WHampton on sat 16 may 98
I am involved in a group of potters that are interested in salt firings. We
are investigating making and firing a small kiln. I have never fired salt
before and would like to know:
1. Can we make a small kiln and still have the effect of salt?
2. Do you put the salt in the kiln in the last few minutes of the firing at
Cone 10, or throughout the whole firing.
If there are other considerations we need to address please let me know
Thanks
Wendy from Bainbridge Island WA
Marcia Selsor on sun 17 may 98
Dear Wendy,
Yes you can build a small salt kiln, say 27 cu ft (3x 3x3)
Ruth Tudball's book on soda glazing shows how to build a small castable kiln
very clearly.
She also explains when and various means of how to get the soda inside. Salt
can go in the same way.
You should wait 'til the final cones of maturity of you clay approaches. Then
the salt and /or soda will be receptive by your clay body. ITC is a great help
in protecting the shelves, posts, and interior of the chamber.
Good luck.
Marcia in Montana and proud owner of the Wendy Hampton piece from the
Clayarters swop.;}
WHampton wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I am involved in a group of potters that are interested in salt firings. We
> are investigating making and firing a small kiln. I have never fired salt
> before and would like to know:
> 1. Can we make a small kiln and still have the effect of salt?
> 2. Do you put the salt in the kiln in the last few minutes of the fir
> Cone 10, or throughout the whole firing.
> If there are other considerations we need to address please let me know
> Thanks
> Wendy from Bainbridge Island WA
Craig Martell on sun 17 may 98
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I am involved in a group of potters that are interested in salt firings. We
>are investigating making and firing a small kiln. I have never fired salt
>before and would like to know:
> 1. Can we make a small kiln and still have the effect of salt?
> 2. Do you put the salt in the kiln in the last few minutes of the
firing at
>Cone 10, or throughout the whole firing.
>If there are other considerations we need to address please let me know
Hello Wendy:
Yes, you can make a small salt kiln? How small is "small"?
Salting can take up to two hours or so in my kiln. Since the salt glaze is
formed by sodium vapor attaching to the alumina and silica in the pots, you
don't want to start the salting process until the ware is reaching maturity
and things are begining to fuse. I start when cone 8 goes down and continue
salting until I think there is enough of a glaze for the effects that I
want. I make several "draw trial rings", that are pulled out of the kiln
after salt is introduced. When the rings look good, I stop salting, bring
the kiln up to cone 10 and soak for a bit and shut down. I use from 15 to
20 lbs of rock salt per firing. My kiln is 55 cubic feet total space.
Jack Troy has written a book on Saltglaze that has a lot of information on
the process. There is a book called "Saltglaze" by Peter Starkey of the UK
that is for me one of the best books I've ever seen on Saltglazing. He
covers just about everything you'll want to know about Salt, including some
very good kiln design stuff. There is some very good info in Ruthanne
Tudball's book, "Soda Glazing" too. She covers mostly soda stuff but there
are some references to the saltglaze process and a lot of the receipes and
info will cross over to both processes.
regards, Craig Martell-Oregon
Miccaaa@HOTMAIL.COM on fri 25 aug 00
I have a question, is salt fired ware safe to eat out of? No slip, no
glaze lining, just pure plain salt fired plates, bowls, and mugs.
Becky in Nashville Tn where it is HUMID and HOT
Ron Roy on sun 27 aug 00
Salt glazed ware is not particularly durable - it's probably crazed and
high sodium glazes are not good at resisting acids.
Otherwise - if there are no toxins present I don't think there is a heath
concern - unless you see the crazing as a sanitary concern.
RR
>I have a question, is salt fired ware safe to eat out of? No slip, no
>glaze lining, just pure plain salt fired plates, bowls, and mugs.
Ron Roy
93 Pegasus Trail
Scarborough
Ontario, Canada
M1G 3N8
Evenings 416-439-2621
Fax 416-438-7849
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