mel jacobson on sun 18 oct 09
there is almost no longer any debate about
down firing.
it plain works, and works well.
i would not think of firing my kilns without
starting them up again at about 1900F.
one hour, two hours, shino, maybe four hours.
gas, salt, electric it matters not.
hank's work, carol knighten marian's work, bruce girrell.
it is to the point of being mind boggggling.
i cannot thank those folks enough for what they
have done to my work...changed my entire philosophy
of firing.
i even fire oxy on the way up, reduce on the way down.
i fire as fast as i can. then work the cooling.
my pots are 50 percent better.
mel
and, my fuel bill is lower as i work for cone 10 fast.
lots of air. i have taken off hours of firing.
and the down firing takes almost no fuel.
you just have to hold the temp.
we fire that small stoneware kiln at the farm in 5 hours or less.
the salt kiln a few weeks ago we fired in 6 1/2, and that is
a 35 cube kiln, with a great deal of hard brick.
i started my big kiln this a.m. 2:30.
it is now 11 and i am holding it back.
cone 10 is over.
it is like sitting in a rocking chair.
from: minnetonka, mn
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
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