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firing copper reds right now.

updated tue 6 nov 01

 

Chris Jones on sat 3 nov 01


Thank you for your quick replies. I hit ^9 around 9pm and am gonna try to
"fire down" as suggested. As a matter of fact, I am doing so now. Crossing
my fingers. I glazed the whole load RED. I will let you all know in the A.M.
how things went. If successful, I will post pics on my website.
Thanks again, Chris
Visit www.jonespottery.net

Chris Jones on sat 3 nov 01


Hello group,

My name is Chris Jones and I have just recently found this group. There =
is a wealth on wisdom and experience here and I learn something new =
almost daily. I am firing a load of Copper Red glazes (3) right now. I =
am using Miller 510 white stoneware that we got when we bought the kiln. =
I have read some info in the archives and find potters seem to fire reds =
differently. I have done several tests and have mixed success. I usually =
fire to ^10-11 in my 18 cubic foot gas kiln. I am sure I am firing too =
hot for the reds, but my Rutile Blue comes out great! This firing I am =
only going to fire to ^9 and start reducing at ^06.

Does anyone have any insite for me............any advice would be much =
appreciated.

Thank you,
Chris Jones
Visit www.jonespottery.net =20

Marcia Selsor on sat 3 nov 01


Hi, Chris,
I start reducing ealier for reds...^09 or 010. I also throw wood sticks into the kiln on the way down. Several times after shutting down. I only fire to ^6 -7 and get nice reds.
Marcia in Montana

Chris Jones wrote:

> Hello group,
>
> My name is Chris Jones and I have just recently found this group. There is a wealth on wisdom and experience here and I learn something new almost daily. I am firing a load of Copper Red glazes (3) right now. I am using Miller 510 white stoneware that we got when we bought the kiln. I have read some info in the archives and find potters seem to fire reds differently. I have done several tests and have mixed success. I usually fire to ^10-11 in my 18 cubic foot gas kiln. I am sure I am firing too hot for the reds, but my Rutile Blue comes out great! This firing I am only going to fire to ^9 and start reducing at ^06.
>
> Does anyone have any insite for me............any advice would be much appreciated.
>
> Thank you,
> Chris Jones
> Visit www.jonespottery.net
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> 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.

Lori Leary on sat 3 nov 01


Hi Chris,
I have had good results with starting body reduction at around ^010 or so
(moderate, not too heavy), lasting for about 30 to 40 minutes, then I keep
the kiln in mild reduction for the rest of the firing until just before the
cone drops. I then use moderate to heavy reduction for about 30 to 40
minutes. Next, I clear the kiln for a while, until reaching the desired
temp. What I have found to be MOST helpful is to fire down. After
reaching temp, I turn the burners off till the kiln is red-orange (crash
cool), then turn the burners back on low for about an hour. I have
actually seen the pots turn red during this time. Dannon has written
several posts about firing down, perhaps she will step in if she is
monitoring Clayart.
Hope this helps.
Lori L.
laleary@earthlink.net
Mountaintop. PA


>My name is Chris Jones and I have just recently found this group. There is
>a wealth on wisdom and experience here and I learn something new almost
>daily. I am firing a load of Copper Red glazes (3) right now. I am using
>Miller 510 white stoneware that we got when we bought the kiln. I have
>read some info in the archives and find potters seem to fire reds
>differently. I have done several tests and have mixed success. I usually
>fire to ^10-11 in my 18 cubic foot gas kiln. I am sure I am firing too hot
>for the reds, but my Rutile Blue comes out great! This firing I am only
>going to fire to ^9 and start reducing at ^06.
>
>Does anyone have any insite for me............any advice would be much
>appreciated.
>
>Thank you,
>Chris Jones
>Visit www.jonespottery.net
>
>______________________________________________________________________________

Dannon Rhudy on sun 4 nov 01


am firing a load of Copper Red glazes (3) right now.
....This firing I am only going to fire to ^9 and start reducing at ^06......

The best advice would be for you to look back through Clay Times
magazine, a year or two ago, and read the series on Copper Red
glazes by Pete Pinnell. Also, an article a year or so ago in Ceramics
Monthly by David Hendley. In the meantime, start reduction in your
kiln by cone 010 or 012 - the early reduction is important in copper reds.
Slow down the cooling cycle (see Pinnell's articles). The upper
temp -whether cone 9 or 10 - depends on the glaze you are using.
Some are pretty stable. Some run like molasses.

regards

Dannon Rhudy

Klyf Brown on sun 4 nov 01


A back issue of Studio Potter is still available that has a few articles
on REDS (eleven of them). They cover philosophy, glaze formulae
and firing schedules. Volume 8, Number 1. Their phone no etc are in
the archives.
This issue also covers other threads that have been around lately;
Bernard Leach some Potters Body Problems. It is a great issue to
own. (I am not affiliated with Studio Potter, I just really like their
magazine)
Klyf Brown, a perinial fan of the frustrating reds

11/4/01 5:59:21 AM, Dannon Rhudy
wrote:

>am firing a load of Copper Red glazes (3) right now.
>....This firing I am only going to fire to ^9 and start reducing at
^06......
>
>The best advice would be for you to look back through Clay Times
>magazine, a year or two ago, and read the series on Copper Red
>glazes by Pete Pinnell. Also, an article a year or so ago in Ceramics
>Monthly by David Hendley. In the meantime, start reduction in your
>kiln by cone 010 or 012 - the early reduction is important in copper
reds.
>Slow down the cooling cycle (see Pinnell's articles). The upper
>temp -whether cone 9 or 10 - depends on the glaze you are using.
>Some are pretty stable. Some run like molasses.
>
>regards
>
>Dannon Rhudy
>
>___________________________________________________
___________________________
>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.
>
>

Clay Coordinator on mon 5 nov 01


Chris,

I would not recommend that you fire down.

First of all, if you have changed the beginning cone of reduction from cone
06 to cone 010, you should not change anything else until you see the
results.

If you change two or three things how will you know which one worked? If
you reduce early, scratch your head and bite your fingernail and you get
reds then the next time you will have to reduce early, scratch your head and
bite your fingernail. You will then report to everyone that you really need
to scratch your head and bite your fingernail to get reds.

This is the problem with ceramics. If you don't employ the scientific method
then superstitution will reign.

In this case, you may have slow enough cooling by just shutting off your
kiln. Why waste the gas until you know you need to? If you get the reds,
to what will you attribute your success? Will you then have to down fire
everytime? How is it that some people recommend slow cooling and others
recommend quick cooling? Some recommend slow cooling and throwing in a dead
cat.

Solutions should only be applied if they are necessary. You don't take every
possible suggestion for getting copper reds and apply them all at the same
time. You take one and try it and then make adjustments, try that, make
adjustments. Otherwise you will never learn for yourself. You will never
understand the principles. You will rely on conflicting suggestions and
superstitutions from all angles.

Nevertheless I hope you get your reds and can find out why.

Best of luck,

John Britt

Chris Jones on mon 5 nov 01


Hello John,

I agree with you and do eliminate 1 variable at a time. I have been testing
a couple of mugs or something small with a red glaze each time I fire. I
have gotten beautiful reds here and there firing a typical load of rutile
blue to ^11 and no special cool down. This past firing was my first attempt
at doing an entire load dedicated to copper red and I used the same firing
schedule as always stopping at ^8-9.

For the next firing I do of reds, I will reduce earlier at ^012 and try just
that. One thing at a time. I know each kiln is different and you just have
to learn how to fire it. My first experience was with a 40' c.u. sprung arch
downdraft kiln. Now I have a Laser fiber kiln 18'c.u. that fires much more
efficiently and easier. I have only fired this kiln 6-7 times so far and am
still learning its ways. I will keep posting my results.

Thank you for your advice.
Chris Jones