2017-12-14 - Thursday - Gas kiln

Thursday we finished loading the gas kiln. It's always fun to load it, fire it, and unload it.

It's like Christmas.

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2017-12-12 - Tuesday - Glazing

Tuesday night I was glazing for an upcoming  cone 10 kiln firing. Everyone is trying to get the last firings in at the end of the year to finish up work. As I've mentioned many times, it takes a long time for me to glaze. Tuesday was no exception.

8:45 pm.

01:00 am.

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2017-11-19 - Sunday - Old pots and new pots

While cleaning out the garage I found some old mugs I made with a copper-heavy glaze which I didn't realize wasn't good to drink from. They will make nice shards for a future mosaic.

In the afternoon we unloaded the gas kiln. It was kind of  mixed pack, tight areas and loose areas, so we had some variations in the results.

The opening.

The cone packs.

My pots.

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2017-11-15 - Wednesday - Kilns and pots

On Wednesday the gas kiln was being loaded, so we should be firing soon.

I bisque fired some pots in my own kiln for the gas kiln firing.

Bottom level.

Top level.

In the evening I trimmed some tea bowls and put handles on some other pots. I've been trying some new cuts on my tea bowls lately and I like where they're going.

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2017-11-13 - Monday - Glazing pots

Monday I glazed more pots for another gas kiln firing.

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

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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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2017-10-26 - Thursday - Firing kiln

Thursday we fired the gas kiln. It was kept in reduction all day starting at cone 012 (~1582F), all the way up to cone 10 (~2345F). At the very end of the firing we do a "final soak" when we put the kiln into heavy reduction by starving it of oxygen. When that happens a beautiful green flame (copper) goes all the way up the flue and out the top to access oxygen.

After the final soak we shut it down and wait for it to cool for two days before opening it.

I've said it before: People who don't fire kilns only get one Christmas per year.

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2017-02-16 - Thursday - Unloading the kiln

Thursday night we unloaded the gas kiln. I was pleased with my part of it. Here are some quick snapshots of the work. I will get around to nicer photos soon.

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2017-02-13 - Monday - Load the kiln

Monday night we finished loading the kiln so Kimberly could fire it on Tuesday. I have several pieces in this kiln so I'll be looking forward to the unloading.

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2016-10-17 - Monday - Glazing and kiln

While I was busy this weekend, I left my latest face pot crash-drying on a chair in front of a fan on Friday evening. Saturday my friend Grace loaded it into a bisque kiln for me and Monday night I glazed it, put it in the gas kiln, and started the kiln candling so Kimberly could fire it on Tuesday.

Phew! Talk about last minute!

It's good to have friends.

Glazing is such a lonely business when
you're the only pot being decorated.

He's in the kiln.

It was already at 457 when I left.

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2016-10-06 - Thursday - Unload gas kiln

Thursday we unloaded the gas kiln and we had mixed results. Some sections didn't get any reduction and others got plenty. Overall, I was happy with my results.

My pots on the near table, Jeff's are on the far one.

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2016-10-05 - Wednesday - Gas kiln and more raku

Wednesday night the gas kiln was cool enough to open, but we're not unloading it until Thursday. I really liked some of the pots I could see.

We did have a minor issue when the low temperature cone pack melted into one of Jeff's bowls, but I don't think it looks too bad.

I fired another round of raku pots. I've been firing a lot of raku lately and I still have another bin full of pots to fire.

The results of the raku firing.
The character on the last two pots is 'fire'.

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2016-10-04 - Tuesday - Fungus and artwork

Tuesday I mowed the lawn and found a huge growth of fungus near the fence. It was beautiful and I would love to have some of the texture on my pots.

When I was having lunch I looked at this piece I did in high school that's hanging in the dining room. I did a wet ink wash and used a nib pen and India ink to emphasize what I saw in the shapes. I've always liked it and about thirty years ago a friend matted and framed it for me. I miss doing things like this and having so much imagination.

The whole piece.

Some details.
(By the way, the guy with the sunglasses is Mr. Himmel,
the student teacher who gave us the project.)

Oh yeah, forgot about the kiln during that little side trip. Tonight it was down to 542 F. We'll probably unload it on Thursday because Jeff can't get to Clayworks on Wednesday.

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2016-10-03 - Monday - Firing Cone 10

Monday Jeff and I fired the cone 10 gas kiln. Since we only had to check the kiln every hour or so, I brought my laptop to Clayworks and did some work in the break room while we were firing. The firing went quickly and it was a bit strange since the atmosphere inside was "murky" in the bottom peep and clear in the top one. The murkiness showed we had good reduction (free carbon) atmosphere, but the top being clear was a concern.

Caught sight of this old spiderweb
outside by the loading dock door.

We got to 2287 F and the bottom 10 cone was pretty much down
and the top 10 cone was only soft. Done.

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