Those are Will Baker's pitchers on the top shelf showing interesting spotting marks that comes from the uneven wave in and out of reduction. The top shelf proved to show some good color, so I thought there would be more color/reduction as I went down into the bottom shelves.
But the bottom shelf was still pasty and not reduced enough, at least on the porcelain pots. This bowl below, though was definitely the winner from the firing:
This bowl below of Will's shows some traces of carbon that landed on the pot during the soda time. I had also tossed in a few 'chalupas' (aka: sawdust wrapped burrito style in newspaper) during the time I sprayed in the soda. Interesting.
So...I've determined this little kiln isn't an easy one to fire to match my high standards I've also looked for in soda firing, as far as getting the reduction just right in all of the areas. Then again, I've been spoiled with a cross draft soda kiln. More tweaking for the next firing, perhaps changes to the burner, or I might even look for an additional burner or try to stack the shelves differently. The other thought is just to use a darker stoneware clay in the areas where I'm not getting enough reduction. What was interesting is some of the pots looked like when I used to use a Tile 6 slip, one of my favorites that I've not used in a while, a soft buttery white/yellow slip. That's the fun part right? tweaking this and that, keeping on going...never is a potter bored.
5 comments:
You are on quite an adventure -- exhilarating & frustrating. I'm wondering how many firings you can get out of those bricks -- probably as soon as you get it tweaked just the way you like it -- something will need changing. Oh the life of a potter! lol
You did get some sweet pots this time though.
looks like you got some winners even though it didn't reduce enough on the bottom. but you got it right when you said, never is a potter bored.
It's nice to see someone doing as much experimenting as me! Those pots look like keepers, good job!
Throw some salt in too! What is really cool is that the inside of the kiln looks like it is holding up well to the atmosphere. After several firings and observations. You and Will should write this information up and submit it to Pottery Making Illustrated, CM or Clay Times. Keep posting.
It look like you got some good stuff out of the firing, Joy, even with the rather pale bottom shelf. I assume you're spraying the soda in at several ports on all sides of the kiln, is that right? And you're using a single burner? Cross-firing burners might help, I suppose. Or even things out a bit. I'm looking at turning an old Duncan electric here into something like you're doing, so thanks for keeping the blog/journal along the way.
And you're right; that one bowl is lovely.
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