Building an indoor pottery kiln to fire clay items is not an expensive endeavor. The project takes two days to complete, due to the curing time required for the clay, sand and graphite mixture.
Instructions
1. Drill a 2-inch hole in the center of the bottom of the metal pail. Put a wooden or cork plug in the hole.
2. Separate the clay, sand and graphite into three piles. Knead together approximately 60 percent of the clay, 15 percent of the sand and 25 percent of the graphite.
3. Line the wooden dowel and pale with paper scraps. Dip the paper in water and press it firmly into the pail and around the dowel rod.
4. Place quarter-sized amount of the sand, clay and graphite mixture on the bottom of the dowel rod. Press the dowel rod firmly into the bottom center of the metal pail.
5. Pack the remaining mixture around the dowel, filling the space between the rod and the top of the pail. Do not cover the space between the top of the dowel rod, or the rim of the metal pail.
6. Drill a 1-inch hole in the center of the pail's lid.
7. Dry the mixture at room temperature for 48 hours to cure the clay, sand and graphite compound.
8. Remove any loose paper from the sidewalls. (The clay mixture will shrink as it dries.) Sprinkle sawdust into the open spaces.
9. Set the hollow metal pipe in the lid's hole. (The pipe will serve as the kiln's chimney.)
10. Place the pail evenly on three bricks and remove the bottom plug. Light a Bunsen burner or plumber's torch to provide heat.
11. Raise kiln temperature gradually to the appropriate heat. Fire earthenware objects at 1,250 degrees Celsius. Fire porcelain objects at 1,400 degrees Celsius.
