The bottom of the pit is covered with 3-4 inches of sawdust and about a cup or two of copper sulfate and salts (table, sea, rock). Bisqued pieces are placed in the sawdust and covered with crushed up paper; newspaper-torn into long strips, shredded bond paper, card stock, etc. Sea weed and Spanish moss have been used on top of the pieces, on which paper is then placed.
Small sticks are layered across the top, then larger pieces of wood. Rolled paper saturated with lamp oil is used to light the fire.
The 2 piece metal covering of the pit is treated like a damper and the middle is left open to help with the circulation of oxygen--air being drawn in from the pipe at the base of the pit.
Once the flame burns evenly, after about 15/20 minutes, copper sulfate is blown into the pit for about 2-4 minutes. When the flames start to die down, another round of copper sulfate is blown into the pit; repeated approximately 4 times. When most of the wood has burned the pit is closed and the pipe is plugged.
The loading and firing process takes about 2-3 hours. We've done four firings with varying results; colors, flashing and carbon patterning. In a later post there'll be images of the opening of the pit and some of the finished pieces.
