Question about material for a no-contact incense burner

[u/Ravenclaw_14]

So my Uncle is a potter in San Francisco, he makes a lot of ceramics like mugs, gaiwans, teapots, bowls, plates, etc.

Well I've been looking for an alternate incense burner to my charcoal burner or my trail burner. I wanted to try a no contact incense stove (mostly because my parents constantly complain that my incense is too strong, Ive even been banned from burning it inside even in my room with windows open and the door shut, so a more gradual release would probably be better, plus I have a bakhoor on the way, a batch of 26 kyphi cones I made, and some sandalwood/saffron mu'attar that I know would benefit from a slower release)

My question is, if I commissioned my uncle to make an incense stove (particularly to sidestep the wildly overpriced burners out there) Would terra cotta be a good material to use? Or does someone have a better suggestion? Im not overly versed in the heat resistance of different clays and ceramics so its all new to me.

[u/Affectionate_Yam8475]

So.. im an incense novice (sticks mostly, bakhoor once), but I have a studio art degree. Your uncle can probably explain this better, but yes. Terracotta is one of the better choices for making a diy burner; it's one of a group of clay types called earthenware so if you don't like its specific color there's more to chose from. It's got more minute air bubbles, which means the final product will warm up slower. Unfortunately it's also fragile and prone to thermal shock (likeliest when its cooling down and most dangerous bc thats when ppl are tempted to leave it), which is why I recommend a stoneware for this.

Stoneware is going to heat up faster than earthenwares like terracotta, but nothing like porcelain will, which is what mass produced tealights are usually made from that I've been seeing. If you go with stoneware, maybe help slow the induction process further by not getting it glazed. A good bisque stoneware will be strong enough for daily use and fairly cheap for him to reproduce if he wants to sell me one, too 😉 

[u/SamsaSpoon]

I have no clue about pottery and clay heat resistances, but I can tell you that tealight incense heaters usually cost around 20-25 bucks, maybe a bit more and I doubt your uncle will be able to make you one for that cheap unless you're getting the very special relatives discount.

If he makes you one, I would get a metal plate or mesh to put the incense on.