Lee Love on mon 27 dec 10
Before I built my woodkiln, I put cones and tiles in Euan's kiln (I
used his design and so the kilns were identical.) The tiles I used
had shino on one half and a copper glaze on the other side. The shino
told me about early reduction and the copper told me how heavy the
later reduction was. If I remember correctly, my cones were
9,10,11. I put cones and tiles at the top, middle and bottom of
the kiln. On each of these three levels, I had 5 sets of cones and
tiles (each of the four sides and one in the middle), so the total
number of tiles and cone packs were 15. This grid of tiles and
cones gave me a precise diagram of the temperature range in the kiln
and what the atmosphere was in the different areas. I also put tests
in of the clays and glazes I wanted to use in my kiln.
I only had 3 months to build my kiln, set up my studio,
make my work and do my first firing before my graduation show (my show
was moved up 3 months earlier than first planned.) So, my first
firing had to work, or I would have nothing for my show. I helped
Euan fire his kiln several times and kept good notes. I stoked the
same as him, stoking 2kg for most of the time and 1.5kg at the 1100*C
point and then back to 2kg about an hour later. I built my kiln
exactly like his, except for a couple added ports. I used the same
wood.
I fired the first load, and then a second load
partially loaded with refirers. The outcome was a good as I could
have hope for. I owe the good firing to the testing I did in Euan's
kiln before building my own.
I fired with recycled wood from Tostem (sort of Andersen
Windows of Japan.) Euan switched over to tsugi (cryptomeria) that
was recycled from tobacco drying palates. That wood smelled good
before and during firing.
--
=3DA0Lee, a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
http://mingeisota.blogspot.com/
=3D93Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don't claim them. Feel
the artistry moving through and be silent.=3D94 --Rumi
mel jacobson on mon 27 dec 10
even in an electric kiln...a set of three cones on each
shelf will give you amazing information. cost you a buck.
do it, every 6th firing. cone 5,6,7 in one pack.
it surprises me how people will say things like.
`boy, i never get a good glaze on the bottom of the
kiln...` well, why fire there? why not repair that
coil. there is something wrong.
but, they will fire ten more times..throw away
really great pots. piss and moan about the bad kiln.
`like dogs, no bad dogs, bad dog owners...same for kilns.`
as i say: that is the worst ecology there is for
a potter...firing poorly fired pots. a total waste of energy and
money.
never fire a bad kiln, under any condition. make it right,
fix it, repair it...understand it.
like the famous quote:
`mel, we fired that kiln 84 times and it stalled at
cone 4 every time.` the invention of stupidity.
doing it wrong, 84 times in a row. and then consider it
was propane fired @1.90 a gallon, $140 firing.
it took me about 12 minutes to analyze and repair
the kiln. i fired it in 5 hours to cone 11. $18.00.
they were stunnnned. i just put it back like plan said.
flue size, stack, no bag wall. stagger the shelves.
and to think it was a standard flat top/24 cubes from our plan.
nothing in the construction/plan was done to spec. they made it
all up with help from `wally, the tech at the junior college`.
wally did not know shit. and, there are many wally's out there, handing
out free advice without any knowledge. like the delivery boy at a pharmacy
that thinks he is a doctor.
a fact.
and, like writing the kiln book...knowledge from over twenty fine
potters and engineers that know kilns...not one person, 21. a
gift to have that many good people participate in one book. it sure
thrilled me. the last thirty pages by arnold howard on electric kilns
is amazing. and, an entire chapter on cones, from someone that worked
at orton for 8 years. you may get the real story.
mel
from: minnetonka, mn
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
alternate: melpots7575@gmail.com
| |
|
