What's a Smokepail?

That was some time ago and Smokepail has grown to include a full on ceramics studio and conventional kiln but we still love pit firing and continue to make pit fired ceramics in the smokepail 2.0. Our new version is a 55 gallon drum with a ceramic fiber insulating blanket and bellows which we have gotten over 1800F.
Pit firing is the first and oldest method of firing ceramics dating back to 29,000 BCE and has the capacity to make unique and unexpected surfaces on the fired ware. While in the early days we used the smokepails exclusively, now we fire pieces made with Raku clay in an electric Kiln for the initial Bisque firing which transforms the clay into earthenware. We then wrap the pots in foil saggars enclosing various combustibles and colorants, load them into the barrel with sawdust, charcoal and wood and fire it up! The new method gives us the same pit fired drama on the surfaces of the pot but can be accomplished more easily and with a greater pot survival rate. Since the pit fired pieces are not glazed they are not suitable for dinnerware but they are ideal for planters as they allow for the roots of the plants to "breathe" and in candle holders the porous ceramic surface takes on extra essential oils for an added kick. Plus- we just love the way it looks!