Kiln Modifications

I hope to do two more firings this year in the new kiln before it gets too hot and dry. This means I need to get busy creating enough work to fill the kiln twice! However, before I do the next firing I will need to do some modifications to the kiln. I am hoping these modifications will allow the kiln to fire more evenly. With the current design only the pots and shelves can deflect the flames and heat upwards. So during the last firing everything in the middle of the kiln fired well due to the flame being pulled directly across the kiln chamber (see below).

I am planning to build a bag wall inside the kiln to help deflect the flame upwards. The bricks will be laid in a checker board fashion, to leave holes that flames can pass through. This is so that all the heat is not directed up and then over the pots in the chamber, creating new problems (see below).

Student of the Red Brown Earth Exhibition 20 July to 5 August

Hi everyone,

Please find an invitation to my current exhibition above. The exhibition runs from 20 July to 5 August at the Strathnairn Gallery but please note the official opening is 6pm Friday 27 July. The exhibition will be opened by Greg Daly, Senior lecturer in the Ceramics workshop, ANU School of Art.

In the distance, 2012, stoneware bowls with washed dirt inclusions, iron bark (tenmoku) and cloud (chun) glazes.

Photo by Stuart Hay

The exhibition will feature some works (like the ones above and the one on the invitation) that have been wood fired in my new kiln which I built this year.

Spring Creek Kiln firing #1: A reflection

After evaluating the work coming out of the first firing I realise I will need to change a few things before the next firing. Firstly, I need to address the unevenness of the heat in the chamber. After doing some more research on kilns of similar design, the key areas seem to be:
 

*adding a bag wall inside the kiln to deflect the heat upwards

*pack the work in the kiln 'tighter' by packing more work in

*adjusting the firing cycle



It is definitely a learning experience.