/a blend but more amorphous than crystalline overall. An example of more crystalline carbons would be things like graphite, diamond, graphene, carbonized cellulose nanocrystals, etc.

@AmblingAloof

3 ай бұрын

@@justinw1765 Thank you. That too is good information. I am planning on retirement overseas where I won't have access to modern/professional materials, tools or equipment. I am planning on going old school with low tech methods like these. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge.

@justinw1765

3 ай бұрын

@@AmblingAloof Cheers, best of luck, and most of all, have fun with it.

@justinw1765

3 ай бұрын

@@AmblingAloof Something you might want to try experimenting with, besides the stuff in his videos, is paper clay. There is plenty online about paper clay (just clay mixed with pulped* paper at a certain ratio). It has some interesting properties. * By pulped, I mean semi dissolved paper, like toilet paper, in water, blended.

@maryswann7623

3 ай бұрын

I am new to this too, but retired now! I am so glad I found this channel, I have gotten more great information than all the others combined.

This was a much awaited video!!

Another great video friend. I've been having more success with my firings but also having some pieces be under-fired even though it seems like they were in the hottest part of the fire. This lil hobby is fun and cheap but so frustrating too sometimes. The good outweighs the bad and I'm not looking forward to the winter months which will surely slow me down. Take good care.

@fraserbuilds

8 ай бұрын

Ive had that exact problem too! Im not sure what causes it, sometimes i'll gently try to rearrange pots during the firing to try to avoid it but there must be a better solution 😂

Amazing pottery skills

After watching the videos regarding the oil burner with blown air, makes me wondering about an automated blower and making a kiln fired using oil. I don't recall ever seeing an oil fueled or any liquid fueled kiln firing. Might be something novel and wondering if has been performed before? What is novel on that topic interesting is seeing the rocket stove kiln fires which use significantly less wood or fuel. Awesome work and productions. Thanks for sharing.

Love this video! You have a really good technique which you explained well! Thank you for sharing!!!

Another lovely video ! You always make me want to build something

Always a joy to watch your fascinating videos

@fraserbuilds

8 ай бұрын

thank you! much appreciated:)

I wonder if you could challenge yourself to create a vessel that can dry the pottery in the same way old wood fired ovens do. Maybe just another hole where some hot coals go that you can just cover with a rock for a bit. Loving the off grid aspects of this channel. Edit: For the fanning of the fire you could even "train" your automaton to give you a hand with it! Or make use of some of that sheet metal to make yourself a cased fan to sit in front of it..

Your research, demos, and explanations are wonderful! Thank you for making videos and sharing these experiences. I'm working in ceramics and got here investigating mathods relating to clay processing, kiln design, and a general fascination with alchemy. Here's the question your videos inspired: could one combine the oil lamp (with blow pipe) and kiln build principles to make a kiln that doesn't require wood for fuel? Something something tubular rings channel air flow to something something wicks around the inner wall of the kiln something something. I don't have the whole idea but I think there's something there. I'm hoping to move away from electric kilns but environmentally, apprehensive to consume a lot of wood. Anyway, great videos, wonderful content, excellent production! 11/10 will watch again and again.

OMG you are awesome! I am new to this and have not seen anything like your videos. I was wondering how to fire my pottery when I make it. I have a large outside pit but this is great news. Thank you so much!! Blessings to Mother Earth

@fraserbuilds

3 ай бұрын

Thank you! I'm glad it helped :) best of luck!

I can't get over yer accent. It reminds me of an old online friend of mine from Michigan who'd say things like "yer" and "fer" :)

@marvelholt21

4 ай бұрын

The thing I noticed most is that all the Os that come before an R, sound like a U. Not a bad thing at all, mostly an observation.

Love that Baba Yaga pot :D

@fraserbuilds

4 ай бұрын

Thanks :)

LOVE This Channel!

@fraserbuilds

2 ай бұрын

Thank you! :)

@watchdogkennels5242

2 ай бұрын

@@fraserbuilds Of Course!!! You Deserve It. Hey, Can You Make More Vids, On Glass Working, With The Candle, Or Mini Forge?? Specifically MAKING Glass, From Scratch, If Possible. It Certainly Looks Possible, With Your Technique.

Great video

@fraserbuilds

2 ай бұрын

Thank you!

i might have the means to try this out this year, ill be visiting my grandparents for a few months this summer and their land is full of red clay deposits, so I might clean some of that up to try making pottery with when I come back home. Got plenty of yardwork to do so plenty of fuel that I sadly cant do any woodworking with that might be usable for firing if theres enough branches and such.

You have really nice videos

@fraserbuilds

4 ай бұрын

Thanks!

I am curious if you've experimented with "Grog" as a temper? My understanding is that fired clay that has broken can also be used as it has already gone thru the shrinking processes and shouldn't change much. I've seen this used on Primitive Technology's clay purification videos and also in some more traditional pottery demonstrations. It looks to be the same basic idea as crushing the carbon in a crucible. I'm also curious if you've looked into Black Kyanite or "witch's broom", which can make for heat proof tempered pottery.

@justinw1765

3 ай бұрын

In his videos on making pottery clay, he has mentioned using broken pieces of already fired clay as a temper.

@powerloomperson

3 ай бұрын

grog works great but charcoal is easier to get in large amounts and takes less time to crush

This is super cool, would something made like this hold water and/or be safe to use as a plate or bowl?

So have you tried glacing the pots? IIRC you use the white ash from the fire with water.

@fraserbuilds

2 ай бұрын

I havent tried any glazes, to my knowledge the only types of glazes that would work at these temperatures are lead based 😅

Would powdered glass make good temper?

Fraser what is with a glaze? Do the ancient alchemists have a recipe for this too?

@fraserbuilds

6 ай бұрын

Alchemists do have some really fascinating glaze recipes! but unfortunately almost all that I've come across are lead based 😅

Hello Fraser, I need a help I did make a Cylindrical Mug, at last Attached a handle without any cracks But, during the firing today, I heard loud sounds As said by you, I knew something cracked or broke When the fire settled, I looked the mug There was no mug at all ! Just 20-25 small pieces !! I don't know what happened I fired it inside a metal bucked,surrounded by leaves and firewood The mug was touching the metal bucket The mug was fired today after waiting 5-6 days in nearly 35-40°C Can you suggest anything to help me?

@fraserbuilds

Ай бұрын

oh no! im sorry :( did you preheat the pottery in the oven first?

@_SharonShah_

Ай бұрын

@@fraserbuilds No

Where is he from? Theres a part of his speech where every time he says something that should be "or" he says "er" examples are "impertent" "ferm" "ferge" or maybe it was "ferage" just something I noticed in the two videos ive watched

@c0d3r1f1c

24 күн бұрын

He has a minor speech impediment; he mentioned it in a comment on another video. I don’t really notice it anymore.

What temperature do you dry the pottery at in the oven? You may of said it but I missed it?

You should try making a tesla valve

Please help me I have a doubt I've been trying to make earthenware mugs , but couldn't do it In my first attempt, I made the cup body Then, when I tried to attach the handle, small cracks appeared Eventually, the crack grew long and deep and it broke So I made it back to clay In my second attempt, I made the cup, attached the handle There were no problems But, when I tried to polish it by rubbing my scrapper against its dry wall,small cracks appered As happened to me before,it also grew into a long and deep one (I made that one too into clay) In my third attempt, everything was fine No cracks while making, no cracks while attaching handle. Then , it cracked when I tried to polish But it was a minute crack Just like a line drawn on it Thin and narrow,looks like it has no depth Anyway, I tried to cover the crack by adding slip,then polishing But, when the slip dries , the cracks reveals again So,I thought it was because slip and the wall of the mug where in different stages of dryness So, I dipped the mug in water for a second or two and waited Then , what I saw was really sad It had broken, from rim to base Can you, or someone who sees this comment tell me any solutions or suggestions? I have wasted like a month now Is it because of the temperature, cuz here it's like 35°C+ Does it affect? Or should I wait some more time to polish the pot, as maybe the exterior of the mug was dry while the inner layers were still wet? Please help me And , how can I make my pot cylindrical, because when I coil build it, it goes out and out, I tried your technique to turn it inside, but it turns jar-like , with a constricted neck and wide body I can't make it cylindrical, Please help me

@fraserbuilds

2 ай бұрын

making cylindrical pots can be difficult, though ive had some success with slab building techniques with tar-paper stencils(basically you roll the clay flat onto a piece of tar-paper then roll it up into a cylinder and bind it with some slip. I have noticed the starch clay recipe makes slip-joining more difficult. it seems to give the clay a slight elasticity that makes it pull away from joints. for a joint to work it really has to be very well joined. often times when I have a pot fail its along a slip-joint. Im not quite sure whats causing your cracking problem, clay sometimes cracks as it dries(sometimes it happens when working clay thats a little too wet, but I really dont know if thats what your encountering) Sometimes small surface cracks can just be ignored, but if, like you say, they run all the way through the pot thats more of a problem.

@_SharonShah_

2 ай бұрын

@@fraserbuilds So , according to you, that we can avoid small cracks and just fire it ? Isn't that what you meant? Will I have any problem while firing or after that, or will it be just normal?

@_SharonShah_

2 ай бұрын

Anyway, thanks a lot I will try again

are pots made like this waterthight ?

@fraserbuilds

4 ай бұрын

No, pottery fired this way(terracotta) will be porous

@justinw1765

3 ай бұрын

You can use things like beeswax, pine pitch, lard, jojoba oil (really a wax), food grade linseed oil, and the like to help seal and make them less porous to water. If you use something like lard, you should heat it to its smoke point to polymerize it, so that it doesn't get rancid and smelly later.

you seem to replace o's in some words with e, like "mere" instead of more, or "unfertunately" :D just an observation, any reasoning for this?

Can I ask where you're from? I've never heard that accent before. You pronounce your "O' the way I pronounce my "I"

Cool. What is your accent?

Raku..i think i spelled thst right ..is done about the same

Hello Fraser, I fired again This time, I got half Other half was shattered Does the quality of the clay make any difference?

@fraserbuilds

Ай бұрын

hey thats progress atleast! the times ive had clay break during firing Ive been able to attribute it either 1. trapped moisture in the clay 2. unevern tempering. if the pots "spalled" meaning flakes popped off the outside leaving crater like cracks, thats probably trapped moisture. but if the pots totally shattered, I often find its due to uneven or inadequate tempering. Also, if youre doing the dry process, this can also be caused by the clay not being ground fine enough before being hydrated. I like to sieve my clay powder to make sure im only using fine powder, then when I add in my temper I make sure to mix it in very thoroughly and knead it once its been hydrated till it is evenly distributed

@_SharonShah_

Ай бұрын

Thanks Is there any problem if a add too much temper? Because, I'm now starting to use clay from paddy field It does have some sand, but I don't know if it's going to be sufficient

@fraserbuilds

Ай бұрын

The only risks are that the more temper you add the harder it will be to work the clay, and the more brittle the final piece will be. Im hoping to make a video soon about working with high-temper clay :)

@_SharonShah_

Ай бұрын

Thanks a lot

I bet you can't make pottery pieces that can be their own kilns!

@fraserbuilds

8 ай бұрын

the ancient egyptians used to make kilns out of big pots! ive been trying to make something similar but Ive yet to be successful 😅 still trying though!

@TheRojo387

8 ай бұрын

@@fraserbuilds Does this mean I may indeed be of Ancient Egyptian descent?