FIRST PIT FIRING

   I spent months procrastinating the pit fire.   Over these months I collected the various materials books and friends had recommended:  copper wire (stripped old extension cords)  horse hair, rock salt, Kosher salt, table salt, copper carbonate, powdered rutile, miracle gro, newspaper cobalt carbonate.  

     I went out to our usual campfire spot in the back and began to dig a 2' x 2' pit.  I managed to get a foot all 'round before I lost my enthusiasm for digging.   It wasn't more than a day before my super-hero husband finished the job for me. 

The pots came out nearly unmarked on one side, except for the ones wrapped with copper wire which left a line and rust colored flashing.   

QUESTIONS:

Did the fire under grill create the markings or the burning stuff resting on top of the pot?

If I had put pieces directly into sawdust/newspaper in bottom of pit instead of setting them on a grill, would the coloration be more uniform around them?  

I sprinkled the powdered chemicals* onto the pots and into the area around them.

QUESTION:

If I had dissolved the chemicals* and applied them as a wash would I have seen more coloration on the pots?

*Rutile, cobalt carbonate, copper carbonate, miracle gro, salts, baking soda, soda ash, magnesium oxide, red iron oxide.

                                                   

I used aluminum foil to wrap a feather against the side of a tall cylinder.  No evidence of foil or feather remained. 

QUESTION:

Was the fire too hot for the feather to leave carbon trace on the pot?

One of the pots came out with hard little black and blue bits melded to it.

???????

I can't seem to insert any more pictures, I'll try in another posting to show some of the finished pots.   ttfn