Firing the PrattMWP salt kiln

This semester we will be posting firing methods for the salt kiln. As I emailed a student yesterday, you can break the firing process down in a number of ways.

For our purposes we will organize things this way-

-Loading

preparation

stacking

-Firing

starting and ramping

mid-firing, oxidation/reduction

salting and soaking

-Cooling/unloading

We will post images as we go along. There is much to consider in any atmospheric firing, which is why I find it exciting. The results are endless. No offense, electric is fine. We are seeing great results as more study is given to glaze formulation. But you just don't see the range of surprises (good and bad) found in an "atmospheric" kiln. Put simply- you can make your decisions about the outcome before you load or during the firing. I prefer the interaction with the kiln as it ages and changes. Nothing like it.

Some potters are painters at heart; or sculptors or designers. I make pots as an excuse to fire kilns; the more unpredictable the better. That unknowing is a strange comfort- no, a discomfort really, that keeps one's work fresh. Besides, what better way to spend an evening than sitting around the kiln, salting and discussing what to try next while drinking a Guinness with good company.

By the way, we may do things a bit differently from other potters or the "books." So accumulate as much information as possible (I will include some great sources) and choose what works based on your experience. Try different things (break some rules) and you'll find that accepted wisdom is a starting point, not gospel. We will talk about that, too.

We will talk about technical aspects of firing and management of the kiln; how the kiln design affects fired results. There is much to explain and other experienced potters can be found to fill in the void. Although words will never replace experience, maybe some of the poetry of firing will come through.

An important note- Subsequent discussions on this or other clay and kiln related topics will be found at prattmwpclay.blogspot.com.