dan mickey on sun 20 may 01
to the discussion on kilns fired with wood, i would have to agree with
molina (sp?). using the olsen as a production kiln would make you a rare
exception, not a bad thing either! To put my pennies in on the discussion,
most people don't use the olsen because of the lack of ash, and the amount
of wood it burns through. The train kiln can use the same amount of wood in
most cases and produces a wider range of effects. I think for people who
have tried all these types of kilns they settle on the one that fits them
best. I would have to stick my neck out and say the ruggles rankin designed
kiln is probably the most widley used in the u.s. I have fired many versions
of this kiln and it is like a caddie!
I personally choose to use anagamas. They have a greater range of effects
than any other kiln, and the firing is always a challange to load and fire,
keeps the interest peaked! I fired an olsen in graduate school and was soon
pursuaded to fire only the anagama. i felt it was too much work for the
amount of pots that came out. The other thing is i could use two cords of
end cuts to get the gama to temperature. I do have to admitt something
though, I CHEAT! i figure why fire for five days with wood to get all that
fine fly ash, hell i just blow ash in the fire box at cone7 or 8 and that
prety much takes care of it. anyway people fire a specific type of kiln
because there is something that they like, maybe the noborigama is easier to
load, or a gama cause its crusty.
shane mickey
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