anyone do claywork

[Hammerhead]

does anyone do claywork on here i bought a chunk from hobbie lobbie but i have no kiln i heard if you have a hot enough camp fire it will kiln dry them. about how big a fire would i need

[Red Badger]

Early clay items were made in an oven which was fed by a wood fire.  I am not sure exactly what you picked up but the ceramic stuff my mother dealt in before she passed needed to fire for several hours at temps over 2000 degrees.  I would suggest you look on the packaging and see if it is fireable or modeling clay... If it is modeling clay it might just need to air dry for a day or so.  They also make a pheno clay (not sure of the spelling) that you can fire in a regular oven...

I would do some research on what exactly you have as like about everything else involved in our hobby/lifestyle there are dozens of different types of clay out there with different ways to make them into useful items...

Sorry I can't be of more help.

[Bulldog lady]

This can be a very interesting and yet dangerous hobby if you don't know what you have and are wanting to do.  i saw a video (check old posts) not sure where found it, man who found clay deposit and made a trial bowl and fired in campfire, but for the most part it takes a special hot oven to do the pottery as in southwest.  Also depend what you want to do with it.  If using for water or food than it needs some glaze (waterproof coating or such) or if just for looks and holding items etc.  The fimo clay Red Badger was refuring to is neat stuff, you can make great beads, lots of things with it and all you have to do is fire it in a warm oven or toaster oven, don't use your mom's, I have one just for its use as it gives off fumes.  made a realistic lemon slice we use in our POW-MIA ceremony out of it.   Have also used some of the air dry stuff but it draws moisture and will deteriorate after a while, can't find can of it off hand to read you directions.       This is one of those things you can get into big time and with some expense!  Just a word of caution, get a good idea of what you want to make and do before going off in all directions.  Alot of ceramic shops and colleges offer classes for one time projects.  Good luck and let us know how you fair.

[Earl Scott]

Here is my two cents-- Hook up with a Community College or Art center and take a class that what you have use of thier kiln.  Minimal expense and if you enjoy it the kiln access will pay for itself

[Hammerhead]

honestly this is no where there aint none that stuff for 40 miles

[pilgrim]

   Hammerhead, you could possible build a kiln.  you would need firebrick.  Preferably the heavy type.  There two types of firebrick.  Both are the same dimensions, but one is featherwieght the other is heavier and more dense.  Much more durable.  This is just a thought now, but if you could get hold of an old used oil gun burner, type used in home heating here in the east, you could use the burner to fire the kiln.  Not sure if the clay would absorb any odor or be tinted by carbon.  when burner is ajusted for clean burn, the is almost no soot residue. As I sid, this is just a thought.  Maybe ever use wood or coal with the use of a bellows to raise fire temp.  May want to research how they did it in the past.  all they had was wood or coal and thir own ingenuity,  got us this far in time.  Neccessity is the Mother of invention.  Hope this helps you,

[pilgrim]

    forgot to mention this, but to make a kiln it would need to be built outside of dwelling as I'm sure you are aware.  There would be an extreme fire fazard involved.  Good Luck with you endeavors Hammerhead

[pilgrim]

   also forgot to mention the reason for using heating oil,  Fuel oil burns at 2000 to 2200 degrees.  Wood and coal can be made to burn at high temps also with the use of a bellows, just ask any Blacksmith here