Bill Merrill on tue 24 apr 12
When building a stoneware kiln with 9" walls, for example the rows are
usually done in stretcher rows placed on top of one another so the brick
pattern shows. Usually I build a kiln with 4-5 stretcher rows and then
a stringer row, every 5th row in height of the kiln. The stringer rows
hold the double row of bricks together so the walls don't spread out. =3D2=
0
If a kiln is built using soft IFB and a hard brick combination, use the
hard brick on the inside and the soft brick on the outer walls. The
hard brick will take more BTU's to heat, but the insulators will help
keep the heat in and the kiln will cool much more slowly and if you use
matte glazes they will be better as matte glazes like slow cooling as
they have a crystalline structure. Most glossy glazes will also be
exceptional. Look at the pots of Wally Schwab.
http://wallyschwab1.home.comcast.net/~wallyschwab1/apprentice1.htm =3D20
Wally's kiln is fired with Alfred burners and he cools his kiln over a 5
day period. When you see his glazes you will see both matte and glossy
glazes. So much for fast firing and cooling. =3D20
Salt firings are sometimes crash cooled several hundred degrees after
the salting is done. This makes the clay body lighter in color and
doesn't hurt the pots. Don Reitz has done this method of cooling for
many years.
Bill=3D20
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