Sylvia See on wed 24 feb 99
In response to the emails I've been getting this morning concerning the
reduction chamber for Raku, I have just phoned Culpeppers and talked to
John, as I was afraid, I had opened a can or worms here without his
permission. John doesn't want to make up drawings for this chamber, which he
dreamed up a few weeks ago. He told me to get the drawing from my friend and
go ahead and scan it and send the files out to whoever wants it. So Courtesy
of Culpeppers he hopes we all have fun Rakuing without getting sick from all
the smoke. Pretty generous of John, as he may have wanted to patent this. I
also phoned my sheet metal man and he is not interested in making and
shipping these. He will build them for anyone close enough in our area to
come and pick them up. He has the plans or very rough drawing, and is going
to drop it off and my friend is going to redraw it for me. I will scan this
and save it as a file, and anyone interested can email me privately, and
I'll forward it as an attachment.
Also of note, we got better reduction putting galvanized buckets on the wire
rack and putting the reduction material in the buckets, and pots in the
buckets. It puts the pots in closer contact with the reduction material,
which you need for the flashing reds and coppers. It seems just sitting them
on the rack, there is so much air space at the top that it lessens the
reduction. However, putting the white crackle pieces on the rack instead of
the buckets, gives a really clean white crackle, and you don''t have to
scrub off the marks from the reduction material. Best of both worlds. Some
in the buckets, and some on the racks. Multi colored sand is blue on the
racks, and colored flashings in the buckets. I like them both, so do some
both ways.
To those who sent me emails this morning asking for the plans, they are on
the way as soon as I get the drawing made. I have your emails and will
forward the files as soon as I get them. To those who want the plans, just
email me and I'll pass it on.
Also of note, if you are a woman like me, it takes 2 people to put the lid
off and on safely without knocking over the pots. If your a big man you'll
love to show the rest of us how you can do it all by yourself. :))) You make
the chamber so it will hold the same number of pots your kiln will hold. My
kiln fires 4 large pieces, and 6 to 8 smaller pieces. For flat pieces like
slabs larger than buckets, we threw paper and leaves on top of the piece
just before putting the lid on. Experiment is the key word here.
Sylvia See Claresholm, Alberta sylviac@telusplanet.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Sylvia See
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Tuesday, February 23, 1999 5:47 AM
Subject: Jepson Potters Wheel and Raku Reduction Chamber
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
.. Spring is on
>its way, and I got to try the new reduction chamber I had made for Raku
last
>weekend. Now there is a find, let me tell you. Had new neighbors build next
>door last year and never did a single raku and I was worried about the
smoke
>blowing in their open windows. The new reduction chamber box gives NO
Smoke.
>Unbelieveable. If anyone wants to know about this reduction system, I
>believe the plans came from Culpeppers in Calgary. We had a sheet metal guy
>build ours here in Claresholm for $125.00, and its the best money I've
spent
>in a long time. Very simple system made out of galvanized sheet metal.
>Bottom box has a trough around the inside edge of the box. Fill trough half
>full of fiber fax. A metal wire screen fits in the bottom of the bottom
box.
>Then a box lid is made to fit on the trough, and sits on the fiber fax.
>Handle fairly high up on two side of the lid. Put in your reduction
>material, or use pails with reduction material, put in your pots, reduction
>material catches fire, put on the lid and press down a little on the
corners
>and the lid goes womp as it sucks in the sides of the lid making it
>airtight. Best colors we've ever had and NO SMOKE.
>Sylvia See Claresholm, Alberta sylviac@telusplanet.net
>I really like my bifocals,
>My dentures fit me fine,
>My hearing aid works perfect,
>But Lord I miss my mind.
>
Erin Hayes on thu 25 feb 99
Hello All!
-----Original Message-----
>Also of note, if you are a woman like me, it takes 2 people to put the lid
>off and on safely without knocking over the pots. If your a big man you'll
>love to show the rest of us how you can do it all by yourself.
I'd like to submit that I believe it is possible to figure out a way to work
a raku operation without a "big man" around. Without any man of any kind
around. Clever counterweight systems and careful planning can liberate you
from needing the assistance of anyone else, male or female, while firing
raku. As with many things in clay, using the gray matter can get you around
some of the obstacles of working alone or not being built like an ox.
Whether, in fact, it is very smart to work totally alone while doing raku is
another question entirely.
Erin. (Just being snitty, probably.)
Geoff Walker on thu 25 feb 99
Erin,
There are other ways. One of my dear friends is a potter whose specialty
is raku. She is a small-framed woman, and would now be well into her
60's (I never ask!), but still manages with largish forms.
Her "secret" is a kiln built into a natural mound in her garden. She
stands atop the mound with her feet at the level of the lid. This lid is
simply a garbage bin lid with several layers of fibre wired on ... hole
as flue, of course ... The flame from the single LPG burner enters the
firing chamber at the lower level (about 5 steps down), although it's
contol valves are on the upper.
Beside the earth-coverd kiln, there is a well dug into the mound to
serve as the reduction space. Very long handled tongs are used to remove
the lid, then pots and do whatever she desires with them as far as
reducing etc goes.
The advantage of this system is that it is so much easier to lift with
large tongs when things are below or at foot level. I was astounded when
I first saw the system back in the 70's some time, and have not seen a
more ergo-dynamic system since.
I realise that this system could limit the size and design of some pots,
but for any pot that can be "grabbed" by tongs from above, I don't think
it can be beaten.
If my description is not clear, I apologise, but email me privately if
you want, and I will attempt to re-phrase or elaborate.
Bestest,
Geoff.
http://www.cronulla-pot.com.au/
Sylvia See on fri 26 feb 99
Great Idea!!! Since I'm into my 60's I'm hanging onto this email. I can
picture it well. Your explanation is clear to me. Sounds great. Forwarding
this to my potter friend. Now here we go with our next project. This sounds
great for larger sculpture pieces, as you could built it any size, and
probably reduce right in the kiln for very large pieces. Thanks.
Sylvia See
-----Original Message-----
From: Geoff Walker
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Thursday, February 25, 1999 8:20 AM
Subject: Re: Raku Reduction Chamber
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Erin,
>
>There are other ways. One of my dear friends is a potter whose specialty
>is raku. She is a small-framed woman, and would now be well into her
>60's (I never ask!), but still manages with largish forms.
>
>Her "secret" is a kiln built into a natural mound in her garden. She
>stands atop the mound with her feet at the level of the lid. This lid is
>simply a garbage bin lid with several layers of fibre wired on ... hole
>as flue, of course ... The flame from the single LPG burner enters the
>firing chamber at the lower level (about 5 steps down), although it's
>contol valves are on the upper.
>
>Beside the earth-coverd kiln, there is a well dug into the mound to
>serve as the reduction space. Very long handled tongs are used to remove
>the lid, then pots and do whatever she desires with them as far as
>reducing etc goes.
>
>The advantage of this system is that it is so much easier to lift with
>large tongs when things are below or at foot level. I was astounded when
>I first saw the system back in the 70's some time, and have not seen a
>more ergo-dynamic system since.
>
>I realise that this system could limit the size and design of some pots,
>but for any pot that can be "grabbed" by tongs from above, I don't think
>it can be beaten.
>
>If my description is not clear, I apologise, but email me privately if
>you want, and I will attempt to re-phrase or elaborate.
>
>Bestest,
>
>Geoff.
>http://www.cronulla-pot.com.au/
>
Dannon Rhudy on fri 26 feb 99
>careful planning can liberate you
>from needing the assistance of anyone else, male or female
>
>Whether, in fact, it is very smart to work totally alone while doing raku is
>another question entirely.
I much, much prefer to do raku firing alone. It requires absolute
concentration,
in my opinion, in order to get the results sought after, and I belive it is
safer.
I don't like to chat/be chatted at/distracted while I am picking up large,
1800 degree pots, from an open kiln. I don't like to trip over the hot
bricks that folks tend to deposit in unfortunate places. In fact, I don't
like any clutter at all around
hot kilns. In fact, I am VERY narrow minded and authoritarian on that
score. So when the students fire here, I serve as watchdog and overseer.
When I fire, it's by myself.
Dannon Rhudy
potter@koyote.com
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