2017-10-28 - Saturday - Kiln unload

Saturday we unloaded the kiln and decided it was a good firing. Nice reduction, good color, abundant carbon build-up. All we could ask for in an atmospheric firing.

My work.

After the unload, it was back to making new work to prepare for the next firing.

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2017-10-25 - Wednesday - Scummy

While the glazed pots sat on the shelf overnight the soluble salts surfaced in the shino glaze in what we call "scumming up". The salt crystals trap the carbon during the reduction firing making the shinos work, so scumming up is a good thing.

We finished loading the kiln and started candling it for tomorrow's firing. When I left it was up to 573 F with a long way to go.

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2017-02-04 - Saturday - Things are happening

Saturday was a busy day.

We started out with Muddy Fun in the morning. Fun stuff for students and volunteers alike.

Angela was the teacher.

This student made a double-walled pot all by himself!

After lunch I began glazing my latest work. It's a long process.

I use a box fan on my shinos to make them "scum up" and bring the soluble salts to the surface. Those salts are what are going to crystallize during the shinos' early melt and capture the free carbon in the kiln atmosphere, so the more of them I can bring up to the surface, the better.

Shino, shino, everywhere.

Notice that they're bone white now.

Finally ready to go to the kiln.

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