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working alone with fire

updated tue 2 mar 99

 

David Hendley on sun 28 feb 99

Dannon's comments regarding doing raku alone
parallel my thoughts about firing my wood-fired
stoneware kiln:
Please, no distractions!
I am consistantly reading the kiln, trying to judge
how weather conditions, type of firewood, stack of
the ware in the kiln, and the phase of the moon will
all come together to affect the firing.

One other thing: For God's sake, no, I would not like
you to bring a couple of six-packs if you want to come
by and 'help' me fire the kiln. Beer just doesn't seem to
mix well with a 2000 degree kiln that is belching flames
from possible every orfice.

You should see Dannon's kiln area - not a stray brick in
sight, nothing within 20 feet of the kilns.
Me, there is a bunch of clutter all around my kiln, but it is MY
clutter, so I know where it is and how to avoid tripping on it.

Salude,
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com



At 08:48 AM 2/26/99 EST, you wrote:
>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
>

Dannon Rhudy on mon 1 mar 99

..................>Please, no distractions!
>I am consistantly reading the kiln, .....no, I would not like
>you to bring a couple of six-packs..............

I knew a few in grad school who would fire, including raku, while
completely stoned on one substance or another. It seemed
incomprehensible to me, coward that I am. One got himself
badly burned from fingertips to shoulder, once, lifting a raku
piece out with his hands and not noticing that he was being scorched
through inadequate gloves. Jeeeeeeeez....

.......>You should see Dannon's kiln area - not a stray brick in
>sight, nothing within 20 feet of the kilns......

Mmmm. Well, that's a bit of a stretch, but the center of the
kiln patio is kept free of clutter, much as we can. I've students
to deal with, and want them to recognize that while raku and
other firing techniques are fun and interesting, we're still talking
major heat. They can have a good time without setting their hair
and clothes on fire, or standing on a 2,000F brick.

.......>Me, there is a bunch of clutter all around my kiln, but it is MY
>clutter.....

True, a different situation.

Regards,

Dannon Rhudy
potter@koyote.com

>Salude,
>David Hendley
>Maydelle, Texas
>hendley@tyler.net
>http://www.farmpots.com
>
>
>
>At 08:48 AM 2/26/99 EST, you wrote:
>>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
>>
>