Permanent Pit Kiln design

[Rainbow Fresh]

Anyone have one of those? Something that doesn't require me to have a 3x3 square of cobble or other non-flamable things with a floating dirt block above? Something that looks intentional and is functional even if built in cramped spaces.

On a side note, does the block directly above the kiln need to be free or can I just worst-case scenario slap an iron trapdoor of it and call it a day?

[LadyWYT]

2 hours ago, Rainbow Fresh said:

Anyone have one of those? Something that doesn't require me to have a 3x3 square of cobble or other non-flamable things with a floating dirt block above? Something that looks intentional and is functional even if built in cramped spaces.

I have made "permanent" pit kilns before. Usually that consists of chiseling a nice little cobblestone alcove to go over the top of it, with packed dirt in the surrounding floor space to help ensure no real fire hazards. Do keep in mind that if you play with the Real Smoke mod, you'll want to make sure that the smoke has somewhere to go while the kilns are lit, so it's not a good idea to put something like this indoors.

That being said...this is what the beehive kiln is for. Yes, it's expensive up front, and takes up more space compared to a single pit kiln. However, it can hold a LOT of items in that space, is more efficient at firing per block of space, and can produce different colors of pottery. The main advantage of the pit kiln is that it's very cheap, however, if you need to fire a lot of things at once then pit kilns will quickly take up a LOT of floor space. They're also less efficient when it comes to kiln space, at least for things like bricks. Each pit kiln takes a block of space but can only fire 12 bricks, whereas the beehive kiln can fire 24 bricks per block of space. And of course, if you like having multiple colors of pottery or want specific colors of decorative ceramics, a pit kiln will be rather lacking.

[Michael Gates]

I once chiseled a nice underground cellar, with a vaulted ceiling and a couple of columns and alternating spaces along the walls for pit kilns and storage jars. The jars keep preserving food just fine, as they sit there surrounded by the flames of hell. Good times!

[Ravensblade]

I like building so i never actually build floating dirt. It wouldn't even work as i have physic enabled for most dirt blocks(with exception for mud bricks). Shingles is one of the first things i make so i can build proper pit kiln. 

 

[Maelstrom]

I usually plot out a 4x4 or 5x5 pit kiln area and build a roof over it to take care of high volume clay firing up to the point I can build a beehive kiln.  I usually fire 4 stacks of refractory bricks to get enough to make the beehive kiln.

[Rezerkity]

I like to make a bit of a fireplace in the wall and chisel some glass into it, as long as not too much is removed, it remains sealed for a kiln's functionality, and you can see through the glass to check if the charcoal is ready.

[Blaiyze]

Yup, I used to chisel little brick chimneys to go over top and around, have two pit kilns side by side with a block in between. Looks really neat when they're both going, esp since I usually do a full blacksmith build in the same area.

[Rainbow Fresh]

2 hours ago, Rezerkity said:

I like to make a bit of a fireplace in the wall and chisel some glass into it, as long as not too much is removed, it remains sealed for a kiln's functionality, and you can see through the glass to check if the charcoal is ready.

I don't mean a charcoal pit. I have dug a permanent fireclay brick bunker with an iron trapdoor and tiny porthole window for that one already. I mean pit kilns; the 1 block of fire-spreading hell you have to fire up each time you need a single piece of clay-something and the only step before building a full-ass beehive kiln.

[RED8cted]

2 hours ago, Rainbow Fresh said:

I don't mean a charcoal pit. I have dug a permanent fireclay brick bunker with an iron trapdoor and tiny porthole window for that one already. I mean pit kilns; the 1 block of fire-spreading hell you have to fire up each time you need a single piece of clay-something and the only step before building a full-ass beehive kiln.

im about to test a idea i have with the iron trapdoor to see if that counts as a side. that way i could stack pit kilns up on a wall. ill let you know if that works

[RED8cted]

idea did not work. going back to the drawing boards

[Blaiyze]

23 hours ago, RED8cted said:

im about to test a idea i have with the iron trapdoor to see if that counts as a side. that way i could stack pit kilns up on a wall. ill let you know if that works

Yeah the actual pit kilns themselves have to be surrounded by solid blocks. Most of us with our permanent designs, are building above the actual pit kiln and around.

You can place and chisel any blocks you want in the 4 blocks on either side of the pit, but the block immediately above the pit kiln must remain empty to vent the smoke and flames. But the rest of the spaces, except for the ground blocks that form the outer walls of the kilns themselves, are all fair game to build around and have fun with.

[Kolyenka]

I usually dig into the side of a sheer rock cliff and just make a few alcoves (1 block down, and 1 block at ground level is the minimum, although I play with the Real Smoke mod so 2 blocks minimum). The rock cliff you dug into provides protection from the rain, and it's an unobtrusive design even with no work put in. Usually once I have time I'll dig a little deeper into the cliff and sometime semi-enclose it so that there's a convenient place to store supplies and unfired pottery that's not right out in the open. Later game you can make it be bricks, add different chambers for different kinds of firing (rooms for charcoal pits, bloomeries, beehive kilns, etc). But this is my basic design and I really prefer it.