Pamela Watkins on wed 8 oct 03
firings
Wesley,
Americanized Raku. I was in the most awesome Raku class at Kennesaw State under Margaret Fanchard......The two week session had us throwing, biscuing, making glazes,....all after building several alternate kiln environments.....which we utilized in addition to the electric and gas kilns on hand.....what an awesome clay class to say the least!
If you plan to consecutively fire with an electric kiln for Raku, which we did in this class... you most definately need to warm the ware before placing it in the kiln, as you know. (And good thing you switched clay bodies...wish you'd used that 60 % for a stoneware fire!). We warmed successfully by placing pieces on the top of the kiln. This served as sufficent heating for all the fires. Can't remember how many consecutive fires we did electrically that way.... I know that we warmed all the pieces, regardless of which kiln they were destined for on top of the electric kilns. We were pulling from a gas kiln and the electric - it must have been every 30 minutes and lots of ooooohs and aaaahss!
Referring to your post again - dropping glazed stoneware for a separate firing, into a hot kiln that just made Raku.... could never work. If you plan a stoneware glaze fire, you definately need to start fresh and monitor your heat control. A new and different process.
Only other thought, Raku in an electric kiln is very hard on the equipment. You might want to look into building a kiln just for Raku. I have a great reference, should you be interested.
Pamela
~jaq
Derrick Pottery - owner - Wesley Derrick wrote:
So far, since the purchase of my electric kiln, I have only done one raku
firing a day, perhaps 3 to 6 pcs. only at a time....that was back in the
day of trying to use stoneware clay left over from a college class and
losing 60% of the load every time.
I have now moved on to a Raku body with almost zero shrinkage and haven't
lost one pot --loving it!- (but I miss that nice "ding/ring" when you thump
the pot after bisque firing)....anyway,
I know for sure that IF had I dropped another load of glazed [stoneware]
clay down in the kiln for a second firing right after pulling the first
load, that they would have ended up an integral part of my bricks and
elements within minutes....BIG BOOM.
My question is...can I trust this raku body to withstand the already 1100
to 1400 F degree kiln if I drop them in for a second firing?
Do they HAVE to be pre heated....if so...how much.
There's no real way to preheat the pcs of the second load being there's no
flue to set the pots by --like a traditional raku gas kiln.
Have I made any sense?
Does anyone doing Electric Raku do consecutive firings?
Would love to here from you.
Wesley in Raymond , MS.
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