Unlock the elemental beauty of smoke, flame and earth with the expanded second edition of our free downloadable guide, The Art of Pit Firing.
Created by Village Ceramics & Crafts, this fully illustrated 16-page PDF takes you through our practical method of pit firing in a reusable, brick-built firing chamber rather than a traditional pit dug into the ground. It is suitable for beginners discovering alternative firing techniques, hobby potters seeking more consistent results, and experienced ceramicists interested in exploring atmospheric surface effects.
This substantially revised second edition goes far beyond the original guide. Alongside the complete firing process, it now includes detailed guidance on clay bodies, bisque firing, terra sigillata, colourants, natural materials, controlled testing, record-keeping, troubleshooting and responsible studio practice.
Inside you’ll discover:
🔥 A complete step-by-step firing process
Follow the whole journey from selecting and preparing suitable pots to constructing the chamber, packing the work, lighting and managing the fire, creating a reduced atmosphere, cooling overnight and opening the chamber the following day.
✨ An expanded guide to terra sigillata
Learn what terra sigillata is, how its fine clay particles create a softly polished surface, and how to prepare, refine, apply and buff it. The guide also explains specific gravity, thin-layer application, coloured terra sigillatas and common problems such as peeling, weak sheen and visible brush marks.
Importantly, the second edition makes the firing sequence completely clear: terra sigillata is applied to unfired ware, polished, dried thoroughly and then bisque-fired. Only bisque-fired pottery should enter the brick firing chamber—never greenware.
🎨 Colourants and natural firing materials
Explore the possible effects of copper carbonate, cobalt carbonate, red iron oxide, ferric chloride, salt and Epsom salts, together with seaweed, dried fruit skins, sawdust, straw, leaves and shells.
A detailed reference table explains the colours and markings each material may encourage, alongside practical application notes and important precautions. The guide also introduces measured line blends, allowing you to test colourants systematically rather than relying on guesswork.
🧱 How to build a reusable brick firing chamber
Discover how we construct a stable, open-topped chamber from dry-stacked hard kiln bricks on a non-combustible gravel base. The guide covers positioning, airflow, fuel layers, loading, brick stability and planning for the metal cover used during the reduction stage.
🌡️ Clay, bisque and surface preparation
Understand why a grogged or raku-type clay body is generally more tolerant of thermal shock, how form and wall thickness influence survival, and why low-temperature bisque firing is often favoured for absorbency and the preservation of burnished surfaces.
🔥 Packing, firing, reduction and cooling
Learn how to create balanced fuel layers, support the ware without wedging it rigidly, warm the chamber gradually and manage a controlled active burn. The guide explains when and why the chamber is covered, how oxygen restriction encourages carbon and smoke markings, and why the cooling cycle should be allowed to finish undisturbed.
🧽 Cleaning, waxing and finishing
Find out how to open the chamber safely, remove ash without creating unnecessary dust, clean the pots carefully and use a restrained wax finish to deepen colour and enhance the surface.
The guide also explains the limitations of pit-fired ceramics: these pieces remain porous and decorative and should not be described as food-safe, watertight or dishwasher-safe.
🛠 Expanded troubleshooting and firing records
Diagnose common results including excessive blackening, faint colour, muddy surfaces, poor carbon development, peeling terra sigillata, cracking and powdery deposits.
A sample firing log shows how to record clay body, surface preparation, bisque temperature, colourants, packing position, weather conditions, timings and results—helping you turn accidental discoveries into a more informed and repeatable studio practice.
🛡️ Stronger safety and environmental guidance
This edition includes substantially expanded information on open-fire management, chemical handling, airborne dust, respirable crystalline silica, protective equipment, smoke, contaminated ash and responsible disposal.
It also corrects the earlier reference to old decking: painted, glued, manufactured, preserved or chemically treated timber must never be burned. Only clean, dry and untreated wood and plant material should be used.
Beautifully presented with a newly designed cover, original ceramic imagery, clear headings, reference tables and practical callouts, The Art of Pit Firing: Second Edition is suitable for reading on screen or printing as a studio reference.
Download your free copy today and explore a process in which careful preparation meets the unpredictable, transformative power of fire. Pit firing can never be entirely controlled—and that is part of its enduring fascination—but thoughtful testing, observation and record-keeping can help you understand the process and develop a distinctive visual language of your own.
