After a very short sleep, I was back in the studio firing the soda kiln. Day Two of the three-day Soda Firing Workshop. My students came back towards the end of the firing in time to help put the soda mixture in. Since this is the very first firing experience for any of them, I thought it was important that they get the full experience. Doing all of the work if possible. Including the oh so glamorous job of mixing the soda mixture…
Then when the kiln was ready, we started insert the soda mixture. I like to put it in when cone 8 is mostly down and cone nine is starting to soften. I gathered the group, explained our process and then had them do the soda insertion. Starting with laying the mixture onto an angle iron.
The loaded angle iron is then inserted into the peeps so that it dumps into the side fire boxes. They were a little apprehensive of the flames shooting out at first, but quickly warmed up to it. And found the fun & excitement of playing with fire!!!
Beautiful flames as the peeps are pulled out to check the cones. Glowing. Orange. Fantastic.
As we’re nearing the end of the firing, it’s always fun to see the flames peeking out between any brick it can.
So now the kiln has been turned off and the cooling has begun. It will cool all day Sunday, as well as most of Monday. My Soda-Firing Workshop students return MOnday evening to unload their kiln, admire their pots and do some kiln shelf cleaning, scraping & maintenance. All part of the process.
from Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery http://ift.tt/2bhoq32
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