This is a down draft kiln, named after the fact that the flame goes up into the ware chamber before being drawn back down to the exit flue (hence down draft) before exiting the chimney. The idea is that only the coldest air leaves the chamber with the hottest staying up inside the kiln. So the kiln gets hotter than an updraft or cross draft kiln. Any questions feel free to ask.Thanks.
Is there a recommended ratio of ware chamber height to exit flue height? It seems that a larger ratio would make the draft weaker, but a smaller ratio would use less of the effect of keeping the hot air in.
@primitivetechnology9550 it seems to me that we are touching a ceiling of temperature. How the people from yesteryear managed to achieve higher temperatures, high enough to melt iron efficiently? What step are we missing?
@@themushroominside6540 True, however between the amount of clay available, the types of wood as well as that awesome lawyer cane stuff, selection of stones and having iron available in the creek he's got pretty much the perfect spot for this primitive tech experiment, including access to a lot of straight sticks.
I wonder how he cuts them so precisely. It seems like they're all perfectly fit to the gaps he's making. Is he just super talented at snapping them by hand, or does he use an axe of some kind?
It's only after having seen these videos that I realize how absolutely vital the discovery and mastery of fire has been for the development of the human race. I'm in awe over the people who first came up with all this, they're truly underappreciated geniuses.
its so fascinating too how fire starting tools were invented long before humans evolved and how fire usage has shaped our evolution. i suppose it makes sense though like with how early plants randomly evolved to obtain solar energy we discovered how to harness a lot of energy in a short time with fire, and in both instances we gained a huge advantage.
everyone nowadays think people used to be ignorant. the fact is that humans have not changed much in a very long time. what has changed is people nowadays dont have to think much about where or how to get the things they need to live. as soon as you put people in a place they need to think about what they need to survive is probably the first time a lot of people truely start to think.
@@karnovtalonhawk9708 I think there were as many stupid people now as before, and it took very long periods of time for discoveries that seem minor today to spread enough to become commonplace. Because people weren't as connected as they are now and lived very far from each other. and the majority of people look no further than the minimum to survive. That's why even today there are still remote places that stagnate because they don't need more.
@@varden8518 another fallacy of time is people didnt travel or learn from others they did it was one of the main reasons for it. yes things took time but here is a question for you. who out of these so called stagnating people or you would last longer if the power goes out? it seems you are thinking that somehow you are smarter, when like a lot of people now have not even learned the basics. i became a stonemason to learn how things were done in the old days and watch channels like this to know more. ideas spread faster when they are needed.
When considering the existence of aliens, consider this as well: out of all the planets and exoplanets discovered so far, Earth is the only one where we believe fire can exist on the surface under normal conditions.
One thing that always amazes me about your kiln builds is how you consistently use firebars to elevate your firebox for better air drafting and to give the ash somewhere to drop to during firing. I've known professional potters who didn't think of that. As a steam locomotive aficionado, I wholeheartedly approve.
They might be reducing the oxygen levels for their type of firing. Professional potters should know what gasses they will have in their kiln based on the results they are trying to achieve. The firebox John made would be essential for a downdraft kiln.
Is it just me or does this kiln look a whole lot more refined than what John used to make? My man here’s getting real crafty with mud and clay. Great video as always.
No matter what I am doing, if i see a new upload from this channel I drop it all. I love the little zen moment I get from it, to bad it takes a while to make awesome content like this but its worth the wait everytime
@@joshschneider9766 Hasn't he done that already? That's basically what you use to make Japanese swords, right? Raw ore that melts down into a pile of slag and ore that you separate for further purification?
I wonder if you could start adding an indication of the passage of time when you do a major build like this kiln. I'm interested in how long you waited for lower tiers to dry out before building higher. If you could add (day 3) or whatever it is to the annotations it would be neat.
The man’s physique is getting more and more chiseled with each video I watch. These bigger projects he’s been doing are doing him good it seems. If I had land with a high concentration of clay in the soil, or a small creek running through it, I’d try this stuff out just for the exercise/health benefits.
I think it's really cool how there are so many different ways of making a kiln, and they all excel at their own things, with upsides and downsides, and that you are showcasing them all to us.
I absolutely adore all your content, I only wish we could see more frequently, but I realize that you do this all by yourself by hand and that takes the time that it takes. Never lose your authenticity, and I will always be here waiting to enjoy your next post!
That's the curse of high quality things (videos, movies, music, games, whatever else). The amount of effort makes them great, but also means they take a lot of time to make.
Sometimes I wonder what would happen if PT starts a "PT village" with about 10 or 15 villagers all disciples of the PT school and then we get to follow their progress in a separate channel and see how civilisation develops :D
@@ulysselefeuvre9751 not all villages develop :) I'm mostly curious about how much progress can be done in a short time using modern knowledge and communication but primitive means. I mean surely there has to be a difference between this hypothetical PT village and a real primitive village from 6000 years ago
I always find it really amazing how neat and precise you are with mud and clay!!! Super interesting and satisfying-also makes me think of “primitive” things very differently. Respect to our ancestors who figured this stuff out initially. And thank you for many years of really awesome videos! The amount of effort you put in is nuts!
Human knowledge has piled up over the years, bringing us to where we are today. Human ingenuity has stayed exactly the same. Respect for the untold geniuses who harnessed fire and invented the wheel. If they were born today they'd be the likes of Einstein.
Same. It's incredible that someone just went and threw this slimy strange river thingy into a fire for few hours and got this nice hard "rock" in any shape he wants.
Usually when I discover a big channel I'm apprehensive at first, but that wasn't the case with this channel. Absolutely no complaints whatsoever, 11/10
It's always a highlight of my day when you post videos. Between the fascinating subject material, the crackling fire, and the sounds of the forest, I can't help but to slow down, breathe calmly, and drift into thought about what it would be like to put away the stresses of the world and the responsibilities of having a family and just play with in the woods. Thank you for all of the work that you do.
Honestly, God bless you! A year and a half ago your videos dragged me out of emotional abyss of current world situation, after I became interested in pottery, and now - I'm studying the native Napolitan porcelain technic "Capodimonte". I hope, I'm even sure, you will be rewarded for all the passion you have, and all the inspiration you dragged here!
Very cool to see some new techniques introduced! The view of the flame in the kiln was awesome. And the levigation was something I'd never known about but it makes so much sense!
Kinda wonder if whatever this guy's doing has actually been done in the past, it's really interesting to see someone do such primitive construction work with such finesse, really cool
You know Jon, I have asked this question to all of the ‘primitive skills’ type channels I watch. You have gained the knowledge of how to create some really amazing skills; metal work, pottery, tool making, woodworking, weaving, brickwork, charcoal, housing, gardening, etc…the question is, when do you start making permanent objects? Like a homestead or a farm?
Great tech improvements!! I feel like the next big thing to work on is doors for all these kilns so they do not get damaged every time you need to take something in or out! Nice job on the video
Это было как всегда - очень впечатляюще!! 👏🏻 Процеживание для очистки глины, переработка множества материалов и сырья.. Найти столько одинаковых прямых палочек, наверное была нетривиальная задача 😄😅 А натаскать дров, накопать глины, замесить полученную субстанцию до однородности.. Сложить печь, по некоторым заранее продуманным расчётам.. Очень много сил и времени на это ушло.. На протяжении стольких лет, на этом канале продолжают выходить самые душевные видео 😊 сразу видно, что человек занимается этим делом из-за внутреннего порыва, в некотором смысле страсти к этому.. Благодарю за уют во время просмотра!!❤
If you haven't got his book, "Primitive Technology, A Survivalist's Guide To Building TOOLS, SHELTERS & MORE, In The Wild". by John Plant; you owe it to yourself to get a copy. Its a hardback Reference Manuel with plenty of pictures and illustrations. You'll just love it. We badgered him for over a year to write one and finally he did. I've got mine right here!
@@general5104 At first I thought it would be not so easy to find one in Russia, but to my surprise it was translated and published in 2022. Thanks for suggestion, I think I'll order one right now.
I always love the different methods you have for seperating clay from the soil you have. I think about it all the time and i haven't figured out anything new or ground breaking. It's not something people talk about all the time, but I've seen builders and landscapers pay thousands to remove clay from a site. Its obviously such a useful resource that is abundant in certain areas. The problem is quality so having such useful passive processes like this could change the worlds building practices. Especially in dessert environments where mud brick has been used for thousands of years for its low thermal storage.
Was literally about to make a crossdraft today, even had the mud mixed, then saw this vid, new plan. The updraft works great, fired a clay T-Rex for my nephews birthday, great videos.
Wow, this new kiln is a real step-up in quality compared to the earlier ones. This could be on par with the local village potters kiln from a few hundred years ago. Nice work!
Have you considered placing one or two layers of leaves where you want to put a door so the clay remains separated but still provides full support during construction, but might be easily puled/ pushed when dry instead of having to dig it out and fill back in every time?
Oooooo. I'm very excited for this foray into ceramics!!! I'm a potter by trade and have always wanted to do exactly this. Too bad it's so difficult to find and excavate higher temperature firing clay and sinter high alumina bearing feldspathic rock. If that were possible he could make fire bricks and get some REALLY advanced pottery, glass, and ore smelting going. Still, a downdraft kiln is a pretty big leap forward in technology compared to previous kilns and furnaces.
I own some land and want to build out there but it's far too expensive... it is nice of you to keep these methods of human ingenuity accessible to those of us who do not know them.
There may be (probably are) some legal restrictions today, but mankind has lived from arctic to desert and from jungle to grassland using the resources nature provided there to build with. You can do the same and in some places es it's totally legal.
Of all the primitive skills/survival channels I've subbed to, THIS is my go to....as near impossible it might be to find myself in a similar situation, I feel I could apply some of these techniques, and be able to survive.
Your video's made my day, had a pretty crappy week and your video's always relax me and put me in such a good mood!! Thanks for everything you do, I am also enjoying the fact that you are releasing more videos on a semi-regular basis.
The only thing I don’t like about these videos is that they aren’t nearly long enough! I’d watch an hour long episode easily!! Great work, all the best everyone!
Words cannot express the excitement I get when John updates and uploads a new video! A great lesson for us all with learning a lot of our primitive histories and how some of the basic necessities of daily life were made!
ive thought of an experiment you might try regarding your bricks, right now you mix plant fiber in to stop them cracking by foot, have you tried grinding it up as close to powder as you can get it and mixing it in that way? Im not sure if it will help or not, but it might help make the distribution of the fiber more even.
Might be better to add crushed grog or sand to bricks as it wont burn out during firring. If organic matter is to be used maybe crushed charcoal powder might be useful for this purpose. It would make lighter bricks, more insulating but possibly weaker bricks. Thanks.
Even though mankind has achieved so much, I often feels like we never should have moved on from this. Being in nature, in harmony with the earth rather than exploiting it.
Every second of every video this man makes is time well spent!!! I can't say that about too many other UA-camrs!!! Thanks again for another well done video!!!
Love the sounds of wildlife in the background. That mixed with the ambient sounds of fire and mud placing, I could imagine falling asleep to an 8 hour soundscape of that.
This is so cool. Everything you do in this video is basically what i do for work. But with modern tools and not from scatch. Love your videos. It's like traveling back in time. Thanks! 😁
Thank you so much for all of your efforts. You have inspired me to start on my own low tech adventures. I've got a long way to go before I can master fire with sticks though, ha.
Loved this as always, but wish you'd shown us how the pots did in a water test at the end! XD They looked beautiful, and the clay they were formed from looked SOO SMOOTH to work with!
It would have shown us how that certain method of clay didn't work out this time. Also, you can tell someone's a long time viewer when they mention the water test for pottery. 👋
They were definitely fully fired, so the water test wouldn't have shown any degradation. My guess is that by 'poor quality', he meant that they didn't ring at a high enough pitch for what he plans on using them for, which means that they'd break. The question is, what does he plan on using small, round-bottom clay bowls for? My guess would be crucibles.
@@mtnbkr5478 That’s also my guess, crucibles are definitely the next step in the iron project. Letting the molten ore flow over charcoal is what makes it into high-carbon cast iron, which can’t be forged, so I’m willing to bet he wants to have a working crucible ready to get forgeable iron.
For anyone that has doubts… I dug a swimming pool near Chicago many years ago. There was clay and hard pan. It rained me night, and the bottom filled with pure clay that settled overnight. Very fine, and no large pieces. The homeowner’s wife asked me to get some of that pure clay. I went down into the hole and pulled out some 75 lbs of clay that had no course contaminants! Yea, I was an excavator. But I never told the girl that my aunt was a sculptor. I knew what she needed. So, the clay that I pulled out was near perfect. It didn’t really help my position when she gave me a hug in front of her husband! I did diffuse it a bit, acting very surprised, and looking at him with astonishment after she broke off the hug! “I didn’t mean that to happen…”
I could watch this guys content for hours! Too bad I have seen all of the old stuff. Can't wait for more new content in the future! Closed Caption for the win.
Such a joy amid a sea of disappointments on UA-cam to see that at least this channel outlasted all the copycats and plagiarists, many of whom did real environmental damage in the name of vanity. Meanwhile this man is still here teaching us how much power there is in working with our hands in the mud
I just want to thank you sir. Thank you for providing a much needed reminder that there are hard working and intelligent people out there on UA-cam still. My heart and soul can only take so much of the real world deterioration of our country you see in so many videos. People are losing touch with the earth. Never actually touching the ground. It is important for people to ground themselves literally. I am so grateful to have 1 acre of land in the most beautiful part of Appalachia. Technology today has ruined life for the kids of tomorrow. Breaks my heart. 😢 So for me your videos pop up just in time for me not to want to check out early. I have a lot in common with you from what I can tell. I love building rocket type stoves and playing with mud and fire. So simple and abundant,. But yet people would rather be staring into a screen all day. I am creating a life that keeps me from needing the gig city at all. I never leave my area. Pop. 165. Love it!, Thanks again for your relaxing and inspiring content!
This seems to be one of the most advanced "primitive" builds on the channel. That's quite the design to follow there. Now I'm wondering if there's a way to make a clay hatch that can be opened and closed without breaking either the cover or the oven construction? (Maybe something like a plate that fits into a slot somehow? Wedge shapes that press it into place for a better seal with its own weight?)
There probably is, but I doubt the kiln will survive long enough to be worth the effort. He does not tend to stick to one kiln for long as he's looking to try different techniques.
Another great video! I’ve watched you for a few (5-6) years now, and about 2 years ago i found out about the subtitles. I watched a few videos with them enabled but nowadays i turn them off. For me your videos are pure relaxation. I don’t plan on doing the stuff you do, so i dont need the recepie. No CC squad for life
Amazing video as always, would love to see you make a glaze for your pots (no idea if that’s something you can do or not, just would be very cool to see)
It's absolutely doable! The simplest form of glaze is ash glaze, made from, well, wood ashes: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash_glaze It's funny how ash, being chemically basic, is like the key that unlocks all of these things.
i thought the backbone to the 'three ingredient' glaze trifecta, was 70%-80% very fine clay, with a little woodash... cant say i know that from experience tho.. i have been trying tho.. what i've learned so far, THEORY, is that you need majority clay in the glaze mix, because thats what vitrifies and creates the 'glass'.. the ashe would more or less affect the appearance and act as a flux@@drewmandan
I noticed the pots were fairly thick. How long did they have to dry before firing? Was there a preheat process before adding them to the kiln? Thank you for all the great content over the years!
Hi, I love your work. You should consider adding salt to the fire box a handful at a time once the pottery has become red hot, it forms a primitive glaze called salt glaze that might make your lower quality pots better!
Time Stamps for the bits you want to re watch 👍🏼Like the comment if it's useful👍🏼 0:00 Digging soil with a hoe made from a tree with a 90 degree buttress root 0:06 Making mud 0:12 Palm leaves for fiber to stop mud cracking as it dries 0:17 Forming the firebox 0:21 25 cm wide 0:31 About 50 cm long 0:40 Banks are added to support grate bars 0:43 Grate bars made of clay (25 cm long) 0:51 Dry it out 0:54 Install grate bars 1:04 Start the floor of the ware chamber leaving a 6.25 cm gap from the back for the entry flue 1:10 Use wood to support the clay floor 1:17 Plaster over the wood to form the floor 1:28 Leave a gap for the entry flue 1:34 Firebox complete 1:36 Start the ware chamber 1:52 Leave a 12.5 x 12.5 cm square hole for the exit flue 1:59 Continue the walls upwards 2:02 Bridge over the exit flue 2:21 Form arched roof profile 12.5 cm high and 25 cm long 2:26 Form the roof 2:50 Ware chamber completed 2:54 Cut a door into the side 3:17 Make a door from clay to close the kiln during use, the hole in the door acts as a peep hole and a hold for a stick to lift it out 3:28 Now build a chimney to increase the draft 3:44 Chimney completed (about 1.5 m total height) 3:53 Flame forms an arch as it moves through the ware chamber 4:14 Flames come in through the entry flue 4:17 Up into the ware chamber 4:20 And then back down through the exit flue (hence the name down draft) 4:27 I enlarged the exit flue so it now behaves more like a cross draft hoping it will draw a stronger draft 4:38 Digging clay for pots 4:43 Preparing to levigate clay to remove impurities 4:46 Add water 4:59 Release clay water slip into lower pond 5:15 Wood shavings stop twigs/leaves flowing into the pond 5:39 The upper pond has gritty, impure clay 5:48 The lower pond has smooth, pure clay 5:54 Scooping out the clay 6:13 Crushing pot shreds for grog 6:22 Mixing clay with grog (stops clay from cracking when fired) 6:34 Forming a simple pot over an previously fired pot 7:19 Stacking the kiln with pots 7:24 Sealing the kiln with door 7:32 Fire by friction 7:45 Starting the fire under the grate 7:55 Adding wood on top of the grate 8:24 The wood catches fire and the kiln starts to draw a draft 8:40 The pots can be viewed through the peep hole in the door 9:18 In about an hour the pots are this hot 9:26 The door is opened later when it is cool 9:39 The pots were fired well but the clay was poor quality. Next time clay from the river should be used Don't forget to 👍🏼Like the comment if it's useful so others will see it 🤗
It's really interesting to see what can you do when you have primitive tools yet modern knowledge on how things work; you can do anything more efficiently
I have watched all your videos. I can confidently say the way you shape the clay with your hands improved by so much that if I run into one in the wild I would assume it is done with modern bricklaying tools
This is a down draft kiln, named after the fact that the flame goes up into the ware chamber before being drawn back down to the exit flue (hence down draft) before exiting the chimney. The idea is that only the coldest air leaves the chamber with the hottest staying up inside the kiln. So the kiln gets hotter than an updraft or cross draft kiln. Any questions feel free to ask.Thanks.
nice
@@Asrieloo Thanks
Seems like a lot of extra work for similar results to a regular kiln
Is there a recommended ratio of ware chamber height to exit flue height? It seems that a larger ratio would make the draft weaker, but a smaller ratio would use less of the effect of keeping the hot air in.
@primitivetechnology9550 it seems to me that we are touching a ceiling of temperature. How the people from yesteryear managed to achieve higher temperatures, high enough to melt iron efficiently? What step are we missing?
Truly the guy that started a whole genre on UA-cam and probably one of the best video makers to boot.
He didnt start it. He did it TRULY and perfected it.
“Primitive Technology” is still FAR better than all its imitators.
@@censusgary oh by far bar none I don't even think anybody else is even close to him and majority of them are completely fake.
And very obviously so lmao
Yeah I don't know of a SINGLE imitation channel that does this even half as good as he does.
I'm always weirdly impressed at how many perfectly straight sticks you're able to gather up for these projects.
saplings tend to be good sources of straight sticks since in the forest they want to grow tall and fast as possible
@@themushroominside6540 True, however between the amount of clay available, the types of wood as well as that awesome lawyer cane stuff, selection of stones and having iron available in the creek he's got pretty much the perfect spot for this primitive tech experiment, including access to a lot of straight sticks.
@@Kelnxprobably has to either venture further or maintain clearings where saplings will grow
I wonder how he cuts them so precisely. It seems like they're all perfectly fit to the gaps he's making. Is he just super talented at snapping them by hand, or does he use an axe of some kind?
@@MenachemSchmuel one of his earlier builds was a primitive axe, its possible he took the time to sharpen the stone on the axe and cuts them that way
The technological advances you incorporate while remaining primitive are fantastic. The clay particle size separation particularly.
It's only after having seen these videos that I realize how absolutely vital the discovery and mastery of fire has been for the development of the human race. I'm in awe over the people who first came up with all this, they're truly underappreciated geniuses.
its so fascinating too how fire starting tools were invented long before humans evolved and how fire usage has shaped our evolution. i suppose it makes sense though like with how early plants randomly evolved to obtain solar energy we discovered how to harness a lot of energy in a short time with fire, and in both instances we gained a huge advantage.
everyone nowadays think people used to be ignorant. the fact is that humans have not changed much in a very long time. what has changed is people nowadays dont have to think much about where or how to get the things they need to live. as soon as you put people in a place they need to think about what they need to survive is probably the first time a lot of people truely start to think.
@@karnovtalonhawk9708 I think there were as many stupid people now as before, and it took very long periods of time for discoveries that seem minor today to spread enough to become commonplace.
Because people weren't as connected as they are now and lived very far from each other. and the majority of people look no further than the minimum to survive.
That's why even today there are still remote places that stagnate because they don't need more.
@@varden8518 another fallacy of time is people didnt travel or learn from others they did it was one of the main reasons for it. yes things took time but here is a question for you. who out of these so called stagnating people or you would last longer if the power goes out?
it seems you are thinking that somehow you are smarter, when like a lot of people now have not even learned the basics.
i became a stonemason to learn how things were done in the old days and watch channels like this to know more. ideas spread faster when they are needed.
When considering the existence of aliens, consider this as well: out of all the planets and exoplanets discovered so far, Earth is the only one where we believe fire can exist on the surface under normal conditions.
Let's goooo! Don't forget to turn on CC, folks!
Always watch it first without them, then replay with CC
Thanks 😎
Yeah!
Haha, didn't know it had subtitles!
But it's nice that they are optional.
Holly crap!! It never came through my mind all these years!😢 thank you!
One thing that always amazes me about your kiln builds is how you consistently use firebars to elevate your firebox for better air drafting and to give the ash somewhere to drop to during firing. I've known professional potters who didn't think of that. As a steam locomotive aficionado, I wholeheartedly approve.
They might be reducing the oxygen levels for their type of firing. Professional potters should know what gasses they will have in their kiln based on the results they are trying to achieve. The firebox John made would be essential for a downdraft kiln.
Is it just me or does this kiln look a whole lot more refined than what John used to make? My man here’s getting real crafty with mud and clay. Great video as always.
No matter what I am doing, if i see a new upload from this channel I drop it all. I love the little zen moment I get from it, to bad it takes a while to make awesome content like this but its worth the wait everytime
Ah, yes. The channel that showed me the nuance of making proper mud & how it can be used.
You've made so many different kiln designs over the years. I'd love a video comparing them and what they are each best for.
Kiln tier list lets gooooo!!
I'm still waiting for the primitive industrial scale blast furnace to mass produce steel. You know this guy is working on it...
@@drewmandanblast furnaces aren't the earliest metal furnace tech though. You want a bloomery furnace for that.
@@joshschneider9766 Hasn't he done that already? That's basically what you use to make Japanese swords, right? Raw ore that melts down into a pile of slag and ore that you separate for further purification?
I wonder if you could start adding an indication of the passage of time when you do a major build like this kiln. I'm interested in how long you waited for lower tiers to dry out before building higher. If you could add (day 3) or whatever it is to the annotations it would be neat.
that could be interesting, though it might also detract from the relaxing aura of the video
or maybe not, but worth keeping in mind
I vote against it. I like the timeless nature of the workflow.
@@catkook543 He could just put it in the subtitles like he does everything else.
It looks like he fires the lower tiers then builds on them after they are heat treated
@@FiroNebule fair point
The man’s physique is getting more and more chiseled with each video I watch. These bigger projects he’s been doing are doing him good it seems. If I had land with a high concentration of clay in the soil, or a small creek running through it, I’d try this stuff out just for the exercise/health benefits.
i figure problem solving like this is also very stimulating for the brain. its exactly what humans were meant to do
I think it's really cool how there are so many different ways of making a kiln, and they all excel at their own things, with upsides and downsides, and that you are showcasing them all to us.
Doing primitive technology somewhere in the wilderness is definitely part of my bucket list
He even makes the buckets tho
@@leucamaclean8900 time for him to make paper so we can make a list too
@@roger5059Or do something like Cuneiform
I expect him to develop a written language of his own@@jansalomin
It just so happens that he runs a primitive technology school in da woods.
I absolutely adore all your content, I only wish we could see more frequently, but I realize that you do this all by yourself by hand and that takes the time that it takes. Never lose your authenticity, and I will always be here waiting to enjoy your next post!
That's the curse of high quality things (videos, movies, music, games, whatever else). The amount of effort makes them great, but also means they take a lot of time to make.
Sometimes I wonder what would happen if PT starts a "PT village" with about 10 or 15 villagers all disciples of the PT school and then we get to follow their progress in a separate channel and see how civilisation develops :D
@@YounesLayachi why do you wonder we know what happens when a village develop
@@ulysselefeuvre9751 not all villages develop :)
I'm mostly curious about how much progress can be done in a short time using modern knowledge and communication but primitive means.
I mean surely there has to be a difference between this hypothetical PT village and a real primitive village from 6000 years ago
I always find it really amazing how neat and precise you are with mud and clay!!! Super interesting and satisfying-also makes me think of “primitive” things very differently. Respect to our ancestors who figured this stuff out initially.
And thank you for many years of really awesome videos! The amount of effort you put in is nuts!
Human knowledge has piled up over the years, bringing us to where we are today. Human ingenuity has stayed exactly the same. Respect for the untold geniuses who harnessed fire and invented the wheel. If they were born today they'd be the likes of Einstein.
Same. It's incredible that someone just went and threw this slimy strange river thingy into a fire for few hours and got this nice hard "rock" in any shape he wants.
After you do it for a long time, you get good at it
7:41 this is literally the most emotion that i've seen coming from you in the majority of your videos
Thank you for being THE trustworthy primitive builder and all your current and past efforts to show every step in your process.
2 minutes after the upload and already almost 1k likes. This channel has a lot of loyal viewers and it deserves them.
Usually when I discover a big channel I'm apprehensive at first, but that wasn't the case with this channel.
Absolutely no complaints whatsoever, 11/10
this is the ONLY channel that i have notifications turned on for
It only shows four right now. Including mine.
@@YounesLayachi
Almost eleven million subs and he says absolutely nothing in his videos. Perfect example of "show, don't tell."
@@AdderTude i mean... technically yeah, says nothing.
but subtitles are a thing
Always a treat when he uploads. Just wish the videos were longer
I could watch this 30 min straight!
@@lorvik at least
Go to settings, select playback speed, then pick 0.5 or 0.25
You're welcome. That'll be two gazillion bucks in consultancy fees please.
@@Welgeldiguniekalias I have a pennie, an old gum and a condom(barely used). Fair?
Think about the equipment he has to use if he only has wood, clay and stone available. 😉
I love how these builts are slowly getting improved, i remember the last time you built something similar, though less refined
The only guy to do it without cheating.
Восхищаюсь трудолюбием, отличными руками и головой! Респект автору!
It's always a highlight of my day when you post videos. Between the fascinating subject material, the crackling fire, and the sounds of the forest, I can't help but to slow down, breathe calmly, and drift into thought about what it would be like to put away the stresses of the world and the responsibilities of having a family and just play with in the woods. Thank you for all of the work that you do.
Honestly, God bless you! A year and a half ago your videos dragged me out of emotional abyss of current world situation, after I became interested in pottery, and now - I'm studying the native Napolitan porcelain technic "Capodimonte". I hope, I'm even sure, you will be rewarded for all the passion you have, and all the inspiration you dragged here!
The complexity and technology involved in this kiln tells me you're really close to an improved design for metal smelting. Very good stuff
Really keen to see some iron smelting in this kiln.
The most incredible part about all this is that he’s filming the whole thing on a camera he made himself from clay and twigs
I watch these vids right before I go to sleep. The nature sounds and satisfying builds are so relaxing.
This really is one of a kind content. I’m not sure there are any channels with as consistently good content as this one.
Always have to stop whatever I’m doing to watch these videos as they come out! Excited too. It’s been a while since we’ve had a kiln video.
Very cool to see some new techniques introduced! The view of the flame in the kiln was awesome. And the levigation was something I'd never known about but it makes so much sense!
He's used that technique before (or something similar) but I don't believe he used that particular term at the time.
@@KalliJ13 correct! He used this technique in his "purifying clay" video but didn't use the term "levigation" in it
Never thought I'd love watching a man slap clay so much in my life.. keep up the great content!
Kinda wonder if whatever this guy's doing has actually been done in the past, it's really interesting to see someone do such primitive construction work with such finesse, really cool
You know Jon, I have asked this question to all of the ‘primitive skills’ type channels I watch. You have gained the knowledge of how to create some really amazing skills; metal work, pottery, tool making, woodworking, weaving, brickwork, charcoal, housing, gardening, etc…the question is, when do you start making permanent objects? Like a homestead or a farm?
It takes a village...
Very impressive with this technique
Great tech improvements!!
I feel like the next big thing to work on is doors for all these kilns so they do not get damaged every time you need to take something in or out!
Nice job on the video
I love that he actually does everything in front of you no big jumpcuts or anything
Это было как всегда - очень впечатляюще!! 👏🏻
Процеживание для очистки глины, переработка множества материалов и сырья.. Найти столько одинаковых прямых палочек, наверное была нетривиальная задача 😄😅
А натаскать дров, накопать глины, замесить полученную субстанцию до однородности.. Сложить печь, по некоторым заранее продуманным расчётам..
Очень много сил и времени на это ушло.. На протяжении стольких лет, на этом канале продолжают выходить самые душевные видео 😊 сразу видно, что человек занимается этим делом из-за внутреннего порыва, в некотором смысле страсти к этому..
Благодарю за уют во время просмотра!!❤
If you haven't got his book, "Primitive Technology, A Survivalist's Guide To Building TOOLS, SHELTERS & MORE, In The Wild". by John Plant; you owe it to yourself to get a copy. Its a hardback Reference Manuel with plenty of pictures and illustrations. You'll just love it. We badgered him for over a year to write one and finally he did. I've got mine right here!
@@general5104 At first I thought it would be not so easy to find one in Russia, but to my surprise it was translated and published in 2022. Thanks for suggestion, I think I'll order one right now.
I have no idea why these kiln videos are so fascinating, but I absolutely love that you are building another one.
I always love the different methods you have for seperating clay from the soil you have. I think about it all the time and i haven't figured out anything new or ground breaking.
It's not something people talk about all the time, but I've seen builders and landscapers pay thousands to remove clay from a site. Its obviously such a useful resource that is abundant in certain areas. The problem is quality so having such useful passive processes like this could change the worlds building practices. Especially in dessert environments where mud brick has been used for thousands of years for its low thermal storage.
Was literally about to make a crossdraft today, even had the mud mixed, then saw this vid, new plan. The updraft works great, fired a clay T-Rex for my nephews birthday, great videos.
It seems so simple but the work he puts into it is INSANE!!!
Most of these channels are fake…
@@3dragonprints458this is real
@@3dragonprints458 the thing is, this channel became popular because of realism, this guy is known to never cheat on his works.
@@3dragonprints458 yes, most are, but not all, this is one of the few that is not fake
Wow, this new kiln is a real step-up in quality compared to the earlier ones. This could be on par with the local village potters kiln from a few hundred years ago. Nice work!
Have you considered placing one or two layers of leaves where you want to put a door so the clay remains separated but still provides full support during construction, but might be easily puled/ pushed when dry instead of having to dig it out and fill back in every time?
Oooooo. I'm very excited for this foray into ceramics!!! I'm a potter by trade and have always wanted to do exactly this. Too bad it's so difficult to find and excavate higher temperature firing clay and sinter high alumina bearing feldspathic rock. If that were possible he could make fire bricks and get some REALLY advanced pottery, glass, and ore smelting going. Still, a downdraft kiln is a pretty big leap forward in technology compared to previous kilns and furnaces.
I own some land and want to build out there but it's far too expensive... it is nice of you to keep these methods of human ingenuity accessible to those of us who do not know them.
There may be (probably are) some legal restrictions today, but mankind has lived from arctic to desert and from jungle to grassland using the resources nature provided there to build with. You can do the same and in some places es it's totally legal.
Of all the primitive skills/survival channels I've subbed to, THIS is my go to....as near impossible it might be to find myself in a similar situation, I feel I could apply some of these techniques, and be able to survive.
Your video's made my day, had a pretty crappy week and your video's always relax me and put me in such a good mood!! Thanks for everything you do, I am also enjoying the fact that you are releasing more videos on a semi-regular basis.
Always a treat when he uploads. Just wish the videos were longer. Your videos are so peaceful & relaxing .
I have been watching this channel for years, and it never ceases to amaze me. 👏
The only thing I don’t like about these videos is that they aren’t nearly long enough! I’d watch an hour long episode easily!! Great work, all the best everyone!
No one will ever come close to the OG primitive technology channel, you cant fake this depth of knowledge and effort
This guy is actually legit! He works really hard to make these amazing things!
Words cannot express the excitement I get when John updates and uploads a new video! A great lesson for us all with learning a lot of our primitive histories and how some of the basic necessities of daily life were made!
ive thought of an experiment you might try regarding your bricks, right now you mix plant fiber in to stop them cracking by foot, have you tried grinding it up as close to powder as you can get it and mixing it in that way? Im not sure if it will help or not, but it might help make the distribution of the fiber more even.
Might be better to add crushed grog or sand to bricks as it wont burn out during firring. If organic matter is to be used maybe crushed charcoal powder might be useful for this purpose. It would make lighter bricks, more insulating but possibly weaker bricks. Thanks.
I would rather watch this man work in the mud for ten minutes than most modern movies.
Even though mankind has achieved so much, I often feels like we never should have moved on from this. Being in nature, in harmony with the earth rather than exploiting it.
Every second of every video this man makes is time well spent!!! I can't say that about too many other UA-camrs!!! Thanks again for another well done video!!!
It's fascinating seeing the curved flame effect in action.
Your videos are so peaceful & relaxing 😊
Love the sounds of wildlife in the background. That mixed with the ambient sounds of fire and mud placing, I could imagine falling asleep to an 8 hour soundscape of that.
This is so cool. Everything you do in this video is basically what i do for work. But with modern tools and not from scatch. Love your videos. It's like traveling back in time. Thanks! 😁
Not everything actually, only the furnace building part.
the fire looks SO different now that is controlled! AMAZING how we can bend the elements with some knowledge! thanks for the video
Thank you so much for all of your efforts. You have inspired me to start on my own low tech adventures. I've got a long way to go before I can master fire with sticks though, ha.
How did you know to upload when I'm having my worst day in years? Man.. thank you so much, you can even imagine how much this helps..
Sorry about your day, hope the next one is better
Thanks for making these videos! They are always super interesting and relaxing :)
Glad you like them, much appreciated!
I notice how he only responds to donations😂 blud has high standards ❤
@@assarlannerborn9342Notice how you didn't donate, so you probably shouldn't be shit-talking 😂
So? You're telling that he can't show is gratefulness? Pathetic. @@assarlannerborn9342
@@assarlannerborn9342 interact in the main thread... and you can get a answer...
I love the subtitles! so much information! if you're not watching with the subtitles on you're not getting the full experience
Out of all the channels I'm subscribed to. This is my favorite. 😊
Loved this as always, but wish you'd shown us how the pots did in a water test at the end! XD They looked beautiful, and the clay they were formed from looked SOO SMOOTH to work with!
It would have shown us how that certain method of clay didn't work out this time.
Also, you can tell someone's a long time viewer when they mention the water test for pottery. 👋
I was surprised to see he said it was poor quality clay.
They were definitely fully fired, so the water test wouldn't have shown any degradation. My guess is that by 'poor quality', he meant that they didn't ring at a high enough pitch for what he plans on using them for, which means that they'd break. The question is, what does he plan on using small, round-bottom clay bowls for? My guess would be crucibles.
@@mtnbkr5478 That’s also my guess, crucibles are definitely the next step in the iron project. Letting the molten ore flow over charcoal is what makes it into high-carbon cast iron, which can’t be forged, so I’m willing to bet he wants to have a working crucible ready to get forgeable iron.
seu trabalho é lindo!
I'm looking forward to him getting into the bronze age
He pass that long time ago
He's been dabbling in iron age technologies.
For anyone that has doubts…
I dug a swimming pool near Chicago many years ago.
There was clay and hard pan.
It rained me night, and the bottom filled with pure clay that settled overnight.
Very fine, and no large pieces.
The homeowner’s wife asked me to get some of that pure clay.
I went down into the hole and pulled out some 75 lbs of clay that had no course contaminants!
Yea, I was an excavator.
But I never told the girl that my aunt was a sculptor.
I knew what she needed.
So, the clay that I pulled out was near perfect.
It didn’t really help my position when she gave me a hug in front of her husband!
I did diffuse it a bit, acting very surprised, and looking at him with astonishment after she broke off the hug!
“I didn’t mean that to happen…”
The man doesn't even need to show us the whole fire by friction process anymore. no one's gonna try call him out for it. 👍
I could watch this guys content for hours! Too bad I have seen all of the old stuff. Can't wait for more new content in the future! Closed Caption for the win.
3 minutes in,with all ready 2,5 hundreds watchings....I are something really special mister Primitive Technology. ❤
The stuff you do out there man, it’s fascinating. Definitely needed to see this today.
Such a joy amid a sea of disappointments on UA-cam to see that at least this channel outlasted all the copycats and plagiarists, many of whom did real environmental damage in the name of vanity.
Meanwhile this man is still here teaching us how much power there is in working with our hands in the mud
This guy makes me proud of being human. Sometimes we forget everything we have was made with hands and brains, no more
Thank you for being just a phenomenal channel and content creator. I've followed you since the first stone hatchet.
Hell yeah high quality content I missed so much
I just want to thank you sir. Thank you for providing a much needed reminder that there are hard working and intelligent people out there on UA-cam still. My heart and soul can only take so much of the real world deterioration of our country you see in so many videos. People are losing touch with the earth. Never actually touching the ground. It is important for people to ground themselves literally. I am so grateful to have 1 acre of land in the most beautiful part of Appalachia. Technology today has ruined life for the kids of tomorrow. Breaks my heart. 😢 So for me your videos pop up just in time for me not to want to check out early. I have a lot in common with you from what I can tell. I love building rocket type stoves and playing with mud and fire. So simple and abundant,. But yet people would rather be staring into a screen all day. I am creating a life that keeps me from needing the gig city at all. I never leave my area. Pop. 165. Love it!, Thanks again for your relaxing and inspiring content!
This seems to be one of the most advanced "primitive" builds on the channel. That's quite the design to follow there. Now I'm wondering if there's a way to make a clay hatch that can be opened and closed without breaking either the cover or the oven construction? (Maybe something like a plate that fits into a slot somehow? Wedge shapes that press it into place for a better seal with its own weight?)
your momma
Maybe something like a rock with an opening for handling
There probably is, but I doubt the kiln will survive long enough to be worth the effort. He does not tend to stick to one kiln for long as he's looking to try different techniques.
Well, I can't call this technology "primitive". This is the most advanced thing you've made - true masterpiece!
Another great video!
I’ve watched you for a few (5-6) years now, and about 2 years ago i found out about the subtitles.
I watched a few videos with them enabled but nowadays i turn them off.
For me your videos are pure relaxation. I don’t plan on doing the stuff you do, so i dont need the recepie.
No CC squad for life
Amazing video as always, would love to see you make a glaze for your pots (no idea if that’s something you can do or not, just would be very cool to see)
It's absolutely doable! The simplest form of glaze is ash glaze, made from, well, wood ashes: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash_glaze It's funny how ash, being chemically basic, is like the key that unlocks all of these things.
i thought the backbone to the 'three ingredient' glaze trifecta, was 70%-80% very fine clay, with a little woodash...
cant say i know that from experience tho.. i have been trying tho..
what i've learned so far, THEORY, is that you need majority clay in the glaze mix, because thats what vitrifies and creates the 'glass'.. the ashe would more or less affect the appearance and act as a flux@@drewmandan
I wonder if he spawned in a biome with pearlash...
أنت الأفضل دائمآ 🎉
@primitivetechnology_2 scam
I noticed the pots were fairly thick. How long did they have to dry before firing? Was there a preheat process before adding them to the kiln? Thank you for all the great content over the years!
Hi, I love your work. You should consider adding salt to the fire box a handful at a time once the pottery has become red hot, it forms a primitive glaze called salt glaze that might make your lower quality pots better!
.... still the damn god of primitive survival techniques.
God bless you son.
Another great video, congrats
Doung, your vids are cool , its nice to see a leyend on the channel of another leyend.
The two best primitive technology channels
Hey it's the only other real one
Great content as always! Keep ut the good work, love your videos, they always inspire me
Always so peaceful and interesting to watch, I've watched all your videos at least once.
You're an absolute champion of a human! 💪👏
First time watching his videos with cc on, a totally different feel. Without them, it is really relaxing.
Your videos never ceases to amaze me. What also never ceases to amaze, is how you are not covered in bug bites from head to toe. Incredible.
Repell with your will
O melhor! Tenho aprendido muito com você.
Ele pensou a eles nem faz nada e consegue eu tbm consigo ele sendo o unico que faz na moral
Time Stamps for the bits you want to re watch 👍🏼Like the comment if it's useful👍🏼
0:00 Digging soil with a hoe made from a tree with a 90 degree buttress root
0:06 Making mud
0:12 Palm leaves for fiber to stop mud cracking as it dries
0:17 Forming the firebox
0:21 25 cm wide
0:31 About 50 cm long
0:40 Banks are added to support grate bars
0:43 Grate bars made of clay (25 cm long)
0:51 Dry it out
0:54 Install grate bars
1:04 Start the floor of the ware chamber leaving a 6.25 cm gap from the back for the entry flue
1:10 Use wood to support the clay floor
1:17 Plaster over the wood to form the floor
1:28 Leave a gap for the entry flue
1:34 Firebox complete
1:36 Start the ware chamber
1:52 Leave a 12.5 x 12.5 cm square hole for the exit flue
1:59 Continue the walls upwards
2:02 Bridge over the exit flue
2:21 Form arched roof profile 12.5 cm high and 25 cm long
2:26 Form the roof
2:50 Ware chamber completed
2:54 Cut a door into the side
3:17 Make a door from clay to close the kiln during use, the hole in the door acts as a peep hole and a hold for a stick to lift it out
3:28 Now build a chimney to increase the draft
3:44 Chimney completed (about 1.5 m total height)
3:53 Flame forms an arch as it moves through the ware chamber
4:14 Flames come in through the entry flue
4:17 Up into the ware chamber
4:20 And then back down through the exit flue (hence the name down draft)
4:27 I enlarged the exit flue so it now behaves more like a cross draft hoping it will draw a stronger draft
4:38 Digging clay for pots
4:43 Preparing to levigate clay to remove impurities
4:46 Add water
4:59 Release clay water slip into lower pond
5:15 Wood shavings stop twigs/leaves flowing into the pond
5:39 The upper pond has gritty, impure clay
5:48 The lower pond has smooth, pure clay
5:54 Scooping out the clay
6:13 Crushing pot shreds for grog
6:22 Mixing clay with grog (stops clay from cracking when fired)
6:34 Forming a simple pot over an previously fired pot
7:19 Stacking the kiln with pots
7:24 Sealing the kiln with door
7:32 Fire by friction
7:45 Starting the fire under the grate
7:55 Adding wood on top of the grate
8:24 The wood catches fire and the kiln starts to draw a draft
8:40 The pots can be viewed through the peep hole in the door
9:18 In about an hour the pots are this hot
9:26 The door is opened later when it is cool
9:39 The pots were fired well but the clay was poor quality. Next time clay from the river should be used
Don't forget to 👍🏼Like the comment if it's useful so others will see it 🤗
It's really interesting to see what can you do when you have primitive tools yet modern knowledge on how things work; you can do anything more efficiently
I have watched all your videos. I can confidently say the way you shape the clay with your hands improved by so much that if I run into one in the wild I would assume it is done with modern bricklaying tools
VOTE NO ON THE VOICE 2023 GUYS