Janet Kaiser on sat 4 may 02
Talking to a blacksmith in The CoA today, an interesting question
arose.
He asked about Raku and what it was, so having lots of time I went
through the whole process and then on to other clay, inc. stoneware.
Having touched on dustbin firing and small kiln building, he began to
look really interested... Could he use his brick-built, ceramic
fibre-insulated, oven-like construction made to withstand temperatures
up to 1,700 °C for smelting iron, to fire clay "on the side"? Good
question! Has anyone ever tried this?
He apparently would like to be able to make models from clay (which he
usually makes in Plastecine) and he wondered if he could use his
furnace. Would it be possible? I thought maybe it would be too hot for
Raku, but having never seen such a black-smiths set-up, I am not too
sure. I have only ever seen an open brazier "on top", never an
kiln-type set-up fired with oxyacetylene... Anyway, he seemed to think
slow cooling, etc. would be possible and he could get himself a
pyrometer to check the exact temperature. This is not for anything to
sell, just to help him with his own work
Can any of you flat-top enthusiasts comment? Thanks!
Janet Kaiser
The Chapel of Art / Capel Celfyddyd
Home of The International Potters' Path
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth : GB-Wales
URL: http://www.the-coa.org.uk
postbox@the-coa.org.uk
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