Author: Jim Sweeney

As an engineer and science nerd, I quickly became obsessed with raku early in my ceramics career. Something about the controlled chaos and unpredictability of it struck me, and I found myself going down deep rabbit holes to learn as much as I could about it. Specifically, how to fire it. After spending a ton of time (and money) building our home studio and investing in our kiln, the added expense of buying a raku kiln didn’t feel feasible, especially when I wasn’t sure if I’d even like it.

Thankfully, my engineering background came in handy. As someone who stubbornly has the mindset of “if I can do it myself, why am I going to pay for it?” I started researching how I could DIY a small raku kiln that would allow me to explore this new style of ceramics before committing to buying a larger raku kiln.

The DIY kiln paid off. Not only have I successfully fired raku pieces, but they’re even featured at Hagan Fine Art in downtown Charleston! So, if you’re raku-curious like I was, here’s a way you can dip your toes in.

why i went the diy route

The decision came down to a few things:

• Money: As I mentioned, we just spent more than I’d like to admit building out our studio. That aside, kilns are costly.
• Space: Kilns can be big. Having a smaller option wasn’t just easier to fit into our studio, but it was also easier to move around when it was time to fire.
• Right-sized for our work: We were focusing on smaller pieces, so we didn’t need a larger kiln at this point anyway.

On top of that, I love tinkering. For me, making a kiln was half the fun.

what i used

Here’s the basic kit I pulled together to make a small, functional raku kiln:

• Kiln bricks (x2) – one drilled for a thermocouple (to monitor temperature and prop the lid slightly), one placed inside to diffuse the flame.
• Thermocouple – rated for temps above 2000°F.
• Metal forge/furnace – pre-built and ready to fire.
• Propane tank – the same type you’d hook up to a grill.
• Extra-long tongs – absolutely necessary for pulling pieces safely.
• Safety gear – respirator, apron, gloves, and glasses.
  

Realistically, I could have built a full-size raku setup from scratch too (at a higher cost). But the point of using the pre-built forge was that it offered a compact, portable, and faster way to get up and running.

building the kiln

The forge arrived mostly ready to go, so “building” was really just about small modifications:

1. Drill a hole in one kiln brick for the thermocouple. This lets you monitor internal temperatures and doubles as a prop to crack the lid open slightly for airflow.
2. Place the second kiln brick inside, about an inch in front of the burner hole. This helps diffuse the flame so that the heat circulates more evenly.
3. Position your forge in a safe, well-ventilated outdoor space (we usually do it in our driveway). Connect it to your propane tank and check all fittings before firing.

That’s it. No complicated assembly required.

tips for firing

I’ll be honest: raku isn’t forgiving. Early on, we lost a lot of pieces to cracks, shattering, or glaze disasters. Looking back, I’m grateful we had this smaller kiln to experiment with because it made those failures manageable and we could iterate faster. A few things I’ve learned by using this setup:

• Take about 40–60 minutes to bring the kiln up to temperature. Slow heating reduces the risk of cracking.
• Use your propane regulator to control the flame. Too much heat too fast can ruin a piece.
• Firing is easier with two people: one to manage the lid, the other to handle the work.
• Pay attention to the weather. A sudden gust can affect the flame, so be ready to adjust.
• Safety gear isn’t optional.

looking ahead

Building the kiln was only half the battle. There was a ton of trial and error for what needed to be done once you pull it out of the kiln, from exploring different combustibles and oxidation techniques to get glazes to develop, to playing with different methods for surface design.

Again: lots of failures and lessons learned along the way. But I’m grateful I had this little DIY raku kiln to allow me to learn. As with anything, practice makes perfect. Now that I have more confidence in my skills, I’ve taken the plunge and invested in a larger raku kiln. I’m excited to see how the added space and design will allow me to create larger pieces.

Curious about raku? Follow my journey on Instagram.