2010-06-12 Saturday - Joe and Melissa's Raku

Saturday Joe and Melissa had a raku and covered dish party.  Everybody brought a lot of delicious food, good cheer, and lots of pieces to fire.  Joe and Melissa were great hosts and made everyone feel very much at home.  We had a bit of trouble with the burner rig for the kiln, but once the spider was removed from the orifice, everything went much better.  A big thanks to Greg for diagnosing the problem and getting us going again.

It was quite hot and sticky and operating a 1700 degree kiln in that heat was a bit draining, but it was still a great day.  While Joe was worried that some of the pieces got too hot, several beautiful pieces emerged from the reduction buckets.  We discussed the fact that every kiln has a learning curve and you have to do several firings before you really know how it will perform with different combinations of clays and glazes.  It's raku and can always surprise you --it's the nature of the beast.  I think Joe did a fine job.

Joe grabbing a bite.

The kiln waiting for the first load

while the potters work feverishly.

Rae, Tina, Marcia, and Jane ready the pieces.

Tina applying the ferric chloride in her fashionable gloves.

Joe with his buddy Tank.

Getting to temperature.

Firing using a weed burner

while diagnosing the Ward burner problem.

The reduction can and the sand pit.

Greg putting his thinking cap on about the burner issues

while Quinn pulls up roots.

Jane heading to the reduction bucket...

... and there it goes.

Rae taking a piece from the kiln.

Joe making sure it doesn't get away.

Tina carefully transferring a piece.

Greg taking a well-deserved rest after solving our problems.

Horse hair pots!

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