Keiko Suga & Noel Oard Mapstead on tue 5 sep 00
my first wood fire was in death valley, california circa 1969. during a hal rieger
workshop, we built a climbing kiln into the bentonite hillside, with a giant fire
box. some ladies thought us teenagers were hotshots and gave us their
ware...heheheheh
we burned junk wood, threw in auto tires and whole phone poles.
we caused so much reduction at times, we would go up to the chimney and throw a
match causing carbon explosions. we are pictured in hal's book "primitive pottery".
finally when we unloaded the kiln, every thing had melted enmasse, cone 15
zabriskie point clay
the ladies who entrusted us with their wares opened their mouths but never closed
them. we all thought it was our first great wood fire!
esteban prieto was there...where is he now?
noel oard mapstead
LOWELL BAKER wrote:
> Posting your first wood firing in a new kiln is a bit like walking
> naked through O'hare at noon on a snowy day.
>
> Most of us do our best in private and then lie about the results.
>
> best wishes
>
> Lowell
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
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LOWELL BAKER on tue 5 sep 00
Posting your first wood firing in a new kiln is a bit like walking
naked through O'hare at noon on a snowy day.
Most of us do our best in private and then lie about the results.
best wishes
Lowell
Maid O'Mud Pottery on wed 6 sep 00
Hi Lowell:
Ask anyone who's ever met me - I punch first, ask questions later ;-)
Seriously, after 21 hours, 1 part of the kiln has ^10 at 4 o'clock. The rest of
the kiln - well, not even ^6. I'm going to take pictures thursday of the kiln
intact (top off, pots in place), post them on my page, and ask for suggestions
about evening out the firing. I tried all I could think of - damping the flue,
cleaning the ash (actually, embers!), splitting the wood even finer, mixing hard
and soft in different proportions etc. The good news is - I stalled ^9 for over 6
hours trying to even it out - so I know how to keep one part from overfiring -
problem is, I couldn't get the rest to meet up, even after over 10 hours after
stalling ^9.
So, here I am naked, walking through O'hare (yes, I've been there!). No pictures,
please
'night
LOWELL BAKER wrote:
> Posting your first wood firing in a new kiln is a bit like walking
> naked through O'hare at noon on a snowy day.
>
> Most of us do our best in private and then lie about the results.
>
> best wishes
>
> Lowell
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
--
sam - alias the cat lady
SW Ontario CANADA
http://www.geocities.com/paris/3110 scuttell@odyssey.on.ca
"Never attribute to malice, that which can be
explained by stupidity." anon
"First, the clay told me what to do
Then, I told the clay what to do
Now; we co-operate"
sam, 1994
Naralon on wed 6 sep 00
That is one of the special things about Sam (Maid 'O Mud).
She tells it like it is.
I saw the train firing, it was exciting.....and she was glowing as much as
the fire was :)
I hope she has a nice surprise when she can do her "junkagama" opening :)
Naralon
Sear'nDipPottery
> Posting your first wood firing in a new kiln is a bit like walking
> naked through O'hare at noon on a snowy day.
>
> Most of us do our best in private and then lie about the results.
>
> best wishes
>
> Lowell
>
> __________________________________________________________________
> ____________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
Ronan ORourke on thu 7 sep 00
> Seriously, after 21 hours, 1 part of the kiln has ^10 at 4 o'clock. The
rest of
> the kiln - well, not even ^6.
do i remember right you saying this was top loader with kiln shelf roof,
long and narrow?
if so then you may well need to do some side stoking to get the temperature
even, was the temperature differential from front to back?
my first woodfiering was in a similar kiln that i had just built, never
even helped out on a woodfiering before.
^10 was the goal, the front just about made it to ^8 the rest was nowhere
near, i didn't have a clue what i was doing!
7 fierings down the line i'm just starting to realise how much i have to
learn. but it is without doubt the most satisfieing process i have come
across,
hope your hooked too!
ronan
worcesteshire uk
Maid O'Mud Pottery on thu 7 sep 00
Ronan ORourke wrote:
> do i remember right you saying this was top loader with kiln shelf roof, long and
> narrow?
Yes
> if so then you may well need to do some side stoking to get the temperature even,
> was the temperature differential from front to back?
No, our problem is a top to bottom hot/cold. I think my flue has too many holes -
flames were rising out of the chimney, even when 3/4 damped!!
I'm hooked, too It was my 1st woodfiring ever. I helped build and load the
kiln in Edmonton, but did not participate in the firing process. Consequently, I
was totally in the dark until this week about just how much work goes into the
actually firing. I helped drag over the wood, Bruce (SO) cut, Rene (student)
split, and I stoked.
Now, after all that work, I realize why no-one gets a pot in "free" into a wood
kiln. Cut, split or bundle - sweat equity is required. I've heard it, but now, I
*understand* it.
Naralon said I was glowing as much as the kiln. Both Bruce and Rene said the
same. I was demonic in my joy of stoking the kiln (I did 90% of the stoking).
Now the good news. Although some parts of the kiln are underfired, some pots came
out magnificently! I have a few "keepers" and the pot Bruce decorated (lightly!!)
got the vote for best in kiln. I also got a copper red cup! Oh my!
When the pictures are developed, I put them up and send in URL so you can all see,
and oohh and aahh
As for me, I'm going to bed!!!!
--
sam - alias the cat lady
SW Ontario CANADA
http://www.geocities.com/paris/3110 scuttell@odyssey.on.ca
"Never attribute to malice, that which can be
explained by stupidity." anon
"First, the clay told me what to do
Then, I told the clay what to do
Now; we co-operate"
sam, 1994
Steve Mills on sat 9 sep 00
As I am also firing a narrow top loading wood kiln, I find that the
tendency (born of electric and to a certain extent gas firing), to pack
tightly is often the main culprit. The kiln is now packed very openly
with the most important rule being "to think like a flame!" and give it
room to move. The results are a much more even firing, the last one was
^10 flat at the front and well over at the back. We're happy.
http://www.mudslinger.demon.co.uk/fire.htm
Steve
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
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