Antonio Mcgowan
Burning incense in a clay pot is a great way to enjoy the scent of incense without having to worry about an open flame. Clay pots are ideal for burning incense cones or sticks, as they can withstand the low heat generated by these forms of incense. However, it's important to ensure that the hot coal or ember doesn't come into direct contact with the clay, as this can scorch or discolour the clay. When preparing to burn incense in a clay pot, ensure the clay is firm and ready for carving. You can shape the clay into a dome, cut off the top, and create a platform for the incense to sit on. This platform can be raised by removing clay from the outside of the circle. You can also trim the outside of the base so that the dome fits snugly. To allow the smoke to escape, you can use a tool or a straw to bore holes in the top of the dome. These steps will help you safely burn incense in a clay pot, creating a relaxing and fragrant atmosphere.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Clay type | Polymer clay or ceramic clay |
| Clay state | Firm for carving |
| Clay temperature | Polymer clay can withstand temperatures up to 275°F without burning until 350-385°F |
| Incense type | Cone or stick incense |
| Incense placement | Incense should not come into direct contact with clay |
| Clay glaze | Glazed finish is easier to clean and can withstand high temperatures |
| Clay thickness | Base should be about 2 cm thick |
| Clay shape | Dome or volcano shape with holes for smoke escape |
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What You'll Learn
Use clay that's firm but not completely dry
When creating an incense burner from clay, it's important to use clay that is firm but not completely dry. This ensures that the clay is stable enough to hold its shape but still pliable enough to be carved and shaped.
To achieve this ideal consistency, start by kneading and wedging the clay to remove any air bubbles and create a uniform texture. You want the clay to be similar to modelling clay in terms of firmness. Once you have the desired consistency, shape the clay into a dome, which will serve as the base of your incense burner. Allow this dome to dry and firm up slightly, but avoid letting it become completely dry.
The next step is to cut the top off the dome using a wire. This will create a disk that is about 2 cm thick, which will form the base where the incense cone will sit. It's important to ensure that the clay is firm enough at this stage to hold the weight of the incense cone without collapsing.
Using a square loop tool, carefully carve the edge of the disk to create a smooth, rounded shape. You can then use a needle tool to mark a circle in the middle of the disk. This circle will serve as the platform for the incense cone. Remove the clay from the outside of this circle to create a raised platform.
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Carve a platform for the incense to sit on
To carve a platform for the incense to sit on, start with a block of clay that is wedged, firm, and similar in consistency to modelling clay. Mould the clay into a dome shape, then let it dry and firm up a bit before carving. Using a wire, cut off the top of the dome, leaving a disk of clay about 2 cm thick to form the base. This is where the incense cone will sit when it is burning. With a square loop tool, carve away the edge of the disk to get it as round as possible.
Next, use a needle tool to mark a circle in the middle of the disk. This will be the platform where the incense cone will sit. Remove clay from the outside of this circle so that the platform is raised. Flip the base over and remove clay from the bottom, thinning it out as the base is quite thick.
You can now choose whether to leave the platform flat or to add an indent. Leaving the platform flat is the safer option, as it does not risk creating a hole in the base. However, if you wish to add an indent for the incense cone to sit in, carefully carve a small indent in the centre of the platform.
Finally, place the dome on top of the base to ensure a snug fit. If it doesn't fit properly, you can remove more clay from the inside of the dome, but be careful not to make the walls too thin—aim to keep them about 2 cm thick.
Please note that if you are using polymer clay, it is important to ensure that the hot coal or ember does not come into direct contact with the clay, as this can cause scorching or discolouration.
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Trim the base so the dome fits well
To trim the base so the dome fits well, you must first cut the top off the dome using a wire, leaving a disc of clay that is about 2 cm thick. This disc will form the base of your incense burner. Next, use a square loop tool to carve away at the edge of the disc, shaping it into a circle. This step will ensure that your base is uniformly round and fits snugly with the dome. Place the dome on top of the base to test the fit. If it doesn't fit properly, you can remove more clay from the inside of the dome, being careful not to make the walls too thin—aim to keep them about 2 cm thick.
Once you're happy with the fit, you can trim the outside of the base so that the dome sits nicely on top. Use a large Polyfilla tool or spatula to create facets on the outside of the base, giving it a rocky mountain-like appearance. This step will ensure that the smoke dome resembles a natural, rocky mountain when placed on top of the base.
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Bore holes for smoke to escape
To create a clay incense burner, you can use the Kurinuki method, which involves carving a single block of clay. First, shape the clay into a dome, then cut off the top using wire, leaving a 2cm-thick disk that will form the base where the incense cone will sit. You can then use a square loop tool to shape the disk into a circle.
The next step is to use a needle tool to mark a circle in the middle of the base, which will be the platform for the incense cone. Remove clay from the outside of this circle to raise the platform and then flip the base over and remove clay from the bottom to thin it out. You can also carve a small indent in the platform to hold the incense cone, although this step is optional.
Now, you can focus on the dome. Hollow it out by removing clay from the inside, ensuring the walls remain about 2cm thick. Place the dome on top of the base to check that it fits snugly, adjusting as needed.
To create the volcano shape, trim the outside of the base so that the dome fits well over the top. Allow the clay to dry and firm up a little, and then use a large Polyfilla tool or spatula to create facets on the outside so that the smoke dome resembles a rocky mountain.
The next step is to bore holes so that the smoke can escape when incense is burned inside. You can use a tool designed for this purpose, or a metal straw. Boreholes in the top and angular holes on the sides using a knife will allow the smoke to escape and give your burner a volcanic appearance. Test out your hole placements by burning an incense cone and checking that the smoke escapes nicely before firing your piece.
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Avoid direct contact between hot coals and clay
When burning incense in a clay pot, it is important to avoid direct contact between hot coals and the clay. Here are some tips to ensure this:
Firstly, if using stick incense, be mindful that small pieces of hot coal may fall off the stick. However, by the time these embers reach the clay pot, they will have cooled down significantly and turned to ash, so they are unlikely to cause any damage. Nevertheless, it is important to ensure that these embers do not come into direct contact with the clay surface.
If you are using a more intense form of incense, such as loose incense on a charcoal round, it is recommended to set the coal on a bed of sand or salt. This will help to evenly disperse the heat and protect the clay from direct exposure to high temperatures.
Additionally, when creating your own clay incense burner, consider using a glaze finish. The glaze is treated at a very high temperature, making it more resistant to heat and less porous. This will help to protect the clay from direct contact with hot coals and make cleaning easier.
Furthermore, it is important to avoid shocking the clay with extreme temperature changes. Allow the clay to adjust to the temperature of the incense gradually to prevent thermal shock, which can cause cracking or breakage.
By following these guidelines, you can safely burn incense in a clay pot while avoiding direct contact between hot coals and the clay, thus reducing the risk of damage to your clay burner.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can burn incense in a clay pot. Polymer clay can be used for cone or stick incense, and ceramic dishes can be used for cone incense.
You can make a clay incense burner by shaping clay into a dome, cutting off the top, and carving a platform for the incense cone to sit on. You can then hollow out the dome to create a lid for the burner.
A glaze finish will make your burner easier to clean and prevent it from becoming porous. However, it is not necessary to glaze your burner.
It is not recommended to use a small fire in a clay incense burner. Polymer clay should not come into direct contact with flames, and while ceramic dishes can handle small fires, it is not recommended for intense heat sources like loose incense on a charcoal round.
Yes, burning incense in a clay pot may cause some discolouration due to smoke and heat.
