Build a Clay Fire Kiln
A small clay fire kiln is surprisingly simple to make. All you need is a good quantity of bricks and a sturdy steel or iron sheet for a lid, and you can put together a personal pottery kiln capable of producing remarkably professional results. With a little practice, you'll soon be using your homemade kiln to fire your own pots and other clay creations.
Instructions
1. On a level, bare patch of ground a safe distance from buildings and trees, lay out a single layer of bricks to form a foundation about 2 to 3 feet square.
2. Add a single row of bricks on top of the foundation layer. These rows should connect to form a complete perimeter with open space inside it. Leave gaps of approximately 1/4 inch between the bricks to let air flow into the kiln.
3. Add multiple layers of perimeter bricks atop the first, again leaving 1/4-inch gaps between the bricks in each row. The idea is to create a hollow brick box, which will be the body of your kiln. The height of your kiln can vary based on your own preference, but somewhere between 2 and 3 feet is typical.
4. Arrange some small rocks on the top layer of perimeter bricks to support the kiln lid while allowing air to flow through.
5. Place a sheet of steel or iron atop the rocks to serve as a kiln lid. You will need to remove the lid to fill the kiln with pottery and fuel, but it should remain in place while the kiln is firing.
