Winston J. Taylor on sun 30 dec 01
Question is does anyone have bad results firing in cold weather, say for
example 40 degrees or thereabouts? If so are there successful ways of
working around it? Again, thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge!
Tony Ferguson on mon 31 dec 01
Yes,
The drastic change in heat increases your chances of cracking. As of
recent, I am very unhappy with Contiental Clays Raku body and will be
wedging more grog into the body to open it up. Things you can do:
-preheat the pots in another kiln before you fire them
-have multiple kiln shelves with which to set on top of each previous
firing's kiln shelf--heat is not so tough on the new pots set in an already
hot kiln
-set you pots down on plywood when setting them out to crackle or removing
them from the cans
-let them sit in the cans longer and when you take the lid off, take it off
a little to let the head in the can slowly escape
Tony Ferguson, Duluth MN
----- Original Message -----
From: "Winston J. Taylor"
To:
Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2001 4:23 PM
Subject: raku firing in winter weather
> Question is does anyone have bad results firing in cold weather, say for
> example 40 degrees or thereabouts? If so are there successful ways of
> working around it? Again, thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge!
>
>
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potterybydai on mon 31 dec 01
40 degrees is winter?? It's not even freezing! Hi,Winston - we fire our
best raku in winter (our winters are well below zero Celsius---more like -10
to -20C). The colors seem to be brighter, with more variation. I can't see
what the problems would be, as the pot is in the cold air only a short
period of time before it's put in the reduction barrel. However, we don't
roll them in the snow, as we've heard some others do----not willing to put
them throught THAT much stress!
Dai in Kelowna, BC
"Never put off until tomorrow that which can be avoided altogether."
attributed to Ann Landers
Celia Littlecreek on mon 31 dec 01
Winston, I have fired many times in weather colder than 40 degrees (That's
nearly spring temperatures here in Mn.) I wear a snowmobile suit and try to
fire after 10 at night. By then the wind has died down. I use spot lights
to see, and usually have good results with my Raku. No danger of fires in
dry grass and weeds.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Winston J. Taylor"
> Question is does anyone have bad results firing in cold weather, say for
> example 40 degrees or thereabouts? If so are there successful ways of
> working around it? Again, thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge!
>
Ababi on mon 31 dec 01
---------- Original Message ----------
>40 degrees is winter?
---------- Original Message ----------
40 degrees is winter? 40 degrees (C) is summer!
Winter is the only safe time to do it without cooking yourself!
Ababi Sharon
Kibbutz Shoval- Israel
Glaze addict
ababisha@shoval.org.il
http://members4.clubphoto.com/ababi306910/
http://www.milkywayceramics.com/cgallery/asharon.htm
http://www.israelceramics.org/
Marcia Selsor on mon 31 dec 01
I fire in -20 F also. I agree it gives brighter colors. No problems.
and the kiln is warm to stand by.
Marcia in Montana where it is -2 F at the moment and snowing.
Have a warm and safe New years.
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> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
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> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
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--
Marcia Selsor
selsor@imt.net
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls/Tuscany2002.html
Megan Ratchford on mon 31 dec 01
Winston,
I agree with everyone else. My Raku class goes throughout the year. My
students are diehards and have been known to say, "What! You're canceling
the class because we're neck deep in a blizzard!?" We fire in all
conditions but I do not like to pull in a downpour. Makes the white crackle
look like a Dalmatian. Cold weather is great since you're not cooked as the
kiln opens for pulling. But we do enjoy dumping the pots into a snow bank
to cool since the water bucket isn't much warmer with giants chunks of ice
floating in it! For the crackling of the white crackle the pots are always
left close to the kiln where it is dramatically warmer than even a few feet
away. The main difference between warm and cold weather pulling is the time
between pulling the pieces from the kiln and when they go in the reduction
barrels. It is just a difference of a few moments depending on the glaze
used, but my students always get used to warm weather pulling over the
summer and have a few problems when it gets really cold. Just move a bit
quicker in cold weather.
Megan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Winston J. Taylor"
To:
Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2001 5:23 PM
Subject: raku firing in winter weather
> Question is does anyone have bad results firing in cold weather, say for
> example 40 degrees or thereabouts? If so are there successful ways of
> working around it? Again, thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge!
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> 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.
vince pitelka on tue 1 jan 02
> Question is does anyone have bad results firing in cold weather, say for
> example 40 degrees or thereabouts? If so are there successful ways of
> working around it? Again, thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge!
There is nothing at all to worry about in raku firing in very cold weather.
When you are taking pots out of a 2000-degree kiln, it makes little
difference whether the outside temperature is 90F, 40F, or -10F. When you
say 40 degrees you are still talking about warm weather. While I was
teaching in Fargo ND we raku fired throughout the winter, often in sub-zero
temperatures. We would run warm weather over the propane tanks to keep them
from freezing, but then we ended up skidding around on ice. We finally got
a few large rubber feed tubs and placed the propane tanks in a lukewarm
water bath, which did the trick nicely. Otherwise the firing was the same
as at any other outside temperature.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
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