Merrie Boerner on tue 3 dec 02
Last month, we fired "Mother" for the 18th time !
At the last minute, 4 people canceled because of a broken leg and bitchy
bosses.....but, it left us with a 7 man crew of very close friends. This was
nice for a change. Everyone knew what to do. When we were not stoking,
splitting wood, or eating, we slept. My husband pulled through like a
trouper. Usually he just cooks (we call him Bar-B-Q Bill) but this time, he
stoked two shifts and split wood between meals : )
We stacked the pot chamber very loose on the bottom and tight at the
top. Believe it or not, I had printed up a firing plan which everyone seemed
to follow when I was around. This is it......
"Stoke small sticks and scraps on the center hearth for about 4 hours to
warm
up the kiln. Keep the door on and the passive dampers and spy holes open.
Gradually add fire to the side hearth chambers....but do not let the flame
go into the pots or past the bag wall.
Watch the carbon build up on the pots....the more the better ! After
around 6 to 10 hours, the carbon should be burning off and the pots will
become red soon. When the pots are clean.....and only then.....can you stoke
to let the flame lap into the bag wall and onto the pots. Now we can begin
to raise temp. 100 degrees F per hour is a good goal. When we get to 1300*
or so, we will load some green pine and reduce the hell out of her for about
30 minutes. After that, we will go from oxidation to reduction with every
stoke...and heavy reduce when the urge strikes.
We will not check cones or move the pyrometer until it reads 1600 in the
front....then we will put it in the back. We will hold stoking pattern until
the back catches up with the front.....then, we will increase temp about
100* until we reach 2000*. ..... When we reach 2000* in the back,
we will hold and let it drop and rise. .....up and down.....take it
easy......paint the pots with
flash and ash.......DO NOT let 13 drop anywhere......wake me up if there is
a problem !
Restrict air flow. We should not have to shovel ashes. Seems odd....but,
the less air through the mouse holes, the less coals ! Our main goal about
air is to limit what flows through the kiln. Choke the Mother up.
Watch the flame lapping out of a crack. When it is lapping out, it is
searching for air. When it sucks back in, the kiln is full of air. We want
to go from reduction (the flame lapping out for air) to oxidation (the kiln
has enough oxygen inside, so it doesn't lap out). This is how we will read
when to stoke. When the flame sucks back in......begin to stoke. Easy.
This should take us until early Sunday morning. We want to fire until
about 11 AM......we will judge as we go. Flow is my middle name : ) The
last three hours of stoking (and I will say when that is) we will use mostly
pine scraps and 2X4s.....this will clean up the unmelted ash and leave clean
rims on your cups. If the temp goes up too fast with the pine, you may stoke
oak, but only to hold temp. We will not close down until 10 is
flat/wasted/spent and 12 is over and willing. That is for
certain........but....we don't want 13 down in front.......HAHA....this is
the trick !
When I say....and only ME....we will begin to brick up the stoke hole in
the front. We will continue to stoke through the side stoke hole as we brick
up the front. We will not loose temp......in fact, we will be gaining at the
end...to a final blast off as we seal up the spy holes, front stoke hole,
and finally the side stoke hole. Slip up all cracks and finally close mouse
holes. One or two hours later, put shelves on the stack and remove the
pyrometer.........don't forget to note the temp during the close down . Have
a martini and get in the hot tub. "
The firing went as planned EXCEPT, at 11 AM (estimated time of closure),
we dropped and stalled at 1900*. Mark, Allen, and I had been stoking since 4
AM and kept saying, "Just one more." So, in spite of our experience and
plan.....we over stoked and scratched our heads. Finally at 1 PM, I woke up
Bill Newman to give us new orders. I KNEW to stoke less wood more often to
raise the temp, but just got caught up in the moment ! Bill called how much
wood to stoke, and when to stoke it, and we closed her up at 3:30.......45
hours, which is long for my kiln ! WHEW !
The unloading of pots was very satisfying. I had about 34 bottles which
came out with magic colors....good for Christmas sales ! Everyone was
pleased.
Seems like before we can get the kiln blasted off and closed up, someone
asks, "When will we fire again ?" I hope to plan several firings for 2003.
Can't say I'll miss 2002.....it was a tough year !
Wishing you all a healthy measure of love and joy for the Holidays......
with uninterrupted time in clay and great firings for 2003 !
Merrie
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