Can you make pottery without a kiln?

Making pottery and ceramics seems to be gaining popularity. Maybe you’ve attended a few local pottery workshops or perhaps you’re brand new to the world of pottery. Whatever skill level you may be at, you probably know that making pottery requires you to fire or bake your pots. Most ceramic artists and potters do this in a specialized oven, called a kiln. Kilns are an important piece of equipment in the ceramic process and heat to high temperatures.

They are crucial tools, but are not always accessible to potters. They can be quite expensive and require special wiring and home studio arrangements to work correctly. When I began making pottery, I didn’t have access to a kiln. I scrimped and saved for quite sometime before bringing one into my home studio.If you’ve ever dappled in pottery, but can’t get your own kiln yet, you’ve probably wondered whether or not it’s possible to fire pottery without a kiln.

Why do you need to fire pottery?

Before we dive into all the ways to fire pottery without a kiln, let’s talk about why it’s necessary to fire clay pottery in the first place. When you make something with natural clay, it has to undergo a firing process to become fully hardened, or vitrified. If you don’t fire your clay pieces, you will be left with a brittle pot made of dry clay that will crumble in your hands. Unfired pots will not hold water and will turn back into soft clay when wet. In short, if you want your pottery to last and be functional, it has to be fired.

Common clays used in pottery such as earthenware, stoneware, and porcelains all have to be fired at a higher temperature than your kitchen oven can achieve. The appropriate temperature varies by the types of clay, but most midrange clay bodies need to reach at least 2200 degrees Fahrenheit in a glaze firing to be fully vitrified. Most kitchen ovens only go up to 500 degrees at most.

Ways to fire pottery without a kiln

If you don’t have access to a community kiln or you can’t afford a kiln in your home studio, don’t fret! There are a few alternative methods for firing pottery if you’re without a kiln.

Raku Firing

Raku firing pottery is a firing process that has been around for a very long time. It is believed to have been first used back in the 16th century. Raku firings are basically where you fire your pot in a barrel over a fire pit and remove it from the firing while it is glowing hot (with special tongs and gloves of course). The pottery is then put into a pit of cold water or sawdust to cool it down. There are raku kilns out there, but raku can be done outside . You will need to ensure that you’re firing in a safe, well ventilated space away from small children and pets.

Raku firing can create beautiful results. There are also commercial Raku glazes available that make glazing a little more predictable. These glazes melt at a much lower temperature so Raku firings are much quicker than using a traditional kiln. While these glazes and lots of practice can help you hone in on more consistent Raku firing results, no two pieces will ever be the same because you’re basically exposing your pots to the elements. One thing you give up a little of when using the Raku method is control of your end result.

Pit Firing

Pit firing is done similarly to Raku firing and is a firing process that is done outside. It also requires ample space and a safe area. Instead of placing your wares into a barrel or kiln chamber to fire, you place your pottery in the actual fire pit itself. The bottom of the pit should be made up of hot coals with stones placed over the coals. Pottery should be placed on top of the stones and covered with pieces of broken pottery, known as cover sherds.

The pit will be filled with combustible materials and kindling that encourage the fire. Kindling can be sawdust, shreds of newspapers, wood chips,etc. Light the sawdust on fire and the pots will be fired as the flames work their way down the pit. Typical pit firings can take anywhere from 4 to 12 plus hours depending on the outcome you’re looking to achieve.

Kitchen Ovens

Many beginner potters have wondered if they can simply use their kitchen oven to fire pottery clay. In short, there are not true ceramic clays that can be fired in the kitchen oven. That being said, there are several oven bake clays available that do become relatively durable in the oven!

Polymer clay is an excellent option as well as the inexpensive pottery type clay available at any hobby store. These clays will be hard after they are baked. You can paint and seal them as well! Even though the finished product will be durable, it is not recommended to use these pieces for food or drink use. They are not fully vitrified or glazed like traditional pottery which makes them subject to leaching and structural issues.

While normal pottery clays cannot be fired in the kitchen oven, they can be dried in an oven before firing in the bisque kiln. I don’t recommend using the oven that you cook your family meals in. However, if you find an old oven somewhere for cheap, it’s a great way to dry out your pottery before sticking it in the kiln to biscuit fire.

No Bake Clay Mediums

While we are on the subject of baking clays in the kitchen oven, I thought I’d mention the possibility of creating pieces with no bake clays for your next diy project. While these pieces won’t be food safe or truly water tight, you can sculpt pottery like pieces with homemade salt dough or air dry clay. Working with salt dough or air dry clay is an excellent option if you want to create purely decorative pieces or keepsakes.

Salt Dough

Many people use salt dough around the holidays to make homemade ornaments. This clay mixture is created from a simple recipe of flour, water, and salt. It can dry out on its own or be hardened in the oven. While it seems questionable whether or not pottery made of flour would be lasting, these pieces can actually last for years!

The beauty of salt dough is that you can mix it up at home with just a few simple ingredients. Bake at 250 degrees in your kitchen oven or let it air dry for a few days. Here is an easy recipe for salt dough!

Recipe for salt dough:

-2 cups all purpose flour

-1 cup cold water

-1 cup salt

Air Dry Clay

Air dry clay reminds me of a fluffier version of polymer clay. It also doesn’t need to be baked in the oven at all. Out of all of the clay types we have discussed, this clay is probably the most unlike true pottery clay. It’s different, yes but it has its perks. You can get this clay at a low cost and in many different colors. It is easy to work with, almost like playing with Play-Doh and is great for crafting with small children. The end result will feel a little bit rubbery to the touch. Air dry clay creations can last a while if stored properly. They will be a little bit brittle so handle with care.

Possible yes, ideal no

While it is absolutely possible to fire pottery or create pots at home without a kiln, it comes with a few caveats. Open fire process like raku firing and pit firing require a good bit of outdoor space that not all backyards comply with. Outdoor pottery firings are also on the more dangerous side and always require supervision. Glazing results will always be a bit unpredictable as well. However, these open firings can yield beautiful pottery right at home.

Not all pottery fired without a kiln is safe for food as well. Clay particles must be fully vitrified to hold water and glazes are needed form a protective, glassy coating around your clay. Highly functional pottery may not always be achievable, but the sky is the limit when it comes to creating decorative pieces without a kiln. Air dry clay, salt dough, polymer clay,and more are available for sculpting fun crafts.

If pottery is something you are truly passionate about, I would highly recommend accessing a kiln for best results. Save your money and buy a well loved kiln second hand. If money is tight, try finding a local pottery studio that allows kiln sharing. The results that you get in a controlled kiln are unmatched, repeatable, and dependable.

I hope this has helped you on your pottery journey! It just goes to show that you can create various types of pottery in almost any situation!Don’t give up because kiln access may be limited. Explore the possibilities with what you can create and grow from there!

Blessings,

Samm