Welcome to Pottery Chat!

I mainly work with pits and other non glazed finishes, just wondering if anyone has tried or heard about someone trying something unusual in a pit fire. I've tried/heard/read about salt, seaweed, driftwood, copper wire, copper pipe, manure (many species), dog food, cat food, corn, iron pieces, old nails, mircle grow, various oxides and carbonates, bananas, potato peelings, grass clippings, dried leaves, steel wool, chore boys, straw, oats, and road kill to name a few. If you care to share what and the results?

Chad

Hi Chad, I'm Cheryl. I just did my first pit firing last week, using some of the ingredients you mentioned. I considered it very sucessful as I got some great reds. I wrapped my pots in cotton rags that had been saturated with salt water and dried. I also sprinkled copper carbonate and iron oxide on newspaper which I wrapped around the pots. The pit was about 4 ft deep and burned/smoked for about 18 hours. What have you used for your best results?

Cheryl, i typically use the triad to achieve colors, some sort of copper, some sort of iron, and salts. I have played with many things, i will use banana peels if i have enough to make a difference. manure depends on how much rain we have had lately. I want to try roadkill, my kids have been scouring the ditches when we go out, but my wife will not let me. I would love to see some pics of your work, send me a link or email, you can see more of my stuff on facebook, just search up in smoke pottery.

I found your website....very nice. I'm also on facebook and posted pics of the firing and a few pots there.

Have you ever tried tin oxide in the pit?