tony clennell on thu 2 sep 10
Gang: i think David Woof is right on in this post. I spent 3 years at
USU studying water/wood reduction of the train kiln. I tried
sawdusticles which was sawdust soaked in water, wrapped in a burrito
and frozen, green wood, snow, water drip you name it. Reduction cool
is a wood firers nightmare. Fire the kiln to temperature usually a
little lower like cone 9,, then clam it up as tightly as possible,
close the damper with just a arm pit hair to spare and stoke the kiln
on the way down to 1400F. You're already exhausted from getting the
kiln to temp and now you stand around and stoke the kiln on the way
down to 1400F. Every time you stoke on the way down you hope it will
drop in temp and mostly it rises. It took us 8-10 hours of stoking to
get to !400F. An iron rich clay is desirable.
This is not a exercise for those that are beginning wood firing. this
is like scotch, bourbon or rye whiskey.
It is an acquired taste that takes time to acquire.
I'm with David- not something to start off with. Clayarts Craig
Edwards is doing some very beautiful work.
cheers,
Tony
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