tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35806399186562304272024-03-14T00:24:16.896+13:00Peter's PotteryPeter's Pottery, an account of potting in New Zealand.Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.comBlogger360125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-84813158634573263592023-06-28T12:02:00.000+12:002023-06-28T12:02:13.921+12:00Clear glazes, slips and underglaze tests.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NUPFDNbOjVKm2CvQjKro7Y4Y5YX9QDM5Siii4bsC4jIvh12CCfD-2jjZ4559F9Sn7GiQ4rx7dj9mj40udXI16wQ1M11fKqLl8uvEswO-Fyp9ngaDEtHAfnmxc-BhQgEkD4iQ3mTEUhNKWDjRYbr4fRc__1b9ZGC4zpeJhhJAy_18g7oPqDKDJ5PC4A/s900/20230618_0010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NUPFDNbOjVKm2CvQjKro7Y4Y5YX9QDM5Siii4bsC4jIvh12CCfD-2jjZ4559F9Sn7GiQ4rx7dj9mj40udXI16wQ1M11fKqLl8uvEswO-Fyp9ngaDEtHAfnmxc-BhQgEkD4iQ3mTEUhNKWDjRYbr4fRc__1b9ZGC4zpeJhhJAy_18g7oPqDKDJ5PC4A/w400-h400/20230618_0010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>"Dog People" don't always realise this, but cats really love human companionship and like to be around us a great deal of the time. I set up a selection of newly glaze fired pots and glaze testers for a
photo session, and I had barely started taking pictures when my 4 legged
studio assistant arrived! Tiny, placed himself right in the middle of
everything and enjoyed having his photo taken! <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBv7n6vPs-J92USYmuj81kVq353qXUjLkQ2_F-brjovig7Acn5lsxoUBRvwgat6FfpVC14BBwWUXTLAJVy0KO4fDaGWGJqrr6-fk0MktLQC0A938wXk-QH4taeXYT70ceQ6IIy9h9uX_RlVzL1qBxelnHgl1tlPbVzfXfE2HYjlZ0OR56mgu2LPqPiPw/s1534/20230618_0002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1534" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBv7n6vPs-J92USYmuj81kVq353qXUjLkQ2_F-brjovig7Acn5lsxoUBRvwgat6FfpVC14BBwWUXTLAJVy0KO4fDaGWGJqrr6-fk0MktLQC0A938wXk-QH4taeXYT70ceQ6IIy9h9uX_RlVzL1qBxelnHgl1tlPbVzfXfE2HYjlZ0OR56mgu2LPqPiPw/w400-h235/20230618_0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Some time later, I succeeded in taking photos of actual pots. The bottles and tiny glaze test bowls were an attempt to find a useful clear glaze that would work well over underglaze colours and slips at Cone 9, which is the maturing temperature of the clay body I am using. Clear glazes are often not as clear as what you might like them to be, and can be milky, or can adversely affect some colours. For instance chrome green can turn brown if it comes into contact with zinc. I realised that chromium oxide was probably used in the commercially available green underglaze that I had, so I firstly looked for clear glaze recipes that contained just feldspar, calcium carbonate, silica and china clay or ball clay. As an experiment I widened the selection of clears to include one that contained a small amount of zinc oxide so that I could see for myself what would happen when it was put over chrome green underglaze. I also tested some celadon* glazes that I had made up for the wood fired kiln, as some looked to be very suitable and I wanted to see if the small amount of iron in the glazes would add a hint of colour and interest when the glazes were fired in oxidation in the electric kiln.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGV-YM0SuB-NANZvl3HCHnX5En_4lacOvQJ5LPj-cmvDkP68oDUS2exPpN7Pc4IMhERmZF_EnXvpsKXyhayYr6srzLiH3G9Fw2Ai4K0UJgElT2NXchureMSX83AFABFNGDS3S-_6kSQQaQLdJQHV_rpN2gJsT_Wv-DvtgLGr-o58IRp_HKy21ZIwaKg/s900/20230618_0015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="774" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGV-YM0SuB-NANZvl3HCHnX5En_4lacOvQJ5LPj-cmvDkP68oDUS2exPpN7Pc4IMhERmZF_EnXvpsKXyhayYr6srzLiH3G9Fw2Ai4K0UJgElT2NXchureMSX83AFABFNGDS3S-_6kSQQaQLdJQHV_rpN2gJsT_Wv-DvtgLGr-o58IRp_HKy21ZIwaKg/w344-h400/20230618_0015.jpg" width="344" /></a></div><p></p><p>These two bottles in the photo above were painted with the same underglaze colours but had different clear glazes put over them. You may notice that the painting of the flower on bottle on the right looks rather faded and has lost most of the green colour from the leaves and stem, this is due to the glaze containing a small amount of zinc oxide and it not playing nicely with the green underglaze.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrr79ap1JYpJlZfXHsmXAGTc4eTJ0vhHZsq8cQ8hGG-SIie54zOt4eaXdCOm3VT5bY0Kvx3I8_TEzliJIiC4vzfdx1H8qWdn8IF8nk211njg60dw1aONptR33ILEboVyjxInqNm_u6WirAahE9gj-KIKWBm1lDIfI0Co0vViKYxpQaUMXiAm7e949LtA/s1138/20230618_0031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1138" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrr79ap1JYpJlZfXHsmXAGTc4eTJ0vhHZsq8cQ8hGG-SIie54zOt4eaXdCOm3VT5bY0Kvx3I8_TEzliJIiC4vzfdx1H8qWdn8IF8nk211njg60dw1aONptR33ILEboVyjxInqNm_u6WirAahE9gj-KIKWBm1lDIfI0Co0vViKYxpQaUMXiAm7e949LtA/w400-h316/20230618_0031.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>All was not straight forward when it came to putting a glaze over an iron bearing slip. I had expected these bottles to have had a warm brown background, not the streaky grey that you see here. What I think has happened is that the iron has lost some of its oxygen when at high temperature and has turned to its black state, but has been unable to re-oxidise and regain the red of red iron oxide when cooling due to being sealed under a coat of clear glaze. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5AUbEBE_MZgMRUpud2NpxSbWv_nWnHfqRUOSoaMKXMRhFCxIgW1-yerhQpw9pRFJxqf4IduH_E6DU82uKSl9ialwDG9dfoNdTrppIObqdopaqV2jLBA3xX_h-jVTCvo13jti_8v40yERCSeWP-MdE5eyxTbWlE9YFg3zldUg7k6NB_f89d5UmGfYog/s900/20230618_0006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="676" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5AUbEBE_MZgMRUpud2NpxSbWv_nWnHfqRUOSoaMKXMRhFCxIgW1-yerhQpw9pRFJxqf4IduH_E6DU82uKSl9ialwDG9dfoNdTrppIObqdopaqV2jLBA3xX_h-jVTCvo13jti_8v40yERCSeWP-MdE5eyxTbWlE9YFg3zldUg7k6NB_f89d5UmGfYog/w300-h400/20230618_0006.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>These two glazes proved reasonably clear when fired to cone 9, with the one on the left - actually a celadon recipe - being clearer than the "clear" glaze recipe that was used on the samples and bottle on the right. Both bottles had a manganese bearing slip under the glaze from the top of the bottle to the shoulders, the example on the left is more satisfactory than the one on the right. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-orq5HDDxwCk6Wy7U2mYQHaRCP7jjLDKSM8sRRDmM67I9RuZ-6lrnR7xOjqlQm11QpqpAxEVXL5G0bKRVtCTaCE73VQDsg92GtJUnv_WE6SHqrkoVkcFona383FZnpf4ZrxUtMW2DjXsyYes1hNlApOIZJjyG2hZDRmi8iUinvYmHzcQNx2nqAjHc9s5T/s900/20230618_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-orq5HDDxwCk6Wy7U2mYQHaRCP7jjLDKSM8sRRDmM67I9RuZ-6lrnR7xOjqlQm11QpqpAxEVXL5G0bKRVtCTaCE73VQDsg92GtJUnv_WE6SHqrkoVkcFona383FZnpf4ZrxUtMW2DjXsyYes1hNlApOIZJjyG2hZDRmi8iUinvYmHzcQNx2nqAjHc9s5T/s320/20230618_0004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Both these bottles had the same iron bearing slip from top to shoulder, but have different celadon glaze recipes. The one on the left has turned out beautifully and looks very similar to some antique ink bottles that we have. I also like the one on the right, but you can see that the colour is quite different, almost certainly as a result of the glaze preventing re-oxidation of the iron bearing slip. </p><p>As I write this I am supervising a firing of more tests. I made up a selection of my own underglazes, some coloured with metal oxides and others with commercial stains, and I have used them under and over the more promising of the glazes that came out of this first round of tests. <br /></p><p>The most promising "clear" glaze thus far is a very simple celadon recipe that fires without annoying cloudiness at cone 9 and fits the clay body quite well.<br /></p><p>Potash Feldspar<span> </span>25</p><p>Whiting<span> </span>25</p><p>China Clay<span> </span>25</p><p>Silica<span> </span>25</p><p>+ 0.75 Black Iron Oxide <br /></p><p>(I have seen this recipe attributed to Leach, but am not sure if that is Bernard or his son David.)</p><p><br /></p><p>*Authentic celadon glazes derive their grey, green or pale blue colouring from a trace of iron oxide that is in the glaze. These glazes have to be fired in a reduction atmosphere (one where oxygen is depleted) in order to develop their celadon colour. If fired in oxidation they most likely will yield pale honey colours or a slight warm grey. </p><p>The word "celadon" is often used these days to describe pale green or blue-green glazes that have been fired in oxidation in an electric kiln and use commercial glaze stains to achieve the colour. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-85310299469818414362023-06-04T15:57:00.000+12:002023-06-04T15:57:41.506+12:00The Month that Was. In which we encounter Bigger Pots, Ink Pots and relief decoration, and a wood firing!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPL3us2Xy_abW4RFNVcvT7OOaPCF-B-8M1jF-Ax35QyKgkd89BTZqKZjuvufKwl6ehtsGsh80vpzEOh9mZyd2F_ZrX0rG8P10-CvTFNRP8I_8Kd6zUmV_SMtSCAK44iBH9vUZOKiOkjAvqMqxYsvmefdNsgwslvTcTvs1fAQucG_I-y0hKZqmfKq2PQ/s900/20230511_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPL3us2Xy_abW4RFNVcvT7OOaPCF-B-8M1jF-Ax35QyKgkd89BTZqKZjuvufKwl6ehtsGsh80vpzEOh9mZyd2F_ZrX0rG8P10-CvTFNRP8I_8Kd6zUmV_SMtSCAK44iBH9vUZOKiOkjAvqMqxYsvmefdNsgwslvTcTvs1fAQucG_I-y0hKZqmfKq2PQ/s320/20230511_0002.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>May was a month of making things, and I suspect that June might become a month of firing them! I felt the need of working at a larger scale, and spent a week or so near the beginning of May, doing just that! </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEfw0JkbVdV63DP5PUKcPwFd5S9SlviZ5YTSTW4n9Hgi9SsTQnoCv-bVSHY1PUtBv1llDooRIceGg_ZzDI_foUJBZiF9bT8AwGUZ6OLgky3_0Xzeguj9owbJBIuBiSiJaeFyHn54JNtvGDZZV0kDNo4f0wEnzO5mQD97ygZ04kKT_1JN6DFWKT3K0wg/s950/20230513_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="714" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEfw0JkbVdV63DP5PUKcPwFd5S9SlviZ5YTSTW4n9Hgi9SsTQnoCv-bVSHY1PUtBv1llDooRIceGg_ZzDI_foUJBZiF9bT8AwGUZ6OLgky3_0Xzeguj9owbJBIuBiSiJaeFyHn54JNtvGDZZV0kDNo4f0wEnzO5mQD97ygZ04kKT_1JN6DFWKT3K0wg/s320/20230513_0010.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I made 5 pots on the wheel by throwing, then adding a coil and throwing some more. I had only a fairly unformed idea in my head as I made each pot, and allowed them to take shape and I would try to follow and prompt a bit as the adventure developed! </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_3YcWmmLvGgGm1isbYNVo_TIXfW6Ur2PGCE4oCsLpjGzJjGBRRmA_34143sgDj6q3CX3MxbNT4U6Wcuiycr1k-5Tgpo1hD7Fu_n8BaP3iFB-iM5bxv9AchhzgaiaK6g0Tql9hhjr88hsklX9X4NBa_VWYeb2WLM3W0ndd9MIOWCZzeD37TxK_DYJOA/s950/20230516_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="714" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_3YcWmmLvGgGm1isbYNVo_TIXfW6Ur2PGCE4oCsLpjGzJjGBRRmA_34143sgDj6q3CX3MxbNT4U6Wcuiycr1k-5Tgpo1hD7Fu_n8BaP3iFB-iM5bxv9AchhzgaiaK6g0Tql9hhjr88hsklX9X4NBa_VWYeb2WLM3W0ndd9MIOWCZzeD37TxK_DYJOA/s320/20230516_0006.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I also experimented with surface decoration, allowing myself to entertain those "what if I did this"? ideas.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1oZYJuoLHqAJpUOym8DHFhD44ROODF-xD7BbztOcUGNBAaIsl0vMGRpL4yQ6SrvUkoGSDpGMjh6zeOIhK7jdIxf27mRozOOItowgqS27wNHxcc_FsXVUlqazReR2dggOGB7dPihUicnMYd9h7nyguD4JN5cgAuZrzT2I-OMV4noHZxsF4lMQJtIr2w/s1265/20230516_0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="1265" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1oZYJuoLHqAJpUOym8DHFhD44ROODF-xD7BbztOcUGNBAaIsl0vMGRpL4yQ6SrvUkoGSDpGMjh6zeOIhK7jdIxf27mRozOOItowgqS27wNHxcc_FsXVUlqazReR2dggOGB7dPihUicnMYd9h7nyguD4JN5cgAuZrzT2I-OMV4noHZxsF4lMQJtIr2w/s320/20230516_0013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> It was nice to give myself licence to "play" in this way, it was a welcome release from the constraints of 450 gram mugs, 550 gram bowls. I do realise that such things don't have to be boring, but every once in a while I need to work bigger, to sweat a bit, make muscles ache, take more risk - doing so nourishes the soul!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMM2rfhk7ZuOl5g7QTdq6sbgVZrGvK1FD7Wg4Hjdp-cIIJxC2k6v3MeAwYE6om49xBoVXDiXdn29cNnrPRRUyv3-DPN_ueXP-D-gmKPd0VPSgbCDT-6ha2JfInii11SUWAm2IgPaz93hb4zmD5txIIn1NikGisG794iqHUrDi2I8isEN-SVFC4j-yOcg/s950/20230516_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="714" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMM2rfhk7ZuOl5g7QTdq6sbgVZrGvK1FD7Wg4Hjdp-cIIJxC2k6v3MeAwYE6om49xBoVXDiXdn29cNnrPRRUyv3-DPN_ueXP-D-gmKPd0VPSgbCDT-6ha2JfInii11SUWAm2IgPaz93hb4zmD5txIIn1NikGisG794iqHUrDi2I8isEN-SVFC4j-yOcg/s320/20230516_0012.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><p> </p><p>The larger pots mostly averaged about 19 inches high (about 48 cm), not huge, but big enough to occupy space and cuddle with both hands when carried!</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjBxJ0Mn2bU-XVRgJZGGHWG-OoohKK4EJnVbuEvSENWtYvewAlEcu62Tz2FqzioBnOtqhqlA9v1ldUpXZppI24dknEOp7czbZjB_tHlBQkQUAHwycDH7iFfvsLrc_qVaQsISnRX16cyev6u5wst2eUvSdlNgUbCTfECiRukhE6pcMmgFOSPZ-Ut_7lw/s900/20230519_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjBxJ0Mn2bU-XVRgJZGGHWG-OoohKK4EJnVbuEvSENWtYvewAlEcu62Tz2FqzioBnOtqhqlA9v1ldUpXZppI24dknEOp7czbZjB_tHlBQkQUAHwycDH7iFfvsLrc_qVaQsISnRX16cyev6u5wst2eUvSdlNgUbCTfECiRukhE6pcMmgFOSPZ-Ut_7lw/s320/20230519_0005.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>It is a privilege of anyone that makes things, that the object shares space with us; it is not just a flat thing on paper that pretends to be in three dimensions, or a glowing "virtual" thing on a screen, but it is something in our world that can be touched, weighed, measured, cared for, or fallen over! </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSw7NV2MlrWe1gQh5dFWgIQj9t5fPF6L5VFx93Id4e8zSl8FcFxtTr0jqR2k2iydExFU8GTCxWcAdXhy5ARZd-jCR1UXoAG054Q_FZ8gynhIIMMIqx0IMYeDvD8iMiEcawHK6pmyVNqI6GA6NVmWfKnfxNAhoDteIXSl8gfqFKIpcmIeTO76JVj96kw/s900/20230519_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSw7NV2MlrWe1gQh5dFWgIQj9t5fPF6L5VFx93Id4e8zSl8FcFxtTr0jqR2k2iydExFU8GTCxWcAdXhy5ARZd-jCR1UXoAG054Q_FZ8gynhIIMMIqx0IMYeDvD8iMiEcawHK6pmyVNqI6GA6NVmWfKnfxNAhoDteIXSl8gfqFKIpcmIeTO76JVj96kw/s320/20230519_0006.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Sometimes the work we make can provide its own inspiration. A neck, foot, belly or shoulder of a pot - aren't those are wonderful, human terms - these can suggest other forms to try with the next pot that is made. Nature can also inspire, often not immediately, but what we see and experience can be accumulated and stored.</p><p>Right at the beginning of the Month of May two busy spiders toiled through the night making their webs near my wood fired kiln. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0Wn-LdV_4w-1j-D14uWkdP1VYDTp4exf-KO1vL7kd3n3T_-agHw62wv0QQ3CoSN_2iqWcfosFb60jmN2UUtsCZGF16yNpZIyLSJ4flq00BDJ8kelWmYZXeXFlH6skt_kmjc9sMuvkTwCGlltI0smmXAfb8AxMBEyQgbS5P6MxCJsp52l6whrfnjCVg/s1199/20230505_0014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0Wn-LdV_4w-1j-D14uWkdP1VYDTp4exf-KO1vL7kd3n3T_-agHw62wv0QQ3CoSN_2iqWcfosFb60jmN2UUtsCZGF16yNpZIyLSJ4flq00BDJ8kelWmYZXeXFlH6skt_kmjc9sMuvkTwCGlltI0smmXAfb8AxMBEyQgbS5P6MxCJsp52l6whrfnjCVg/s320/20230505_0014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>One web hung vertically like washing on a line, and the other was suspended horizontally. The threads, weighed down by tiny droplets of morning dew, formed a series of catenary arches. If you traced a catenary curve and flipped it up the other way, and used it as a pattern to build a brick arch, it would be largely self supporting without the need of elaborate bracing and buttressing, this can be of great help to kiln builders!</p><p>After making the larger pots, I then embarked on a very different project which has been set in motion by a commission. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN74Y24_Tj_qJpzITvW27OxxzfbBoi3j8jHzY3R5lctlIPhGJ7bkIyD7aqcpQrvytKB9ZPu0_p08Lc7-LhMaE3VaSGyTo4am7Sioq4cWCqnUN0WD9sydF4AoN12bGFPdBc_JiCrYF2r267ptAUwRMUAjhvcjjo6QQF88zC-vY9mp505JbGEtM9Og9k_A/s900/20230523_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN74Y24_Tj_qJpzITvW27OxxzfbBoi3j8jHzY3R5lctlIPhGJ7bkIyD7aqcpQrvytKB9ZPu0_p08Lc7-LhMaE3VaSGyTo4am7Sioq4cWCqnUN0WD9sydF4AoN12bGFPdBc_JiCrYF2r267ptAUwRMUAjhvcjjo6QQF88zC-vY9mp505JbGEtM9Og9k_A/s320/20230523_0001.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I have been making small vases that are in the form of antique ink pots. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2GQ60wTm4bts-ylMH4EhkYqGBJYc7W2s3Qg2GkwbEL3olq-lPb1BZnb_K436JzHTzGchoKnPFZOLKWg2f11HwjcX5K05syIOHBFfN2nuWuhsYF2U0b8qEelqPLnq1XKouNKHiuHIstbZcfILv8rFx6FfATP4MA7o6_dUfbbSYz1P5V_JQJBXGqTHgw/s1142/20230524_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="1142" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2GQ60wTm4bts-ylMH4EhkYqGBJYc7W2s3Qg2GkwbEL3olq-lPb1BZnb_K436JzHTzGchoKnPFZOLKWg2f11HwjcX5K05syIOHBFfN2nuWuhsYF2U0b8qEelqPLnq1XKouNKHiuHIstbZcfILv8rFx6FfATP4MA7o6_dUfbbSYz1P5V_JQJBXGqTHgw/s320/20230524_0002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Some of the vases have relief decoration, and others are having slip decoration. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtF9rQrIe5u4X042k_9tanpYI1QY3yhHq6EfG3cImWrXOj-0kHH4U8SQuOPnzMSomZ2Gj3uiaWvdr2i4oZO_H5FX_6bt4Z4XI9EXitqqZQZ_JBtBhXHLgbgkQiHSK6yZyP92-k40elaGkxbVxzlqhzuAdzVPujKuWxogeaN94Rnjb1mpmI1e14xo2fkA/s2161/20230528_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="2161" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtF9rQrIe5u4X042k_9tanpYI1QY3yhHq6EfG3cImWrXOj-0kHH4U8SQuOPnzMSomZ2Gj3uiaWvdr2i4oZO_H5FX_6bt4Z4XI9EXitqqZQZ_JBtBhXHLgbgkQiHSK6yZyP92-k40elaGkxbVxzlqhzuAdzVPujKuWxogeaN94Rnjb1mpmI1e14xo2fkA/w640-h282/20230528_0001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I still haven't glaze fired them, but the first batch of them that I made were bisque fired in the wood fired kiln a couple of days ago when I also bisque fired the large pots. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGT_CllA5GTmn0C0TkYXRIuGflNqi_9vzWw1hz575uLFe10KbA2SOd60IPo1AppA22ql9VncfAtnp261zglT-PeD9QTfn9Pkt-mRrS6UeHgeyf4kPjCMQFyfRzMe4EcqQXtMe54rQlI-zdwbyYxlBAUYDvuxEMdossv1_Wgysf3M20xXkWYMfnl2Mkw/s1267/20230604_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="1267" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGT_CllA5GTmn0C0TkYXRIuGflNqi_9vzWw1hz575uLFe10KbA2SOd60IPo1AppA22ql9VncfAtnp261zglT-PeD9QTfn9Pkt-mRrS6UeHgeyf4kPjCMQFyfRzMe4EcqQXtMe54rQlI-zdwbyYxlBAUYDvuxEMdossv1_Wgysf3M20xXkWYMfnl2Mkw/s320/20230604_0006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>It may seem a bit strange to some people that I used my wood fired kiln for a bisque firing, but to fire the 5 larger pots that I made would have taken 5 firings of my electric kiln as I would have only been able to fit one at a time of the big pots in the electric kiln!</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WHV6seo4Yqv3YI54_B0C078SGG-uELn-dgh2-tKQXOyuL77mP6ZeI1RTNuzogQNEuoVArVJhc6tD2lZbhJUd_zDvTYJsQaxX80eCPKnmo1W2wTE4uADCQ6LPT4u4CNLFdUgw07tDYmhP_eYNSBPZ93SVAIynuK-wbj7xF5YhV-xGPMWXtU13m7TDig/s950/20230604_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="950" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WHV6seo4Yqv3YI54_B0C078SGG-uELn-dgh2-tKQXOyuL77mP6ZeI1RTNuzogQNEuoVArVJhc6tD2lZbhJUd_zDvTYJsQaxX80eCPKnmo1W2wTE4uADCQ6LPT4u4CNLFdUgw07tDYmhP_eYNSBPZ93SVAIynuK-wbj7xF5YhV-xGPMWXtU13m7TDig/w400-h400/20230604_0003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The bisque firing was, for the most part, quite enjoyable. "Tiny", the cat, kept me company for some of the time, and I took advantage of the quieter moments in the first hours of the firing to read the newspaper!</p><p><br /></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-72369687124271375792023-05-02T15:22:00.000+12:002023-05-02T15:22:16.548+12:00Out of the Fire! New Pots from the Wood Fired Kiln!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOh-GtfsEzA6rMP9oQMGdegHDR3FBR0eni2fsJSH7JFcjU8_8Syr_GEd4jnEFBONDB-FYpqINmD9DTqJG1rpN1KyGBhbrVRgx57z_j_SoO8QWlQfVe_p6WtdMPKZNVzuxFM1zEo3K1N-Ccjn3jyEbOfVL_BLmA1DbfWOawBDi_UgSa_jXOqfxF-qH2Mg/s1200/20230426_0029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOh-GtfsEzA6rMP9oQMGdegHDR3FBR0eni2fsJSH7JFcjU8_8Syr_GEd4jnEFBONDB-FYpqINmD9DTqJG1rpN1KyGBhbrVRgx57z_j_SoO8QWlQfVe_p6WtdMPKZNVzuxFM1zEo3K1N-Ccjn3jyEbOfVL_BLmA1DbfWOawBDi_UgSa_jXOqfxF-qH2Mg/w400-h300/20230426_0029.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I took down the kiln door whilst a Bell Bird sang merrily and enjoyed ripe pears from a high perch in our pear tree!<p></p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmn0Kx2ubTthAiOQVuZQtW_yRniNv352eodcLlVkIGTzLjt3-WSvDGcbXBn6ElZh3GXWsKpE8TrXcbuHl7VR9P05gNAA5Y7u-LaCed4_UqV595DVnulYJ71xbD7osTwCzwQPH9RVhReDOS4Gs50vrsC4WhHuS1t5sfDSISk8Jqml3_TOYgz1b_ECrww/s900/20230426_0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmn0Kx2ubTthAiOQVuZQtW_yRniNv352eodcLlVkIGTzLjt3-WSvDGcbXBn6ElZh3GXWsKpE8TrXcbuHl7VR9P05gNAA5Y7u-LaCed4_UqV595DVnulYJ71xbD7osTwCzwQPH9RVhReDOS4Gs50vrsC4WhHuS1t5sfDSISk8Jqml3_TOYgz1b_ECrww/s320/20230426_0021.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The door is made from insulating fire bricks which are very light in weight and become rather fragile after a few firings. It is amazing to think that a thickness of just 4 and a half inches of these bricks is enough to contain the searing 1300 C (2372 F) heat that is in the chamber of the kiln at the peak of the firing. <p></p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6w-db-lUltyDj-aLhtaww5HrLC8rhKMa1UfB-We5HEqEHeYuHHpF5bJjM7f0-MZ2j1CfCHVq3UYNxs82DKfGtRS_uFtT1MdyLKX69sDR5TzIpJlXbdGC-OIG8YXgK6slHFb3x7EMRULVkoY4k9DNVKWqDFiCuwiPRfDtcxpRwtjvDWBpPy10jEIKzA/s900/20230426_0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6w-db-lUltyDj-aLhtaww5HrLC8rhKMa1UfB-We5HEqEHeYuHHpF5bJjM7f0-MZ2j1CfCHVq3UYNxs82DKfGtRS_uFtT1MdyLKX69sDR5TzIpJlXbdGC-OIG8YXgK6slHFb3x7EMRULVkoY4k9DNVKWqDFiCuwiPRfDtcxpRwtjvDWBpPy10jEIKzA/s320/20230426_0038.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>There is a lot of work to be done to ready a wood fired kiln for unloading, and it is quite a "moment" when the chamber is open at last and it is possible to have a good look at the pots that are inside. It took 3 days of cooling to get to the point when the door could be opened, and I have to leave everything for an hour or so more to ensure that the work is all down to about the temperature of a freshly laid hen's egg before removing it from its sanctuary and introducing it to the world!<p></p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCy0T7Xo2GPAoNlHg-x0dv0UP5GEC1PZHCoErGhntMYsduVtSIDNFwJj4A9bavW4Rl3kTimJLY92OHgLoRFPLClRoJuNlhAuCkqZyrVbrHdrPzA0WGwX5GJgmTZeNxYtZQSxY61JbNXz2nKhyOSDrUGZZZuGrbJOeRr9MErCrtmxBoyvPL-5cP3xIgHA/s1200/20230426_0048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCy0T7Xo2GPAoNlHg-x0dv0UP5GEC1PZHCoErGhntMYsduVtSIDNFwJj4A9bavW4Rl3kTimJLY92OHgLoRFPLClRoJuNlhAuCkqZyrVbrHdrPzA0WGwX5GJgmTZeNxYtZQSxY61JbNXz2nKhyOSDrUGZZZuGrbJOeRr9MErCrtmxBoyvPL-5cP3xIgHA/s320/20230426_0048.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>At the back of the firebox was a useful place for certain pots that we wanted to really get hit by flame and ash. Whilst the first glance is like looking at the aftermath of an atomic bomb test, most of the work scrubbed up very well when cleaned in a bucket of fresh water, and Jim who shared some kiln space with me, had some exciting looking pots.<p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8u4xXB2gN7de98jcVdWFjz6Yvnk3hvyEy1afl9xmjAHl9lNlyEwgvVNHoRaRXszsEuu5GTkWd38AiUGiQERvL4JPLeIwdun28tXgDcJ9YYG1BOxcLocx9GuXuPbY1YGY04B1uo1v-pRJtJBUQhz98_744ltuec6hRFTmutDh8DRkPXH7YMV4hiV0FKA/s1226/20230426_0067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1226" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8u4xXB2gN7de98jcVdWFjz6Yvnk3hvyEy1afl9xmjAHl9lNlyEwgvVNHoRaRXszsEuu5GTkWd38AiUGiQERvL4JPLeIwdun28tXgDcJ9YYG1BOxcLocx9GuXuPbY1YGY04B1uo1v-pRJtJBUQhz98_744ltuec6hRFTmutDh8DRkPXH7YMV4hiV0FKA/s320/20230426_0067.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Unfortunately I did not manage to take any photos of Jim's pots from the firebox of the kiln, but these Shino glazed pots of his were from further in the kiln where they still received plenty of direct flame and heat, but not as much ash.<p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkC_9Y3z4dE_clBVRcofAOZ44RA7yry1j_f7oc2Oe3L-L1a666KbmG7X2clagKUCRe1P7MVmwzVq-X3HDunZC-fjoh_QEU39WQeIvejAtovGWi8rOUe9WUmdlQDcaROzNFvRx0H0X46KGhytg8My3WelYXLlQmhX1obcQ3aguEOQQByNJOmRHQUh8Pw/s1200/20230426_0064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkC_9Y3z4dE_clBVRcofAOZ44RA7yry1j_f7oc2Oe3L-L1a666KbmG7X2clagKUCRe1P7MVmwzVq-X3HDunZC-fjoh_QEU39WQeIvejAtovGWi8rOUe9WUmdlQDcaROzNFvRx0H0X46KGhytg8My3WelYXLlQmhX1obcQ3aguEOQQByNJOmRHQUh8Pw/s320/20230426_0064.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My pupil, Becky, had some lovely small pouring bowls in this firing that were glazed with "Red Reserve", a very reliable saturated iron glaze that can be found in "The Potter's Companion" by Tony Birks (an excellent "must have" book that you may be able to find second-hand somewhere). <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaxzDfsCuJSk9DvwXK20_yZqQfP06RDl5PFmd8SiRNIMOZ1_Zf0Z9A_4_7xmaPMk3mTxr_QeRyPiA5IzbPHRaD6MBr7XNwsXb-QqKg90CPTur1zsAZbZ5dOAA5DBcPVl7f9hfQs6wL4wZceW2K55oB0AYgPxKqEl-LJwwaZC13tv2Bl1FZelohPDkHA/s1200/20230426_0069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaxzDfsCuJSk9DvwXK20_yZqQfP06RDl5PFmd8SiRNIMOZ1_Zf0Z9A_4_7xmaPMk3mTxr_QeRyPiA5IzbPHRaD6MBr7XNwsXb-QqKg90CPTur1zsAZbZ5dOAA5DBcPVl7f9hfQs6wL4wZceW2K55oB0AYgPxKqEl-LJwwaZC13tv2Bl1FZelohPDkHA/s320/20230426_0069.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Here are Becky's pouring bowls. These reached at least cone 11, but "Red Reserve" is a glaze that copes with heat very well and is static without being boring!</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00VHBz3cpo7mq2oFxFg-KuHkeuwlMZAh_p_SM5Iqu1iAucFNB0L9Y0IlBkrUPmJjHa7bZJKNNUXSFY7nfh3zCo0nx8EzHTawtVmmFH5YYZO6L9nYG2ochcAd4ZMZhvvmlN8RJtTJLoXmUtI_EW6kf2vEuv4NJCUK84DqqWaoKBxMb1lwaINMpZC5uWw/s1199/20230426_0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00VHBz3cpo7mq2oFxFg-KuHkeuwlMZAh_p_SM5Iqu1iAucFNB0L9Y0IlBkrUPmJjHa7bZJKNNUXSFY7nfh3zCo0nx8EzHTawtVmmFH5YYZO6L9nYG2ochcAd4ZMZhvvmlN8RJtTJLoXmUtI_EW6kf2vEuv4NJCUK84DqqWaoKBxMb1lwaINMpZC5uWw/s320/20230426_0015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>As this was something of a test firing I took the opportunity to try several glazes that I was unfamiliar with, two that peaked my interest were a strontium matte and a barium matte glaze. You can see the barium matte at the front in the middle of the top shelf. Barium* and Strontium can enhance colour in glazes, particularly glazes that contain some copper.</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_KdxQIQzneM8jQc-g4yEk_fyn9TAM89pfiZ6sDm6bdAWAQ9ByEoPLfdSdbu8EVBwpGVdMLrzsm5_BXrZ1PdXQyBj3VyLO4Ba5gKOiYjmXAilwEFpssvDGQddXmCh45T-AD-P56XVJI8mvC-sWLMBLr57wH-ecb8yad-FoadURnM-8J7zYxsc52UX4Q/s900/20230502_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="499" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_KdxQIQzneM8jQc-g4yEk_fyn9TAM89pfiZ6sDm6bdAWAQ9ByEoPLfdSdbu8EVBwpGVdMLrzsm5_BXrZ1PdXQyBj3VyLO4Ba5gKOiYjmXAilwEFpssvDGQddXmCh45T-AD-P56XVJI8mvC-sWLMBLr57wH-ecb8yad-FoadURnM-8J7zYxsc52UX4Q/s320/20230502_0008.jpg" width="177" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strontium Matte ( white stoneware 12 x 6 inches, 305 x 150mm)</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AdxN-SJpGkfHeaOs2z64UaAxqs6DlFaatjHExkMNV_-z4Gpof9ogJZ7zr8GF3lsgOgCU-We44xlCmwOeB2MBBhU4Hvbspf39REMCSW5cu3-PA1fKzYbY35tV2cEwjOqzkMWwM8HHwobicGLLfbi-lACB3dF1QXGB-PujfCGzusLPFRNr18dE5SOHMw/s900/20230502_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="511" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AdxN-SJpGkfHeaOs2z64UaAxqs6DlFaatjHExkMNV_-z4Gpof9ogJZ7zr8GF3lsgOgCU-We44xlCmwOeB2MBBhU4Hvbspf39REMCSW5cu3-PA1fKzYbY35tV2cEwjOqzkMWwM8HHwobicGLLfbi-lACB3dF1QXGB-PujfCGzusLPFRNr18dE5SOHMw/s320/20230502_0009.jpg" width="182" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIgci9b35Gl07XOhr5ZKAJ-Ps9kfWQ4fid5bo4W468BhRcftXkLWO_Y8oou4PgRcx22Ty3VrL1sfMKrXJGo7WYcoMQonliVD6q6ILsPjfErOVUp6uCYawvkELznuyae_wD0O6r2KsTE623_cPdaNrCNhqPUrUfOiOO7PULj7LF6min9itkrBB5Zsh4w/s900/20230502_0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIgci9b35Gl07XOhr5ZKAJ-Ps9kfWQ4fid5bo4W468BhRcftXkLWO_Y8oou4PgRcx22Ty3VrL1sfMKrXJGo7WYcoMQonliVD6q6ILsPjfErOVUp6uCYawvkELznuyae_wD0O6r2KsTE623_cPdaNrCNhqPUrUfOiOO7PULj7LF6min9itkrBB5Zsh4w/s320/20230502_0013.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barium Matte (white stoneware 12.25 x 6.5 inches, 317 x 165mm)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The strontium matte had a more uniform colour, but the barium matte changed dramatically from green to blue where the glaze was thickest. Both have a really interesting sparkling surface from numerous tiny crystals that have formed in the glaze.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlMQZJWoHbsck_ZZPPLj-B31KjRBzA9O8XWP4nnCEuLNyhg6_C_Di8KFKmIA5nP685XM-UAis9DZug6Bj0KdBTWh0e5_k8tHfLjyWwDu7Fe4cX1Urk1ahz3t3HjbFB6I8GO-omVvtdw9uzx2VJ638X78yifAyOz-Nw089EgqIrSGcueDOCn_hBzxgzg/s1200/20230502_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlMQZJWoHbsck_ZZPPLj-B31KjRBzA9O8XWP4nnCEuLNyhg6_C_Di8KFKmIA5nP685XM-UAis9DZug6Bj0KdBTWh0e5_k8tHfLjyWwDu7Fe4cX1Urk1ahz3t3HjbFB6I8GO-omVvtdw9uzx2VJ638X78yifAyOz-Nw089EgqIrSGcueDOCn_hBzxgzg/w400-h300/20230502_0003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>A few of the freshly unloaded pots sitting in the late afternoon sunshine. There are a few of Jim's pots on the left of the photo, and some melted pyrometric cones in front of them. The rest of the pots are mine. I mostly had used celadon, copper red, saturated iron and shino glazes in this firing. Jim had used mostly shino and occasionally celadon. </p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UpjJrag9-IexZ3o3wspkW4D8qX1cnns_f9s2GSEvazaSN9vI-7myHLuT_zCdZbCn5kn_DIBMS9LBI8rK0tRjNgkm6vXlinYBuWDkWJExLz24DNw6vWrWrONVOKQETy3oEhQQDl6eE3IoPOek_pKuW0z6oAhVPvzpYFk7JRyKR-TMA30ukeylKMP-sQ/s900/20230502_0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UpjJrag9-IexZ3o3wspkW4D8qX1cnns_f9s2GSEvazaSN9vI-7myHLuT_zCdZbCn5kn_DIBMS9LBI8rK0tRjNgkm6vXlinYBuWDkWJExLz24DNw6vWrWrONVOKQETy3oEhQQDl6eE3IoPOek_pKuW0z6oAhVPvzpYFk7JRyKR-TMA30ukeylKMP-sQ/s320/20230502_0011.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copper Red 7.5 x 6.25 inches, 190 x 165mm<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>In spite of having difficulty controlling reduction in this firing, this copper red was very forgiving and gave good results. Unfortunately, the mirror finish ensured that it was almost impossible for me to photograph without reflections!</p><p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXQmVKHaMW4IjAqabfou_ljdCKQ-cKWJifFHL4_dsUMeceyEMpMuTIwmp9VFI7iYC_sXgmqHUqunhY9-pH_CVLEZCDpb3rScZuJvkvRDXcMthFuTgKRapYCgsaAxVATFKgKXGVxwYYXugQRExsM86f4oKhGrl6pVvi-06zidLg9WXHwMygxuhxrYOJg/s900/20230502_0014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="751" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXQmVKHaMW4IjAqabfou_ljdCKQ-cKWJifFHL4_dsUMeceyEMpMuTIwmp9VFI7iYC_sXgmqHUqunhY9-pH_CVLEZCDpb3rScZuJvkvRDXcMthFuTgKRapYCgsaAxVATFKgKXGVxwYYXugQRExsM86f4oKhGrl6pVvi-06zidLg9WXHwMygxuhxrYOJg/s320/20230502_0014.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copper Red/Green 6 x 5 inches, 150 x 130mm<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>This is another copper red recipe. This one needs really good control of the firing in order to develop the red, but some rather charming half red, half green, glazes can be very nice. </p><p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTz5uOpiY7a-fwXPouB0iHPxBk_oxjULIxwGBPyx4R2iivJoQH3Q2O-R6ExhhahrdDebBvFm2Selxdblu2QBNZSbsbXjn82fL4ciLsm3NK8iKC00AgfPlBNjL0qYBlSnXTGd9jbTGu2KmRRtTReJ5pVpZ0AYH6vPdYCALAQ1lIWlt6m9ujuzaO1Mk-kA/s900/20230502_0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTz5uOpiY7a-fwXPouB0iHPxBk_oxjULIxwGBPyx4R2iivJoQH3Q2O-R6ExhhahrdDebBvFm2Selxdblu2QBNZSbsbXjn82fL4ciLsm3NK8iKC00AgfPlBNjL0qYBlSnXTGd9jbTGu2KmRRtTReJ5pVpZ0AYH6vPdYCALAQ1lIWlt6m9ujuzaO1Mk-kA/s320/20230502_0020.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saturated iron glaze 6.5 x 5 inches, 150 x 130mm</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Saturated iron glazes are so full of iron oxide that they usually form small crystals in the firing. The crystals make the glazes twinkle, and give them lots of "life" and interest.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRiQIMW4dwjQzCzC0AXRhNDFA6mMP_XIkSby06oClYw_ADPplY0qxsSVOSDLR-DfpVNMshvgzvEVPX3b4NUe5CHxXztVlp2xFRCYkj-fPoITWUOKpCr4iqG_ONBIZM4KANyyUZ_Y0tCkPSG24xTr6oFB0eke2loIuBcqz6FySjlNfWO0NHrCBwHU5PA/s965/20230502_0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="965" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRiQIMW4dwjQzCzC0AXRhNDFA6mMP_XIkSby06oClYw_ADPplY0qxsSVOSDLR-DfpVNMshvgzvEVPX3b4NUe5CHxXztVlp2xFRCYkj-fPoITWUOKpCr4iqG_ONBIZM4KANyyUZ_Y0tCkPSG24xTr6oFB0eke2loIuBcqz6FySjlNfWO0NHrCBwHU5PA/s320/20230502_0018.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iron Red 7.5 x 9 inches, 190 x 230mm</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>This one is glazed with "Red Reserve" from the book by Tony Birks. It isn't a bright red, but more a refined dark purple colour that reminds me for some reason of vintage sports cars!<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3RLx6U2icxDVoTPGSQayfDTOYvdDd-sRmfciy5v4UOe0Ks7RMuMrSbCErlp3ZTbBp1q8V-czOuXQILLtqCgKpcHSgRonTl6IuxZEE3b81CoMbZ8_HGS94cw3iLJYYaS66HUjINxsfJp8i_idf_mh8mL3yFLjKoD2S2XfTV52549t_-QBsuuqBb5Oag/s900/20230502_0023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="709" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3RLx6U2icxDVoTPGSQayfDTOYvdDd-sRmfciy5v4UOe0Ks7RMuMrSbCErlp3ZTbBp1q8V-czOuXQILLtqCgKpcHSgRonTl6IuxZEE3b81CoMbZ8_HGS94cw3iLJYYaS66HUjINxsfJp8i_idf_mh8mL3yFLjKoD2S2XfTV52549t_-QBsuuqBb5Oag/s320/20230502_0023.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A "golden shino" 8.5 x 7 inches, 215 x 180mm<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This one came out more of a mirror bronze in colour with some ash flecks giving the surface some extra interest.<br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGISpX6_N2D4UOkUJS7QUrNGP07aj2cX-gyw3ewSA1MEdkTQWGlm9kbiE9ituATJlJecBfqyWHbpmF6EZv2ThyhVHPzKpkaBxk_j7cFwL0Ad5Md1ZFOy4K1YV9SiS3YMqVMFon9Y_ZLXz_MZU-Ul5bcd-IBjs4G4scNg6N9SKSb9_n3nYC8xdtmZauw/s900/20230502_0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="611" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGISpX6_N2D4UOkUJS7QUrNGP07aj2cX-gyw3ewSA1MEdkTQWGlm9kbiE9ituATJlJecBfqyWHbpmF6EZv2ThyhVHPzKpkaBxk_j7cFwL0Ad5Md1ZFOy4K1YV9SiS3YMqVMFon9Y_ZLXz_MZU-Ul5bcd-IBjs4G4scNg6N9SKSb9_n3nYC8xdtmZauw/s320/20230502_0022.jpg" width="217" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mystery glaze! 7.5 x 4.5 inches, 190 x 115mm<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I am fairly sure that this little bottle was glazed with a new batch of a white shino glaze that I made up then added 3 percent iron oxide to. I am surprised by how dark it is. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNT6A-ZVesyk2hEr9EX3vA9rHZRhDfO1E0-WD5sjK84ADLF7GX7VD3OBxJ3YKgo0NPszSldDguhlHCwceJwT1G_GZqoSepsEPVxjAk2EW_v9NjRouL3aeUEZundY6ZJSMcQuys6CGagmYF4swa96S3Q5eOC3YZfFcHKwNT-LulS0k1LrhzGZ6WznDZIA/s900/20230502_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="798" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNT6A-ZVesyk2hEr9EX3vA9rHZRhDfO1E0-WD5sjK84ADLF7GX7VD3OBxJ3YKgo0NPszSldDguhlHCwceJwT1G_GZqoSepsEPVxjAk2EW_v9NjRouL3aeUEZundY6ZJSMcQuys6CGagmYF4swa96S3Q5eOC3YZfFcHKwNT-LulS0k1LrhzGZ6WznDZIA/s320/20230502_0016.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iron green (celadon) glaze, 7.5 x 6.5 inches, 190 x 165mm<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Many "flavours" of celadon glazes can be made, from gentle pale blue, through pale grey to quite a dark green. All get their colour from iron oxide that is fired in a reduction atmosphere if they really are celadon glazes! Many people now are more used to "celadon" that is from copper or chromium fired in oxidation in an electric kiln. </p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6LuAdHzcsvPVYHz8B846yQfJVWeQDTxqvX4Qxt4Zf-Y2FyATeqWYoY7X2oHLh22mp4XuJB5dKMGvfS-tuhEPFhhPq0QxEL-AwShN7HvgCK4W1Pu1o-YgDRlLsL8js3B8k23koQdg_6bXDF26IsKJoALnQmqFwQbvQZUAn5k2qAgmxEPA2pIHdQa9Qg/s1162/20230502_0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1162" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6LuAdHzcsvPVYHz8B846yQfJVWeQDTxqvX4Qxt4Zf-Y2FyATeqWYoY7X2oHLh22mp4XuJB5dKMGvfS-tuhEPFhhPq0QxEL-AwShN7HvgCK4W1Pu1o-YgDRlLsL8js3B8k23koQdg_6bXDF26IsKJoALnQmqFwQbvQZUAn5k2qAgmxEPA2pIHdQa9Qg/s320/20230502_0019.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celadon bowl, 5.5 x 8.75 inches, 140 x 220mm<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>This firing could not have been possible without the assistance and encouragement of several special people.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3iw34984Q7ZZLn2ToRQKg8mwy0dxapWX8t6PnSiMEMlq3dfbrHDxbggvyRAgJu1wztbA-0vupwmwbB8Zw0Y6aJ--bK89S3ZyQMYhY1K-qhRsZ5lrMQNEyxs5yhpNvw_k3UtkGQfjWgjBqjaWayJYB-NMoX0fyk0SfVy2W99EDeUlBKs4kcByIKsMtg/s1200/20230426_0062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3iw34984Q7ZZLn2ToRQKg8mwy0dxapWX8t6PnSiMEMlq3dfbrHDxbggvyRAgJu1wztbA-0vupwmwbB8Zw0Y6aJ--bK89S3ZyQMYhY1K-qhRsZ5lrMQNEyxs5yhpNvw_k3UtkGQfjWgjBqjaWayJYB-NMoX0fyk0SfVy2W99EDeUlBKs4kcByIKsMtg/s320/20230426_0062.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Jim, who really wanted to do another wood firing and provided much of the wood and did a lot of stoking when we were pushing through some of the more difficult and arduous hours of the firing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Cc0lWmJBgBheHRQ2K6UDtMIea5AiWgA_7g2PgT3GfJHI1_eoG0kND_gHjAfFY2PgQEYxtSQTCp4-xYfW9gz8E5J6XFd1kUeTP46cr5XHnm4HlR6mO-UMqkp8sYbIqc2NtCFD_qWujoj9YpTKZjyw-2UeLjp4i_dHK6g_nqQdPlxBlz0EAFye-67aXw/s1200/20230426_0063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Cc0lWmJBgBheHRQ2K6UDtMIea5AiWgA_7g2PgT3GfJHI1_eoG0kND_gHjAfFY2PgQEYxtSQTCp4-xYfW9gz8E5J6XFd1kUeTP46cr5XHnm4HlR6mO-UMqkp8sYbIqc2NtCFD_qWujoj9YpTKZjyw-2UeLjp4i_dHK6g_nqQdPlxBlz0EAFye-67aXw/s320/20230426_0063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Becky, who has persevered with potting in spite of her busy life, and has been a great encouragement to Laura and myself over the years.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1MprYs90DzPamGQoyTkoKN1a-tCzmPKJ6B0mEnWoTYpau-xOGCxXYXYk6Tz5j1zlfGzZ3FQB19mZuarJiI54Kxips05xxcnzUQ1eumwA-0AsSGkINavrpWBdI78oorOLw75cpyQkmeQZsVA8735o-UGELJbvmlfsZwLtacLbqZNaCQbv261mxyCYOw/s900/20230417_0023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1MprYs90DzPamGQoyTkoKN1a-tCzmPKJ6B0mEnWoTYpau-xOGCxXYXYk6Tz5j1zlfGzZ3FQB19mZuarJiI54Kxips05xxcnzUQ1eumwA-0AsSGkINavrpWBdI78oorOLw75cpyQkmeQZsVA8735o-UGELJbvmlfsZwLtacLbqZNaCQbv261mxyCYOw/s320/20230417_0023.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>And especially Laura, who has supported and encouraged throughout the entirety of this potting adventure, and does so many helpful and practical things throughout the firing of the kiln, both at the kiln side and also in the kitchen! <br /></p><p><br /></p><p>*Note</p><p>Yes, Barium Carbonate is a poison, just a spoonful if eaten could kill you. Once it has been fired and made into a glass, it is of course much safer, however it is not recommended these days as an ingredient of a glaze that will come in contact with food or drink. It is also good to wear rubbler gloves when working with Barium in glazes. Strontium Carbonate can often be used as a non toxic substitute for Barium. <br /></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-68540263767996759972023-04-30T10:24:00.002+12:002023-04-30T11:20:03.031+12:00Wood fired April Part One! A rebuilt firebox (again) and a long, hot firing!<p> Ha, short titles aren't my thing! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fwnkrq1q6qizCTEbzFxZrgZvGV9m-mUtaSi22jgRfB018Z_gykuZQoXvLKzXqUUrFwv515Lk8DFiBnjgd65VAdx_Sj9cbpr9qWvb1xeMCM6nSg-jjD9_lmj4CWosUI_JWHAB0PHLyV1KchC4__AZsmbbCZjGNibrL5VbQz-mQmZG28z-UzXq0-whjQ/s1199/20230417_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fwnkrq1q6qizCTEbzFxZrgZvGV9m-mUtaSi22jgRfB018Z_gykuZQoXvLKzXqUUrFwv515Lk8DFiBnjgd65VAdx_Sj9cbpr9qWvb1xeMCM6nSg-jjD9_lmj4CWosUI_JWHAB0PHLyV1KchC4__AZsmbbCZjGNibrL5VbQz-mQmZG28z-UzXq0-whjQ/w400-h300/20230417_0016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> We will start with a 4 legged building inspector examining the beginnings of a new firebox!<p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbADQOUW4hSiER5ndex-dPNzBaY8qrMzUyMvMSb-HTak4a9giD3ecmzOaCje38zBuYnqS41-ZK3QuodDXvByyI0mb_HYU7l0IIIqgOdfMsH2hio6zdbL9FaNYPBI4KhDxhRQML9S5C7i820BFX_W80b8AUUqfRsC1CoJPf8ZIwPbj1xMDF31NC0DO2aQ/s1200/20230417_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbADQOUW4hSiER5ndex-dPNzBaY8qrMzUyMvMSb-HTak4a9giD3ecmzOaCje38zBuYnqS41-ZK3QuodDXvByyI0mb_HYU7l0IIIqgOdfMsH2hio6zdbL9FaNYPBI4KhDxhRQML9S5C7i820BFX_W80b8AUUqfRsC1CoJPf8ZIwPbj1xMDF31NC0DO2aQ/w400-h300/20230417_0009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The really great thing about simplifying the firebox was that loading the kiln was very easy and pleasant to do as there was nothing in the way!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBRWexLynF0rznVVUZzfSGQjGgdWStFhA0TdwrVHMrW4Ij-KCsw6hPHFwYQzVw4X5KlRa7azbn1dtfeqsSpB8AvuSzIaU3rEjRWSsSoEU4Z26p1FU6Xd8DrNOG0ohyw9OyKakH3_mxL3T1UZ8SYipO7d_3wZocgmdHOpRY84Lt-x-NECHPN7ZZj6LRA/s900/20230417_0044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBRWexLynF0rznVVUZzfSGQjGgdWStFhA0TdwrVHMrW4Ij-KCsw6hPHFwYQzVw4X5KlRa7azbn1dtfeqsSpB8AvuSzIaU3rEjRWSsSoEU4Z26p1FU6Xd8DrNOG0ohyw9OyKakH3_mxL3T1UZ8SYipO7d_3wZocgmdHOpRY84Lt-x-NECHPN7ZZj6LRA/w240-h320/20230417_0044.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>There is room enough for two stacks of shelves inside the kiln chamber (you are only really seeing the front stack in this photo).</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwm1GnF5pAecCz-no1VohMWezLyWjc23278k0INs_o7_7i8W_VouRSW4U405MVZ03XWeNBGeeclI7Gtvzqk8B1-YwOwuOc0E-5QCy6LbnWPAIlTBKWxfydD4yNZ3U12v0C_pT1XBVn0up0NUO0WSQ9aZZJaztk7EUgp2DbpDc2eyo5NUfxKLh_Vlralg/s1271/20230423_0062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1271" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwm1GnF5pAecCz-no1VohMWezLyWjc23278k0INs_o7_7i8W_VouRSW4U405MVZ03XWeNBGeeclI7Gtvzqk8B1-YwOwuOc0E-5QCy6LbnWPAIlTBKWxfydD4yNZ3U12v0C_pT1XBVn0up0NUO0WSQ9aZZJaztk7EUgp2DbpDc2eyo5NUfxKLh_Vlralg/w320-h227/20230423_0062.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>There is also a very interesting place at the back of the firebox that we are experimenting with for a few pots to be blasted by flame and liberally dusted by ash throughout the firing.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSA7Dl03i8WbOSgX-9xifr3ijvZoe2jFmDquCPRORrTpdr2b10zyjJTG_0eMas44zeoMo59htKBNzSQFy2PrMlAnjK9LBhft4s8FNNcVsRKBPHPVI_o-jtbL1LP37odp2vu3XZYYeBdto9dMqEvnPHO0Jnst-rFnX54abflKtmKJUJMbPVo3GvnDyHng/s900/20230423_0058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="676" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSA7Dl03i8WbOSgX-9xifr3ijvZoe2jFmDquCPRORrTpdr2b10zyjJTG_0eMas44zeoMo59htKBNzSQFy2PrMlAnjK9LBhft4s8FNNcVsRKBPHPVI_o-jtbL1LP37odp2vu3XZYYeBdto9dMqEvnPHO0Jnst-rFnX54abflKtmKJUJMbPVo3GvnDyHng/w300-h400/20230423_0058.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>The roof of the firebox is made with three small kiln shelves, topped with a "sandwich" of ceramic fibre blanket, insulating firebricks, more ceramic fibre and a sheet of roofing iron. It can be put together quickly, and easily taken down and stored after the firing.<p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg94YGIc39GywN-HJp-1HqUZqPnKxUSFJfcwdC2kSHh3Mefk9hPQeZbuVCW1a4vUGwBJlmiiGrm2ZThbCHpQPRgYU6t0edPixHxuRWOVmCeCoDfs_pU2fgX43YArTfiueTOdR7dz7C1bXa0d5j2KYc06QPtalZtYxU6-Ag-_hIuB972xncSmlGU18wg/s900/20230423_0076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg94YGIc39GywN-HJp-1HqUZqPnKxUSFJfcwdC2kSHh3Mefk9hPQeZbuVCW1a4vUGwBJlmiiGrm2ZThbCHpQPRgYU6t0edPixHxuRWOVmCeCoDfs_pU2fgX43YArTfiueTOdR7dz7C1bXa0d5j2KYc06QPtalZtYxU6-Ag-_hIuB972xncSmlGU18wg/s320/20230423_0076.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>I made the firebox door from ceramic fibre blanket and two old steel mesh shelves that came out of a fridge at our local grocery store. This was suspended with stainless steel cable that ran through pulleys to a counterweight that was made from part of a heavy roof rack that a friend had cut up for scrap steel. <p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxhQTGw5qwXtdiyAPqr9QK9JGkuEPfUquIaXWI_jSxcOrJ72524ZjU7vHF1N5VQWgA92x_ymcVcGaQJDeV2BsYK3ikp5iwA0Grx8QesaBZ_GKEeOxxEOKp5b0mbmLu9lAWvy4YPblggtEYRHzeU36HG31Ti5oT0EQ_7rTJEHd1LODlLhXIZq-KkQi6w/s1200/20230423_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxhQTGw5qwXtdiyAPqr9QK9JGkuEPfUquIaXWI_jSxcOrJ72524ZjU7vHF1N5VQWgA92x_ymcVcGaQJDeV2BsYK3ikp5iwA0Grx8QesaBZ_GKEeOxxEOKp5b0mbmLu9lAWvy4YPblggtEYRHzeU36HG31Ti5oT0EQ_7rTJEHd1LODlLhXIZq-KkQi6w/w320-h240/20230423_0007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> The door could be opened by simply pulling down on the counterweight. By good fortune, rather than clever engineering, the device was balanced enough to allow the door to be left in any position that was desired, so it was possible to fully close it or leave it partly open so as to allow the fire to take in more air that way.<br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrG33_pikYhN36BmW_I7vOHHW-B3oxuBz3bl5IWCj6Q-wXPkQn2OFLETsBfkXcHR9A7XoLIQv1-sfeDBox48pW_5Z6FmoLGlYSANJ3LzHVajhXDLz6rd1iMyiENK7Fq549cILArvfaTwyB1Hp1SxQO0lxLvWBFTfuuy2HL4bHPeTE5yeZE1tP_wA0fQ/s1199/20230423_0088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrG33_pikYhN36BmW_I7vOHHW-B3oxuBz3bl5IWCj6Q-wXPkQn2OFLETsBfkXcHR9A7XoLIQv1-sfeDBox48pW_5Z6FmoLGlYSANJ3LzHVajhXDLz6rd1iMyiENK7Fq549cILArvfaTwyB1Hp1SxQO0lxLvWBFTfuuy2HL4bHPeTE5yeZE1tP_wA0fQ/w320-h240/20230423_0088.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The fire had many moods, from a happy crackling camp fire in the early part of the firing.</p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rk0QjGJTXB6PXsFVCfVi4vaqiFpmgQ77TNsAtK4AcwgMu_NY7-eDQ0ft59ZZn1WAmrIs2N0gzalZGGgtJmdWaKsyLCoQxQAuOFN7MYVlAxNbe9I59ih5arTyhnq53UPcRzMHh0e-BzmpVQYzB929jErbo8e_qSeMRy1rrWqevHsGLYaY_3OvY2clfg/s1200/20230423_0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rk0QjGJTXB6PXsFVCfVi4vaqiFpmgQ77TNsAtK4AcwgMu_NY7-eDQ0ft59ZZn1WAmrIs2N0gzalZGGgtJmdWaKsyLCoQxQAuOFN7MYVlAxNbe9I59ih5arTyhnq53UPcRzMHh0e-BzmpVQYzB929jErbo8e_qSeMRy1rrWqevHsGLYaY_3OvY2clfg/s320/20230423_0019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>To neurotic and unco-operative! Here "doctor" Jim peers at the pyrometer reading whilst carefully working to clear a blockage of embers that was restricting the flow of air to where it was vitally needed. Becky and Laura cheerfully gather more wood to replenish the pile near the kiln!</p><p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cwvwtZK-1ip0fxn8193-3qJ974rNQAnjGYjpz0HsA7rLzsPa44vHtlFPh2dTg5US9fDtb-BOyKiZlnHmQu34KXubicn16x2ukH-6OyuDwiCwJ1grR9DzZR76g3IqNdSfSfB_kZwHjmPuqcy23-lQJAZKwkEbcYtpRTGhjvq2jN9PUL0xxzjRQADx-g/s640/image000001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cwvwtZK-1ip0fxn8193-3qJ974rNQAnjGYjpz0HsA7rLzsPa44vHtlFPh2dTg5US9fDtb-BOyKiZlnHmQu34KXubicn16x2ukH-6OyuDwiCwJ1grR9DzZR76g3IqNdSfSfB_kZwHjmPuqcy23-lQJAZKwkEbcYtpRTGhjvq2jN9PUL0xxzjRQADx-g/w300-h400/image000001.jpg" width="300" /></a></div> Or fire can be like a wild and dangerous lion, roaring and devouring with an insatiable appetite! Here Jim stokes while I prepare to check cones. (Photo by Becky).<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJZ3uO4jy2KOqlIuXZxO8oWQF5wDSlg0ofi4vDEUqs8bAWLor5k9XQApJQaeLAz6qz_e-lCJ0TYBRPUjXa4WgG7Ug3ktC_GSe1Hr5GIlIaSoi9gnMowMZt--JuWuySJpCMaSK4tXrpzbnT9QUNcM1UXklQS4TkdFXpg9XWxC3ZR-8oGWeREnNBdB4Tg/s480/image000000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJZ3uO4jy2KOqlIuXZxO8oWQF5wDSlg0ofi4vDEUqs8bAWLor5k9XQApJQaeLAz6qz_e-lCJ0TYBRPUjXa4WgG7Ug3ktC_GSe1Hr5GIlIaSoi9gnMowMZt--JuWuySJpCMaSK4tXrpzbnT9QUNcM1UXklQS4TkdFXpg9XWxC3ZR-8oGWeREnNBdB4Tg/w400-h400/image000000.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Protected by gloves and goggles against the intense glare I peer into the kiln to see which cones were bending - or flat! This was at the point in the firing when I could no longer see cones in the hottest part of the kiln and the ones the next shelf up were showing cone 10 almost down. (Photo by Becky).<p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVbTVfl1nE6pG5O5jk-zPVn1gEzJ7KL88yTnghLJq0xqgpAnexbXrdC9R0OYVqc-9TM9xwT_tSSuUQbLOxbbvt0a-3C4AJ2FrFii-v6-QDzkUNwoTgPgWUXeKb9WcPUIE_ikOZoeYk4sfElL3OcpybxmAfYaz_f5dYXyv70Dr4KmsavVG1DH1JQ18FQ/s900/20230426_0041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVbTVfl1nE6pG5O5jk-zPVn1gEzJ7KL88yTnghLJq0xqgpAnexbXrdC9R0OYVqc-9TM9xwT_tSSuUQbLOxbbvt0a-3C4AJ2FrFii-v6-QDzkUNwoTgPgWUXeKb9WcPUIE_ikOZoeYk4sfElL3OcpybxmAfYaz_f5dYXyv70Dr4KmsavVG1DH1JQ18FQ/s320/20230426_0041.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p> Here are cones from the coolest part of the kiln. Nearest is cone 4, then the three cones behind it are, cone 10 standing with a slight bend, cone 8 flat, and cone 6 starting to form a puddle at its tip where it had flopped onto the kiln shelf. It is never quite straight forward to interpret cones, as temperature and the time taken to reach that temperature both have a bearing on when the cones bend, but I would think that 1260 C (2300 F) is a reasonable guess from what we see here.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizs1bz40OXXGrCfey-ry_6Tc3vdfWO__Gy8t_vUdspwxhM6UCE45oxlFshoFPT7dF4ZJbdH9a7KQ0d1mnxzUJCZYHp0HMNB5Ntrvw-2TbIvwmH22P2nOyjLTdLY6vph_XBdfSHJrJjJ42Vn4eg0NUcgRBM-M6QkWtY-iDhf3qws8s2PwI2msfMeuiN-g/s900/20230426_0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizs1bz40OXXGrCfey-ry_6Tc3vdfWO__Gy8t_vUdspwxhM6UCE45oxlFshoFPT7dF4ZJbdH9a7KQ0d1mnxzUJCZYHp0HMNB5Ntrvw-2TbIvwmH22P2nOyjLTdLY6vph_XBdfSHJrJjJ42Vn4eg0NUcgRBM-M6QkWtY-iDhf3qws8s2PwI2msfMeuiN-g/s320/20230426_0039.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>In the lower and hotter part of the kiln, cones 6 to 10 were all flat and cone 11 (not shown) was down. It is probable that a temperature of about 1300 C (2372 F) was achieved.</p><p> </p><p>We fired for 12 and a half hours, and the kiln took 3 days to cool before it could be unloaded.<br /></p><p>As this blog post is already rather long I will do a Part 2 showing the new work from the firing!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2w2WAWf-rZo4BO6ahwvtqkbzRdvPIf4o2mheSg0iZYf7mstimbO-PCBQe5GAZ64P4FXwl2DEiyfWOEhJKfnXEp0JZkCQ_PKDhDBWz8w4TowAX00fXw3hUz6F06lHzpTlEb0QlZSsPXACZIvaL-cOivv3CEbAppcZ0EHv0FUhiPtRdAStsO9lj1vRDQ/s1200/20230426_0049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2w2WAWf-rZo4BO6ahwvtqkbzRdvPIf4o2mheSg0iZYf7mstimbO-PCBQe5GAZ64P4FXwl2DEiyfWOEhJKfnXEp0JZkCQ_PKDhDBWz8w4TowAX00fXw3hUz6F06lHzpTlEb0QlZSsPXACZIvaL-cOivv3CEbAppcZ0EHv0FUhiPtRdAStsO9lj1vRDQ/w400-h300/20230426_0049.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Here is a quick glimpse of the pots that were in the first stack nearest the door of the kiln.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><br />Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-2460871524923511882023-04-25T07:19:00.004+12:002023-04-25T07:19:39.971+12:00Terracotta Planters<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi716LQM41gAsodB2aFJPHYPL4CnsVB1WRfXgc7k1CjMJtzLCkploYt4Sux_fxg5r17SL7EQQ81uB8yGo96y3u09RBEPAKuswOtKmflk7u5pCVdWyn1Lx2dpCfUKQj35XUKbCHw1Bzc1Go2BWIEsiCP1gOZSA5xG1tyCzdzmzj8XmPifnHFE5ciiLiv7g/s1199/20230423_0033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi716LQM41gAsodB2aFJPHYPL4CnsVB1WRfXgc7k1CjMJtzLCkploYt4Sux_fxg5r17SL7EQQ81uB8yGo96y3u09RBEPAKuswOtKmflk7u5pCVdWyn1Lx2dpCfUKQj35XUKbCHw1Bzc1Go2BWIEsiCP1gOZSA5xG1tyCzdzmzj8XmPifnHFE5ciiLiv7g/w400-h300/20230423_0033.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Towards the end of March I made some terracotta planters with "ruffles" (<a href="https://opopots.blogspot.com/2023/03/planters-with-fancy-ruffles.html" target="_blank">Planters With Fancy Ruffles</a>). I fired them, two at a time, in my electric kiln and tucked a small pot inside them so not to waste quite as much kiln space! Due to the wide and heavy base I fired them with great care and I also put a thin layer of grog on the kiln shelves to make it easier for the base to move to accommodate shrinkage in the firing. <br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnzISqTA0744yth_KVnrjRGCeEoBCYR_ADKnsy-Tfc3SE0TYSFwbUlZeMc_r1i-pfTEBua7sBkMaDt-NjLWJm-FsR86hU5r4wbH7BdoumM71KXjkf7N3yahUEKuH1lVLSZ4ntNVEiJNE7n6KLlQ4rIbwxWOUSn9krlXk1LycZooP7xB4mrilyp4DaXw/s1199/20230423_0049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnzISqTA0744yth_KVnrjRGCeEoBCYR_ADKnsy-Tfc3SE0TYSFwbUlZeMc_r1i-pfTEBua7sBkMaDt-NjLWJm-FsR86hU5r4wbH7BdoumM71KXjkf7N3yahUEKuH1lVLSZ4ntNVEiJNE7n6KLlQ4rIbwxWOUSn9krlXk1LycZooP7xB4mrilyp4DaXw/w400-h300/20230423_0049.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Happily, there were no losses in the kiln and I had the cheery sight of orange-red terracotta smiling at me when I opened the kiln lid!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOyeg9Dgqpom7j8Mn68GnOC1z_xfGCmlHkcol04nS8wecaCEcmBO9HUWyOOXBtPqM683CEhxhRbTwXOelxREXbvnmLYwiT3EZgWBig0-B4en1MaRmiQ89itp7lRPavZM4U8hi3L-GnNBBG3LZhAXwqeh4VMI7DHPsUKWFueAclJIldaYjf7bwDf9-9A/s1199/20230423_0112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOyeg9Dgqpom7j8Mn68GnOC1z_xfGCmlHkcol04nS8wecaCEcmBO9HUWyOOXBtPqM683CEhxhRbTwXOelxREXbvnmLYwiT3EZgWBig0-B4en1MaRmiQ89itp7lRPavZM4U8hi3L-GnNBBG3LZhAXwqeh4VMI7DHPsUKWFueAclJIldaYjf7bwDf9-9A/w400-h300/20230423_0112.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>I made a quantity of smaller flower pots out of the scrap clay that was left over after making the planters. The small pots are always handy to have in the garden and the unglazed terracotta colour really looks just right with flowers. </p><p>People worry about frost damage with terracotta, and I know this can be a problem, but I take care to fire mine slowly and quite high and we have not had any trouble with the pots we have had here sitting out all winter.</p><p>Next time I make larger planters I would like to fire them in the wood fired kiln, rather than in the electric. I wasn't able to on this occasion as time was a bit short and I was getting the wood fired kiln ready for a stoneware firing (which we have just completed).<br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNSoW3sziMgxa0QBKX_k6HrfO6Mk03-_29f0s1I226LeTRnxBOAYpLuSGZkCX1pFCcnejbaPE5Fn8BACn848fa7muzayYNLsu6vkUTAHNSdWRw7VNmDXTcaxcws510c8dFbauByzgwnUtGKbpp2fiLSQxTJ3KCKkprxrjmhq7i-hoYicOfGgn0R-_fA/s480/image000000_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNSoW3sziMgxa0QBKX_k6HrfO6Mk03-_29f0s1I226LeTRnxBOAYpLuSGZkCX1pFCcnejbaPE5Fn8BACn848fa7muzayYNLsu6vkUTAHNSdWRw7VNmDXTcaxcws510c8dFbauByzgwnUtGKbpp2fiLSQxTJ3KCKkprxrjmhq7i-hoYicOfGgn0R-_fA/s320/image000000_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo of firing the kiln by my pupil, Becky.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </p><p>More about that one on my next post!<br /></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-84958927353468887172023-04-04T18:30:00.000+12:002023-04-04T18:30:02.741+12:00Another Crystalline Glaze test firing.... and a glimmer of success at last!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgzgkKRJWOBMxoU1kClclEkYe0_kCKfjcY_dbEizKEYsCe6JDWPjxn7-OIuBloVJcq66pWmVuuSESGLzCShaL9WVI40RUfWDZIfNOHQnpKyQkE-hCRZGn_AfQyFo_XWz-ZEgIFy-tiGDoyB6J6mM5EaQQn0mtRUDXbwFW1KNqpExIeHUoACQSRAFi9g/s900/20230403_0021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="625" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgzgkKRJWOBMxoU1kClclEkYe0_kCKfjcY_dbEizKEYsCe6JDWPjxn7-OIuBloVJcq66pWmVuuSESGLzCShaL9WVI40RUfWDZIfNOHQnpKyQkE-hCRZGn_AfQyFo_XWz-ZEgIFy-tiGDoyB6J6mM5EaQQn0mtRUDXbwFW1KNqpExIeHUoACQSRAFi9g/w278-h400/20230403_0021.jpg" width="278" /></a></div><br /> If you have been following this blog lately you will know that I had two crystalline glaze firings in March, both of them were blighted with really bad problems with blistering of the glaze, crystals failing to grow, and the glazes appearing like they had been fired too high. The results were puzzling and something I had rarely encountered before. What was interesting was that only the vases that I fired were affected, but any test piece I fired came out well with few faults. I learnt a lot from each bad firing, and having examined the evidence, began to suspect that the liner glaze I used inside the vases was at least in part to blame for the trouble. None of the good test pieces had a liner glaze, only the vases with the glaze faults had it.<br /><p></p><p>I made more pots to test my idea about the liner glaze. Most of the new pots had narrow openings and did not require a glaze inside them, so that enabled me to try the crystalline glazes without the troublesome liner on full sized objects rather than the smaller testers I had used before. Testing on larger objects also would help determine if glaze thickness was part of the problem as I do apply glazes thicker when working on a larger scale.<br /></p><p>I also included a vase in this firing that had the liner glaze, but had three stoneware glazes on the outside that I regularly use, so that I could see if the liner glaze adversely affected them. </p><p>I tested three different crystalline bases, two used Frit 4110 which is a high sodium frit that is often used for crystalline glazes, and the other glaze used potash feldspar rather than frit. </p><p>I fired a total of 7 pots in a manually operated 3.5 cubic foot kiln that I often use for crystalline glaze firings. This was fired to cone 9 with tip lightly touching and took about 8 and a half hours to reach peak temperature, half hour cooling to about 1075 C and a further 4 and a quarter hours holding that temperature to ... hopefully.... grow the crystals.</p><p>Due to having rather a restless night I foolishly started the firing at 2.45am, and finished it at 4pm. This was rather a marathon, but felt more productive than tossing and turning in bed and starring at the ceiling! </p><p> I was able to unpack the kiln the following day.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lVVAvEgkNEj29UdMr6TMReJXRBzkuRj3PoS7JPNLDohewbHVSgv9MOOwyAyM8ekFi_vfoN9g7jPVdeSbJ2r6nt8mU3LNkUCqLZZOGWTZgjkT8ThjjpHhkpO8wz4DBwP3vgNmsSbjAygRIxxGrO2LY7bog9O8uSofqdLpMmQC0ExK4mNg4uY6akw8ig/s1199/20230403_0002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lVVAvEgkNEj29UdMr6TMReJXRBzkuRj3PoS7JPNLDohewbHVSgv9MOOwyAyM8ekFi_vfoN9g7jPVdeSbJ2r6nt8mU3LNkUCqLZZOGWTZgjkT8ThjjpHhkpO8wz4DBwP3vgNmsSbjAygRIxxGrO2LY7bog9O8uSofqdLpMmQC0ExK4mNg4uY6akw8ig/w400-h300/20230403_0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p> My first glance in the kiln showed very few crystals, which was a little disappointing, but it was really great to see that all glazes appeared to be free of the horrible disfiguring blisters that had ruined the work from the previous two firings.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEqM7cRKQs9ODZn1YRCe1AcVYJ17CwKJlYWtOFe_V3Vg74UAm8J-fRAg6JbNZDhAX4BxJ5TW9s-55SBP_Em9T1hd6cBghWIl6XmXD8aAXjKFaDiC4UyDqHXB8Kboj48CmMdT6L3Um6sELuNDgd3F0jWiJFY3XdzBq7h8UK5nza-GTgWY_P_eeURf1hA/s1589/20230403_0006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1589" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEqM7cRKQs9ODZn1YRCe1AcVYJ17CwKJlYWtOFe_V3Vg74UAm8J-fRAg6JbNZDhAX4BxJ5TW9s-55SBP_Em9T1hd6cBghWIl6XmXD8aAXjKFaDiC4UyDqHXB8Kboj48CmMdT6L3Um6sELuNDgd3F0jWiJFY3XdzBq7h8UK5nza-GTgWY_P_eeURf1hA/w400-h226/20230403_0006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I found that things were better than I thought when I unpacked the work. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Y8q4MZi8oCCyPpFBbQH5WcJ0KgjNf_toKvK8TB8HnJeErTgoCEM3QNo-vrBCCrJPplxOgx6h7b0ThZBCLoN1S_bkGEVhqq4ASMX2W9g4-sMVDYgRoT7MuOk_p9_cgQNKvrxtByIKrqYaquHqSMiAdpYdvAzMH07Ff8I_oJvc-baW6aULB4PhXHSStQ/s900/20230403_0013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="635" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Y8q4MZi8oCCyPpFBbQH5WcJ0KgjNf_toKvK8TB8HnJeErTgoCEM3QNo-vrBCCrJPplxOgx6h7b0ThZBCLoN1S_bkGEVhqq4ASMX2W9g4-sMVDYgRoT7MuOk_p9_cgQNKvrxtByIKrqYaquHqSMiAdpYdvAzMH07Ff8I_oJvc-baW6aULB4PhXHSStQ/w283-h400/20230403_0013.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><p></p><p>The stoneware glazed pot that had the troublesome liner was completely alright and looked rather nice with the three glazes overlapping each other. One of the glazes was more colourful than I remembered it, and they all had benefited from the 4 hour soak at 1075 C as the tiny crystals that were a normal part of the glazes had improved and made more of a stone-like surface that was smooth and pleasant to the touch.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsM5wL-W78eORk4Vo-4CepRCz7DgwM_DpdMJzo2czBp5Oyq3qw0jp9h5PTuld9gNNAPmMCnbf9yYF_-XOos0jqkWc694F91xp0F1vSV3u_R5NAKC8EvEnlYjUozMpVZb4Lox7fgFT1q5J8AI_Mrfc3W0wuDnxYZDTrSmt8paMra3m88ET5kQKBiMZ-lA/s900/20230403_0023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="615" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsM5wL-W78eORk4Vo-4CepRCz7DgwM_DpdMJzo2czBp5Oyq3qw0jp9h5PTuld9gNNAPmMCnbf9yYF_-XOos0jqkWc694F91xp0F1vSV3u_R5NAKC8EvEnlYjUozMpVZb4Lox7fgFT1q5J8AI_Mrfc3W0wuDnxYZDTrSmt8paMra3m88ET5kQKBiMZ-lA/w274-h400/20230403_0023.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p> The best crystals occurred where I added one percent red iron oxide and three percent manganese dioxide to one of the 4110 Frit glaze bases.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-Du4M_G1SLJa-ZtJZU-c95neEcUN7cx2KWV9PKR0yKbFbZB8AxkqU3Ly2_TAFScVl4Hhx7qeet_5hNPhZCb56nXUWtNn6A-CklraTKuBqXTKLvoZp_sF05zKYdKNUKlnti0hV7K87N7QBo6bTHTBD3ghZbQ38qixdhJpQux5cupyRwWeSLWhjwlIZA/s1199/20230403_0008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-Du4M_G1SLJa-ZtJZU-c95neEcUN7cx2KWV9PKR0yKbFbZB8AxkqU3Ly2_TAFScVl4Hhx7qeet_5hNPhZCb56nXUWtNn6A-CklraTKuBqXTKLvoZp_sF05zKYdKNUKlnti0hV7K87N7QBo6bTHTBD3ghZbQ38qixdhJpQux5cupyRwWeSLWhjwlIZA/w400-h300/20230403_0008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The same glaze base with three percent manganese dioxide and no iron oxide produced smaller crystals and a slightly darker overall colour.</p><p>The charming dark blue "flowers" on the shiny toffee coloured pot are from nickel oxide. These were pleasing to see, but there should have been more of them and the glaze looked somewhat over fired. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyR6tJO8EJyP_ielMKDxP2ALGmBc-9D2bnARYnUNSVD7dhTxN1_jq_8SyYRSm0ARr1LEAPSwldp4xztkbOCDziqLdSzytJ8VBTQQ00TEjrYcTbJZus-QsWeeZe-NriLlN1F5OBNF4aXu13-ox4GpzCymrLdVIxgwOzF5O2_Z4-TQgvjNNehhlu-_O4qA/s900/20230403_0015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="777" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyR6tJO8EJyP_ielMKDxP2ALGmBc-9D2bnARYnUNSVD7dhTxN1_jq_8SyYRSm0ARr1LEAPSwldp4xztkbOCDziqLdSzytJ8VBTQQ00TEjrYcTbJZus-QsWeeZe-NriLlN1F5OBNF4aXu13-ox4GpzCymrLdVIxgwOzF5O2_Z4-TQgvjNNehhlu-_O4qA/w345-h400/20230403_0015.jpg" width="345" /></a></div><p> This white pot with lines of feathery blue is the same frit based glaze that successfully grew crystals when manganese and iron were added to it. Usually this base glaze reliably produces white crystals on a white background with no trace of blue. In addition to the 25 percent zinc oxide that the glaze contains it also has about 5.5 percent of titanium dioxide, and those are normally more than enough to make nice crystals.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobYO-2Wj_hSAr_Ai1CdMqg3SmGLXvsOFdOqEz0hA03vJNbCJc_ayUpdqLlpPHFetzIH1AfFxQILoHHZZHURo4AIPbKyDlFhYzh-S4s03iv3VtMg5KJ2kEM52er8KXSs3W74PZXbuJhWLiQpI7Sm4pKv4PIjJDPpuqDcMcD3bVpzkk9neYeUk1SXCHXw/s900/20230403_0019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="494" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobYO-2Wj_hSAr_Ai1CdMqg3SmGLXvsOFdOqEz0hA03vJNbCJc_ayUpdqLlpPHFetzIH1AfFxQILoHHZZHURo4AIPbKyDlFhYzh-S4s03iv3VtMg5KJ2kEM52er8KXSs3W74PZXbuJhWLiQpI7Sm4pKv4PIjJDPpuqDcMcD3bVpzkk9neYeUk1SXCHXw/w220-h400/20230403_0019.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><p> This used the same base, but with one percent iron oxide added to it. The strange blue discolouring is still present and this makes the warm off-white iron colour a bit odd looking, but the glaze has managed to produce a few small crystals. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8322d0ygQ48IiFNfBO3bNZkpwft5bxOnefpNw0NKGQGPq_txjtzB8SCpnWC68sliRAJuLn6hYLOViJyNduHbKBOoqiNfA98vojhXohajxKq5UXoWW7fdG48TEce5M4FBg8qLf4koUJ-dv_BWKH9A-1h-UtZ1L4FI55b0ezvzvKc6tu5hIPQW2kl4eQ/s1199/20230403_0010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8322d0ygQ48IiFNfBO3bNZkpwft5bxOnefpNw0NKGQGPq_txjtzB8SCpnWC68sliRAJuLn6hYLOViJyNduHbKBOoqiNfA98vojhXohajxKq5UXoWW7fdG48TEce5M4FBg8qLf4koUJ-dv_BWKH9A-1h-UtZ1L4FI55b0ezvzvKc6tu5hIPQW2kl4eQ/w400-h300/20230403_0010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p> In the centre of the back row is a white pot that is a lovely pure white that has no blue through it. This was the only crystalline glaze in the firing that did not use a frit, the glaze being built around potash feldspar. It is a little hard to see the crystals, and they only really appear as a group on one side, almost as if they are emerging from mist.</p><p>The fact that this glaze is pure white without any blue tells me that the odd blue colour that occurs in the frit based glaze may be caused by the frit. I do remember that, about the time I bought my bag of frit, another local potter had a bad firing when her usually copper green glazes turned much bluer and were more fluxed than she had experienced before.... she also used frit 4110 and complained that it had changed.</p><p>I wonder if the blue is a boron blue? The glazes are very low in alumina and the frit contains some calcium which is an ideal scenario for developing boron blues, the blue colour I understand to be caused by the formation of tiny calcium-borate crystals. </p><p>My wife also had an interesting idea that the nickel in the glaze of one of the nearby pots may have fumed and discoloured the glaze? I certainly have had this happen with chromium oxide fuming and discolouring a crystalline glazed pot in the past and so I am very open to entertaining possibility of nickel doing this as well. I can test that one in the next firing by keeping it nickel free. </p><p>What I have confirmed from this test is that the blistering in the previous two firings was caused by the liner glaze.</p><p> If a crystalline glaze is too thin then the slight roughness of the clay body of the pot is enough to stimulate an over supply of crystals as they tend to locate around something that irritates them, because of this crystalline glazes are usually applied much thicker than regular glazes, but I
may have taken this too far as some irritation from the clay body can be a good thing!</p><p>Another thing that affects how many, if any, crystals make a start on a pot is the peak temperature that the glaze is fired to. If the peak is too high then few if any crystals may form, and if the peak is too low.... far too many crystals may cover the pot. The scarcity of crystals tells me that I may need to reduce the peak temperature.</p><p>So.... next firing will be cone 8 instead of cone 9. No nickel in the kiln and a thinner glaze application. I will also test alternative liner glazes.<br /></p><p>It is good to have enjoyed a glimmer of success at last!<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-25167439086901594862023-03-27T21:50:00.000+13:002023-03-27T21:50:40.788+13:00Planters with fancy ruffles!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3boTWnrnI9Q1tXg8KfZUhWIfG4x8_pe3R4FHleD6dPWieT9_DMSfsUrPzXN98IfhVesmBL4qSpvBSjuJw0JS_dltoWJdDZXmPOfTiiOk4vk27x0iRr9FqQthqw3h6_s7q8KBwkwq8nbnWx26byapFRJkiPA87ggoc4S1ZHVZiXKld4Dc1BGmI5YVqKQ/s1199/20230320_0002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3boTWnrnI9Q1tXg8KfZUhWIfG4x8_pe3R4FHleD6dPWieT9_DMSfsUrPzXN98IfhVesmBL4qSpvBSjuJw0JS_dltoWJdDZXmPOfTiiOk4vk27x0iRr9FqQthqw3h6_s7q8KBwkwq8nbnWx26byapFRJkiPA87ggoc4S1ZHVZiXKld4Dc1BGmI5YVqKQ/w400-h300/20230320_0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p>Last week I made earthenware planters whilst waiting for the white stoneware bottles and vases to dry that I had made the week before. It was a nice change making the planters as they are on a fairly large scale, with about 6 kg of clay being used for each one. This is quite a step up from the 400 - 800 gm weights that I often work with when making domestic ware.</p><p>I found it most efficient to weigh out 2.5 kg of clay to form the approximately 11 inch diameter base of these planters. Weighing the base material and forming it first ensured that I got the thickness consistent each time. I centred the 2.5 kg ball of clay on the wheel and then levelled it so it was nice and even and well compressed. Then I added a coil of clay around the base and use this to form the lower part of the planter wall. Once I had pulled this up on the potter's wheel I added another coil and pulled that up to about 1.5 inches short of the final height, and then used one more coil to finish off, ensuring that I left enough material at the top to split it and form a decorative doubled rim. I checked the diameter of the planter when I got to the top and found that this design worked best when it was about 14 inches. Gently flaring the planter outward gave enough material to form the ruffled sides. I used a length of half inch dowel to assist with forming the folds up the side of the planter.<br /></p><p>I put a pea sized bead of clay in each fold near the top and used a decorative clay stamp to give it a bit more personality!</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvvGCO7jsDFaj_gNUI5Ktvue7HRRYsQsxEhEhlzRKidcNwWrrbJlsSVdPr5mz94bt4m9ZdekzcR2i9O4QXMd-DYP9NMg488x7bIw8T4ufmZZ9OK9c78Z1_GqbsTe7WeJHBIOcc5PIZgRorE8f9N0m113AajEGBRs61qCGOqlMRDyd-L3ENX0Ze5v4zg/s1483/20230326_0002.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1483" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvvGCO7jsDFaj_gNUI5Ktvue7HRRYsQsxEhEhlzRKidcNwWrrbJlsSVdPr5mz94bt4m9ZdekzcR2i9O4QXMd-DYP9NMg488x7bIw8T4ufmZZ9OK9c78Z1_GqbsTe7WeJHBIOcc5PIZgRorE8f9N0m113AajEGBRs61qCGOqlMRDyd-L3ENX0Ze5v4zg/w400-h243/20230326_0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made 7 planters like these. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table>One of the hardest jobs to get right with making these was wiring them off the hardboard bat that I had thrown them on. At 11 inches across at the base it is difficult to keep the cutting wire tight enough to stop it rising up high in the middle as it slices through the clay. After one rather scary near failure with the second planter I made, I allowed a generous thickness of clay in the base to allow for the natural rise of the wire, and I also made a really heavy duty braided stainless steel cut off wire up that I knew could cope with the strain!<br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5jPCPOnSlVi_Bn29zTGKuFiSHXDEeaLKhUD_fVMOCkQKOP6lesCS40P2Q8ta0sJmx9TdQm4fQU8p8lKySTSroMDnny3_TG5kMiMnVpmOQXPWox6WafslWTHMcisgVxIvCWvS5dZPTMCXs2jC-OQwAkRVFtAJCUhnGyu84YtSCwOzuTAQESunzEpfig/s1199/20230326_0009.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5jPCPOnSlVi_Bn29zTGKuFiSHXDEeaLKhUD_fVMOCkQKOP6lesCS40P2Q8ta0sJmx9TdQm4fQU8p8lKySTSroMDnny3_TG5kMiMnVpmOQXPWox6WafslWTHMcisgVxIvCWvS5dZPTMCXs2jC-OQwAkRVFtAJCUhnGyu84YtSCwOzuTAQESunzEpfig/w400-h300/20230326_0009.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These were the very first of the planters and there is more variation between them than the later ones, because I was experimenting and trying to solve some technical challenges!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>As these are terracotta planters for the garden they each have a drainage hole in the centre of the base. I made sure that I finished around the edge of the hole carefully and compressed the clay well there. I always worry about the hole being a trigger point for drying cracks, so it pays to be a tidy worker and do things thoughtfully! </p><p>Two days after making the planters I was able to flip them upside down and remove the throwing bat from the base and tidy the planters up underneath. The planters then were dried for anther two days the right way up before they were firm enough to turn upside down so they can do most of the remainder of their drying with their bases uppermost.<br /></p><p>The planters will take two to three weeks to dry. I am hoping to assist with this a little later on by putting them on wire racks in the kiln shed with my electric kilns. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoe_W5hD7BHuRcyvWJM7K5bWQe4Iaqy7xajivklzih4f7YMdncKwEobLX5eXCmdyFc2ur_ryhV_qbhj_y6Q-ELo4bmhg96_F1x-uGYdA3XVyaqTP1Wik1vsgmmxfEOtcBDTz4WurV_fzyOyT9QM1JFh-SGRn5LHN0KaCHpVr3JbqR7SVQ1XyJfokqhQQ/s1199/20230326_0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoe_W5hD7BHuRcyvWJM7K5bWQe4Iaqy7xajivklzih4f7YMdncKwEobLX5eXCmdyFc2ur_ryhV_qbhj_y6Q-ELo4bmhg96_F1x-uGYdA3XVyaqTP1Wik1vsgmmxfEOtcBDTz4WurV_fzyOyT9QM1JFh-SGRn5LHN0KaCHpVr3JbqR7SVQ1XyJfokqhQQ/s320/20230326_0020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNWTifpAiGSXhBFh9IRfus6cdHzoANSL3lUnf8tWY7BEPgV8lbOAWq2QD8v9eCiNMSZ0dBTKorFu9VcPItQldiFsMIEGJtFRb55jsbSSERwnQXZcQ3wTC-CpSJo22ARbuwpFDotD8BA4rnoZ--bhdjYkFqQw9HDOpJk2F4DtmdrF1jjHntV88eEf2Vg/s1169/20230326_0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1169" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNWTifpAiGSXhBFh9IRfus6cdHzoANSL3lUnf8tWY7BEPgV8lbOAWq2QD8v9eCiNMSZ0dBTKorFu9VcPItQldiFsMIEGJtFRb55jsbSSERwnQXZcQ3wTC-CpSJo22ARbuwpFDotD8BA4rnoZ--bhdjYkFqQw9HDOpJk2F4DtmdrF1jjHntV88eEf2Vg/s320/20230326_0021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> On my last day of making planters I made these smaller ones out of about 3 kg of clay. <p></p><p>The planters will be unglazed and their fired colour will be a rich brick red that should look very nice with plants in the garden.<br /></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-52332018143916568602023-03-21T21:25:00.001+13:002023-03-28T21:09:18.145+13:00Necks, Shoulders, Bellies and Feet, Pots are Almost Human!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zQLc__DTi9lXtteqriwo_q24sptS52REOSGgTTq0ogThGadqGJIV3NB4qMNTj_YxIbZT_-PShH6HgPAfRcvkI-9uBC71qjbFO6lt_Y7ySSd3Ve3rd1ug5IvBdGJ13ubW0K0bs5YyfigH-m6Gs2NI585I-zW6ZENeTFC2nv9xwf6G9mpCo88kRXQjuw/s1199/20230319_0011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zQLc__DTi9lXtteqriwo_q24sptS52REOSGgTTq0ogThGadqGJIV3NB4qMNTj_YxIbZT_-PShH6HgPAfRcvkI-9uBC71qjbFO6lt_Y7ySSd3Ve3rd1ug5IvBdGJ13ubW0K0bs5YyfigH-m6Gs2NI585I-zW6ZENeTFC2nv9xwf6G9mpCo88kRXQjuw/w400-h300/20230319_0011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>After running into technical difficulties with the last two crystalline glaze firings I decided to make more pots that I can use to help test the problem glazes, and hopefully also get some successes along the way!<p></p><p></p><p>I decided to make some pots with narrow openings that I can leave unglazed on the inside, and some test pieces that I can glaze inside and outside with a variety of glaze combinations.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdnQGiOZlcPFf-Y6zfqtUc-Wk5Dran6Sr2r_cBWiyBLU3Gjeh7pDLcR3v164eqGaFZw_Vd1IcF6A--ghyqpQcxotPluOD39fDdJTCKvMwQ0sq_POOXgA0K_yapw8k_WQ7QPe-5fEdR4dvpDwUqdKqJ2gfF7u0B4Rc14cDXwPzhgINinfmmG98dmwrVA/s900/20230319_0014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdnQGiOZlcPFf-Y6zfqtUc-Wk5Dran6Sr2r_cBWiyBLU3Gjeh7pDLcR3v164eqGaFZw_Vd1IcF6A--ghyqpQcxotPluOD39fDdJTCKvMwQ0sq_POOXgA0K_yapw8k_WQ7QPe-5fEdR4dvpDwUqdKqJ2gfF7u0B4Rc14cDXwPzhgINinfmmG98dmwrVA/w400-h400/20230319_0014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <p></p><p>I enjoyed making the new narrow necked pots, they are rather fun really and a bit magical, with the final opening being too small for the hand or even a finger they are a bit of a conjuring trick! I made them without a plan as such, but let my mind and hands work fairly intuitively, I guess it was a form of stream of consciousness potting! It was nice to play with necks and shoulders, and the fullness of the pot, and to see which ones I liked best, or left me feeling like there was something about the pot that still needed to be resolved.</p><p> It was also interesting to view the pots as a group and to see the very human character that many had. It is no co-incidence that pots that are made by humans, often look a little like humans!<br /></p><p>A sense of proportion and balance is a very personal thing. I realise that there have been attempts to codify aesthetics and come up with rather formal ways of doing things, such as the "rule of thirds" or the "golden mean", but I prefer to try to discover what really feels right or wrong for me. I do think that it is also good to occasionally make something that quite deliberately feels all wrong! This can be a really refreshing exercise, and can clear out a few mental cobwebs and open up all sorts of unexpected possibilities!</p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-61280255908205293622023-03-14T07:12:00.004+13:002023-03-14T07:28:30.906+13:00A Visit from Balclutha Pottery Club, and ... a Investigating a Crime Scene in the Kiln!<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMYVtGSp3VvB7JYFbaZMGrab-eReM98vw7JcPkXFuMf-Jm8ONpZwEAvLfUt62Bq3CWJVSqtmiq3cZgPaCIsx1Q8SIndxPIdwEFwY0rkhd0_jhlBKyRzErOrNF6aewvYtNgRznlPf024bHI-FEMuqQNiV0yMSHMDoBIxaDeLpx4-4R36KhKI7RLbX13w/s1199/20230303_0017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMYVtGSp3VvB7JYFbaZMGrab-eReM98vw7JcPkXFuMf-Jm8ONpZwEAvLfUt62Bq3CWJVSqtmiq3cZgPaCIsx1Q8SIndxPIdwEFwY0rkhd0_jhlBKyRzErOrNF6aewvYtNgRznlPf024bHI-FEMuqQNiV0yMSHMDoBIxaDeLpx4-4R36KhKI7RLbX13w/w400-h300/20230303_0017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A corner of my studio with some of my glaze materials.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /> We had a visit last Friday from the Balclutha Pottery Club, and I had an enjoyable time answering questions about glazing and firing pots, demonstrating a few things on the potter's wheel and showing them the wood fired kiln. I haven't done much of that sort of thing for quite a while and I tend to be a little isolated out here, but it was lovely being able to have the opportunity to pass on some of what I have learned and to be in the company of other people who are enjoying working with clay. Potter's were very kind and helpful to me when I started to make pots, and I always remember that. </p><p></p><p><b>The Strange Case of the missing Crystals and Messed up pots! </b></p><p><i>Witness Statement....<br /></i></p><p><i>Thurs 9 March 2023</i><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwJ9f-qnLW_ScnuQSe7bUV3IQnbv7GnMqOI2RgHak5b9Oj1TPEVpEvV-T2FWELC9SlbCEWuBf9OoUurM-jt5hr_rOYc0yusrg0XWKECgia7N9cEIqA_S86my9dKhppjDQ0s0wO9Kmyyy3jQaHju7R2bq0Xzsd0Bn-e1t5hLCsFNk3Z8ho6TOIJhgHHA/s1945/9March23CrystallineFiring.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1672" data-original-width="1945" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwJ9f-qnLW_ScnuQSe7bUV3IQnbv7GnMqOI2RgHak5b9Oj1TPEVpEvV-T2FWELC9SlbCEWuBf9OoUurM-jt5hr_rOYc0yusrg0XWKECgia7N9cEIqA_S86my9dKhppjDQ0s0wO9Kmyyy3jQaHju7R2bq0Xzsd0Bn-e1t5hLCsFNk3Z8ho6TOIJhgHHA/w400-h344/9March23CrystallineFiring.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The log of this firing. Temperature is in Celsius.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>With the assistance of our cat, Nigella Stopit, I had risen quite early and started the firing at 4.40am. It had seemed like a very good firing, the rate of temperature rise was rapid and predictable and the cones were easy to see through the spy hole. I had set cones 9 and 10, and for clarity I had not included the troublesome cone 8 that had shown a tendency to go down after cone 9 in previous firings! </p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Geplbbe30vL0SmsVzT0FhvcDvl3182iVP-7Dkly7RDxzTHmM1CXSrsQDvh7vEvKR5pKhvpls-_tn_8PJ58O_JjdPI0XweX17ZQ6_wd2Ga3uCFyR-ADDv_2G0c-lj7i_4lIiGeAxY-XleIGogsqezr6XoiQVFbOL-7zxYnzCGbETMPPCwIqi6ToRHoQ/s1199/20230214_0037.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Geplbbe30vL0SmsVzT0FhvcDvl3182iVP-7Dkly7RDxzTHmM1CXSrsQDvh7vEvKR5pKhvpls-_tn_8PJ58O_JjdPI0XweX17ZQ6_wd2Ga3uCFyR-ADDv_2G0c-lj7i_4lIiGeAxY-XleIGogsqezr6XoiQVFbOL-7zxYnzCGbETMPPCwIqi6ToRHoQ/s320/20230214_0037.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orton Cones numbered 8, 9 and 10. They measure heat work in the kiln which is a combination of time and temperature.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>I slowed the kiln as it approached peak temperature to allow any bubbles in the glaze to settle, and the kiln behaved well enough for me to later be able to do a steady hold of just over 3 hours for the crystals to grow. I was rather pleased with how it had gone and anticipated a better result than the 03 March firing where I had not controlled things so well. </p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6d5SMNDXYau7Occek-CTp-rozCby9SXBN0LSz-W0v9_I-nl8YaBKeFJHK-0HcNPqMvZdJ9eGKGnv8GyPEmScNkQEWUvbC34zny_uwA8vsMwC-MjMMFFj-BTLUo3RATnbNyYqnEMp-cVrK4q1C1pp4wlVElo23OckmBVFWd6p40vYCkTG4GmRy9RGHIA/s1199/20230308_0001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6d5SMNDXYau7Occek-CTp-rozCby9SXBN0LSz-W0v9_I-nl8YaBKeFJHK-0HcNPqMvZdJ9eGKGnv8GyPEmScNkQEWUvbC34zny_uwA8vsMwC-MjMMFFj-BTLUo3RATnbNyYqnEMp-cVrK4q1C1pp4wlVElo23OckmBVFWd6p40vYCkTG4GmRy9RGHIA/s320/20230308_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the kiln prior to the firing.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p> There were 4 vases in the kiln and I had been able to also squeeze in two glaze testers. </p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMZHBbY9_ZMxsvkVBg2gY47eOzrHcEFPspipTDIe_UUiQTBE6XAJQX6G0hh6QICKeCemTnwimqPE8ZZrLoHRiOwDlW9DbDQl-T3QuFAZ4IkiNZ9QWXf9-DyXK4WKTJI0-JrutBQstvBXI2GP-WT1pDL_ne8_rATGGo2qY5YTCOhMaRGEIhu9u1wSrYQ/s1199/20230312_0001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMZHBbY9_ZMxsvkVBg2gY47eOzrHcEFPspipTDIe_UUiQTBE6XAJQX6G0hh6QICKeCemTnwimqPE8ZZrLoHRiOwDlW9DbDQl-T3QuFAZ4IkiNZ9QWXf9-DyXK4WKTJI0-JrutBQstvBXI2GP-WT1pDL_ne8_rATGGo2qY5YTCOhMaRGEIhu9u1wSrYQ/s320/20230312_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awful vases!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>When I unpacked the firing I found that all 4 vases were truly awful, <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIg97AWERUx02_O70Fc_Ayq58jHB9ge9xNNBA6af--uZQiBJh0BAo9NokwEEFjCTfHS2AiyT_1QPfmkOSSw8j6c56949wW2K-Fs3lCLf5sM1Oa_II4gWmQvISAw_RO8QJIqESdDQg1MB4oy_jCOGETJ9P63xf6N4dKd8lujGB3pad1QaQ9bUAO_7H_xw/s1199/20230312_0023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIg97AWERUx02_O70Fc_Ayq58jHB9ge9xNNBA6af--uZQiBJh0BAo9NokwEEFjCTfHS2AiyT_1QPfmkOSSw8j6c56949wW2K-Fs3lCLf5sM1Oa_II4gWmQvISAw_RO8QJIqESdDQg1MB4oy_jCOGETJ9P63xf6N4dKd8lujGB3pad1QaQ9bUAO_7H_xw/s320/20230312_0023.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good Testers!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>but the two glaze testers were good! </p><p><b>The Investigation.... </b><br /></p><p> Things were so bad with the glazes on the vases, that it was actually
rather an interesting puzzle to sort out - more like a crime scene in a
murder mystery than a little group of sad pots from a glaze firing!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoaDLO1QEUVSSzcKQ4vfcOMUrWGXQE-rb9YE6A35I2ECNFpd5kQhuUZ1iGWmk6uvu_ek4KVC__DXNO8jrhqJNd-Jf-eS_Vvj6pz1RMcDJ_xCbNgFkk2A5RV1jxYqfpG4kcg-06Qkg02xqzp7nfQu9o6T9-N055dxz4AGEcW71P-Ku7cHd78AAwq4Q8w/s900/20230312_0018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoaDLO1QEUVSSzcKQ4vfcOMUrWGXQE-rb9YE6A35I2ECNFpd5kQhuUZ1iGWmk6uvu_ek4KVC__DXNO8jrhqJNd-Jf-eS_Vvj6pz1RMcDJ_xCbNgFkk2A5RV1jxYqfpG4kcg-06Qkg02xqzp7nfQu9o6T9-N055dxz4AGEcW71P-Ku7cHd78AAwq4Q8w/s320/20230312_0018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The green glaze test shared the same glaze base (with a little copper added) as the white vase beside it. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVdxAVutGYyRx0qjaMoY0diw0IkU1StXKkaBYXsmBogh5Vo8J4BmTZQApYyKZK9YCZvtuz11jVS7Vwguzu_VHVwHz-TJ-9F8TgnOt-u4IFwOCRhTtzZEfW9xm7A_7C7y1dQda3luyiIaV4t49Ub7naGrOooAjFFoH_LsWOleub8T84sfYJkdHpPXvGA/s900/20230312_0042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVdxAVutGYyRx0qjaMoY0diw0IkU1StXKkaBYXsmBogh5Vo8J4BmTZQApYyKZK9YCZvtuz11jVS7Vwguzu_VHVwHz-TJ-9F8TgnOt-u4IFwOCRhTtzZEfW9xm7A_7C7y1dQda3luyiIaV4t49Ub7naGrOooAjFFoH_LsWOleub8T84sfYJkdHpPXvGA/s320/20230312_0042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The glaze on the vase was bubbled, crazed, glassy and looked badly over fired, </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2fXEVAG7NP5ed2RHuERiWM4xy1hp3UyxfbSjPms7zbfdN1XmFPWObiwtdBbowyddSSldoYtwG29HJW8WuTinEd5J-fbU26M5_IUYR4pDYZIi-O1mq-C-lTrFGQhaYjNrn5cDOmC7_mK6lTUEZcfQkAVH7UweJuLJ6t0J5aSH6DMgJa_5ElM3tKcIkw/s900/20230312_0021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="770" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2fXEVAG7NP5ed2RHuERiWM4xy1hp3UyxfbSjPms7zbfdN1XmFPWObiwtdBbowyddSSldoYtwG29HJW8WuTinEd5J-fbU26M5_IUYR4pDYZIi-O1mq-C-lTrFGQhaYjNrn5cDOmC7_mK6lTUEZcfQkAVH7UweJuLJ6t0J5aSH6DMgJa_5ElM3tKcIkw/w343-h400/20230312_0021.jpg" width="343" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>the glaze on the green tester had none of these faults.<br /></p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEs8JXFusZrL9MGwo42jTYGXN0HUT2yWDacZSJu6mE0d9M3Ch5Weig5Whi-72ylKsuEt_d9BLKvw7FRgK4SQl4I1zaw0uKxaWL0o0lXnyK-Fhvt0zWMRNaq2HnxtAD-LrwXlf4-OiVh2NC6nrY5Qo5DZR9ybLpf7ByrvJOsqW5vNqss090SbtE10cDsA/s1199/20230312_0037.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEs8JXFusZrL9MGwo42jTYGXN0HUT2yWDacZSJu6mE0d9M3Ch5Weig5Whi-72ylKsuEt_d9BLKvw7FRgK4SQl4I1zaw0uKxaWL0o0lXnyK-Fhvt0zWMRNaq2HnxtAD-LrwXlf4-OiVh2NC6nrY5Qo5DZR9ybLpf7ByrvJOsqW5vNqss090SbtE10cDsA/s320/20230312_0037.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same temperature, same glaze!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The vase on the left has the same glaze as the little tester on the right, both were fired to the same temperature, but in different firings. The glaze recipe was one that I used many times in the past with great success and it was baffling to see it looking so over fired on the vase and so altered in appearance.</p><p> The other two vases in the firing were also unattractively marred by faults and really different from the way their glazes had behaved in the 23 February test firing.<br /></p><p></p><p><b>Previous Hypothesis...</b><br /></p><p> The previous bad firing had me thinking that the glaze faults could have been caused by a combination of applying the glaze a little too thickly, not doing a short hold at peak temperature, and possibly allowing the temperature to get a little too high when the crystals were growing. I addressed all those problems and yet the awfulness continued, and if anything, it was even worse!<br /></p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeitNUJPGPnYr1Rzbi7lr-BzzkDD6QUWvQJtdZqmMZwqJCs7CBMg5jzqOqjgsHWzhtnDmnnpGf36xuHm51_SqS2nSL45mqQ3iB7pnwtzPzJp6x_yXOC-ATYN7OJ1l6q4xiQ-qdOWQ_MoyCVk61NxkFtPZnMCh2xkzFX2s0YvPjugx2LvHqwjRFTexmBw/s901/20230307_0004.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeitNUJPGPnYr1Rzbi7lr-BzzkDD6QUWvQJtdZqmMZwqJCs7CBMg5jzqOqjgsHWzhtnDmnnpGf36xuHm51_SqS2nSL45mqQ3iB7pnwtzPzJp6x_yXOC-ATYN7OJ1l6q4xiQ-qdOWQ_MoyCVk61NxkFtPZnMCh2xkzFX2s0YvPjugx2LvHqwjRFTexmBw/s320/20230307_0004.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grinding stubborn glaze ingredients with a mortar and pestle prior to sieving.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><b>Things in Common...</b><br /></p><p>To help make sense of what had happened I had a think about what glaze ingredients each problem vase had in common.<br /></p><p>Some glazes used a glaze frit, others used feldspar, but both types were affected.<br /></p><p>All glazes used quartz to supply silica.</p><p>All glazes used the same zinc oxide. <br /></p><p>Whilst it was tempting to start to blame either the zinc or the quartz, it had to be remembered that the glaze testers that I put in this firing and in the 23 February glaze test firing were really successful, and they shared exactly the same ingredients as the horrible vases!</p><p>The clay body used for the vases was the same as the one used for the successful tests. <br /></p><p><b> A Glimmer of an Idea.....</b><br /></p><p> It was all a bit mysterious, until I realised that the vases all had a dark iron-rich liner glaze, but the testers had no inside glaze. </p><p> </p><p> I had often used a similar glaze inside crystalline vases in the past,</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbkWEdpj8B1dN8AzzR0BMnO7glsZJAe3VkhvAp6Ya06nFlHaXerXbkDia3zsJMbMq8pHVzasomsvrSokaxypafwD1zEcpbitMBhLfAP-i04Zt_fMkkUb4Pv-EST3eavSJzFI2K9CMFJTtpFT62-_S7KerqRTY2HJFcETAoB64VdLnBsM0wkgRhl_48g/s800/20141015_0041.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="655" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbkWEdpj8B1dN8AzzR0BMnO7glsZJAe3VkhvAp6Ya06nFlHaXerXbkDia3zsJMbMq8pHVzasomsvrSokaxypafwD1zEcpbitMBhLfAP-i04Zt_fMkkUb4Pv-EST3eavSJzFI2K9CMFJTtpFT62-_S7KerqRTY2HJFcETAoB64VdLnBsM0wkgRhl_48g/s320/20141015_0041.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A vase from 2014 with an iron-rich liner glaze.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p> however I had made a couple of adjustments to the glaze in recent times to make it mature at a lower temperature than it did before, and to be a little darker (I had added 2.5 percent calcium borate frit, and about 2 percent more iron oxide). Could it be that the glaze that was inside my crystalline vases was able to influence the crystalline glaze on the outside? The crystalline glazes on the outside appeared over fired and were badly bubbled, was it really possible that the inside glaze could have fluxed the outside glaze?<br /></p><p>Interestingly, iron oxide, when heated to stoneware temperatures, gets into a rather excited party mood and lets go of some of the oxygen that is bound up with the iron. </p><p> I wonder if the iron in the glaze I had used inside the vases was able
to push some oxygen through the wall of the pot and cause bubbles in the
crystalline glaze?</p><p> Or was the mere fact of sealing the inside of the pot meaning that any outgassing from the clay body was going to have to make its way through the glaze, and the crystalline one was more affected by this for some reason than the inside glaze? The crystalline glaze would become molten and seal the clay at a lower temperature than the inside glaze. If the clay body was outgassing something that had not been got rid of in the bisque firing, then it may have blown bubbles into the crystalline glaze, but have passed harmlessly through the unmelted inside glaze. The firing was a very rapid one, and in spite of slowing the firing at it neared the peak temperature there may not have been enough time for the bubbles on the outside glaze to settle.<br /></p><p><b>A Suspect..... </b><br /></p><p>My chief suspect at this point of the investigation is the inside glaze, and I also have some questions to ask the clay body! I will have to set up a little experiment and fire the kiln again to understand this further, and perhaps discover the culprit!<br /></p><p>I have had good success with crystalline glazes in the past and it is a little frustrating to meet with such difficulty now, but crystalline glazes are rarely easy, and if I am correct in my hunch that the inside glaze is having this effect on the outside one, then it does provide a fascinating glimpse into the world inside the kiln at very high temperature when clay and glaze dance together! <br /></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-74037990086259369052023-03-08T21:47:00.000+13:002023-03-08T21:47:52.946+13:00Rocket Science, Elusive Crystals, Simmerstats that Stick, Learning from Failure!<p>For the last year or two I have been taking an armchair interest in the progress of SpaceX, the company that Elon Musk founded. I have been entertained, worried, and inspired by the extra-ordinary spectacle of test rockets, said to be the size of 12 story buildings, slowly ascending, then flipping over onto their sides and dropping in a controlled free fall, before relighting their engines, flipping back upright and attempting a landing. Several of these tests ended with a spectacular explosion, but Starship SN15 successfully achieved what looked completely impossible, it really was like an episode of Thunderbirds made real!</p><p>I find myself seeing all this through the lens of art, performance and public sculpture as well as science and engineering. Yes, there are moral and environmental questions thrown up by this sort of activity, but I have to say that I find the way Elon Musk goes about overcoming problems of rocket science and engineering gives me a bit more heart and perseverance when it comes to solving more humble problems of making and glazing pots!</p><p>As I reported in my previous blog post, I am having another go at crystalline glazes. The 23 February test that I did was really promising, with most of the test glazes producing crystals. I was therefore very enthusiastic about the next step in the process which was to glaze and fire some small vases and to see how the glazes worked on a slightly larger scale. </p><p>I selected three of the most successful glazes from the tests and also made a modified version of one of them that I was hoping would give me nice nickel blue coloured crystals. </p><p>After glazing the first two vases I ran out of the zinc oxide that I had used when I made the glazes for the test pieces, and I switched to a supply of zinc that I had used in the distant past. Whilst this zinc had worked for crystalline glazes, I did remember that it had tended to be more of a vigorous flux in stoneware glazes than other zinc that I had used. <br /></p><p>I applied the glazes more thickly than I did on the glaze test pieces. Crystalline glazes are very fluid at high temperatures and you have to allow for the fact that some of it will very likely flow off the pot. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHtc7tw_JYNpfyYOobIoRAe1wPU3kMgrVCVWed8ChwoLZQcpbzvQ_iRR8m7cnp6v5P3dIjzARGAXKvc9kMv1fv1qMAm-qmPtRW04EXd7DOPCcdkHSwHTzOMlyKssw9leasVTDqohy6WD64qpAD6VMlytyITftaUNn1eNEBzNHB85Znc73IpmI72gTVA/s1199/20230303_0010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHtc7tw_JYNpfyYOobIoRAe1wPU3kMgrVCVWed8ChwoLZQcpbzvQ_iRR8m7cnp6v5P3dIjzARGAXKvc9kMv1fv1qMAm-qmPtRW04EXd7DOPCcdkHSwHTzOMlyKssw9leasVTDqohy6WD64qpAD6VMlytyITftaUNn1eNEBzNHB85Znc73IpmI72gTVA/w400-h300/20230303_0010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>After the pots were dry, I loaded the kiln and I fired it gently through the night so that it was at 700 degrees when I checked it at about 3.45am. From there I was able to put the kiln on full power and it reached peak temperature just after 7am. The kiln actually got to peak half an hour faster than I expected, and judging the peak temperature was made really difficult because of the bad behaviour of Cone 8 that decided to stay upright for longer than Cone 9 and the two stuck to each other as a result.</p><p>I think I may have a faulty box of Cones as I have had previous firings with Cone 8 not flopping fully even after cone 9 is down and 10 is bending slightly.</p><p>After the peak was reached I turned off the kiln, let the temperature fall to an indicated 1075, then restarted it. I kept the temperature below 1100 C for the first two hours of the hold, but then the kiln temperature rather mysteriously started to climb in spite of me reducing the power settings. This was odd behaviour, as a kiln will usually demand more and more power as the holding time ticks by because the heat that the kiln has stored slowly bleeds away. After battling the slow rise for half an hour, I surmised that one of the simmerstats may have stuck on a high setting and not be cycling on and off as it should. I turned both completely off and wound the knobs right round one or two times to see if I could free stuck contacts. Happily, when I restarted things, the simmerstats behaved normally again and I was able to bring the kiln back under full control. The temperature had climbed to 1125 whilst all this was going on, which was higher than I wanted.</p><p>I switched the kiln off after growing the crystals for about 4 and a half hours as I needed to grow the crystals about twice the size that I had grown them on the small test pieces in the previous firing where I had grown them for 2 and a half hours.</p><p><b>I was able to open the kiln the next day.....</b></p><p>The firing really didn't work out well at all, and of course this was a big disappointment, but it has been interesting and instructive having a good look at each piece and thinking about why the glazes behaved so differently from how they were in the test firing.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqiMTYhomJ66xxGtMUsOL5b724RksrkBukNGkTlXG6wsOc-VAKbagGInugw6a2odom7ROEWiITm4DZmlmjBIPdUnUSxHjO4SiI1pLlZ3Q4-Qlh7uGju1lqjaSi_MmeRF8FdZcWeFaASY4ncTMBC-UEjHzZhtSzXaKsQxzemxvD_5teR6pB1m6piQ-5Q/s1199/20230307_0011.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqiMTYhomJ66xxGtMUsOL5b724RksrkBukNGkTlXG6wsOc-VAKbagGInugw6a2odom7ROEWiITm4DZmlmjBIPdUnUSxHjO4SiI1pLlZ3Q4-Qlh7uGju1lqjaSi_MmeRF8FdZcWeFaASY4ncTMBC-UEjHzZhtSzXaKsQxzemxvD_5teR6pB1m6piQ-5Q/w400-h300/20230307_0011.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>You won't see many crystals if you look at this group of pots, but the cone pack is rather interesting with cones 8 and 10 standing and 9 flat in between! On the front left is a rather brown looking vase with a blue crystal and some blue streaks, this was the Nickel blue crystal vase that I had high hopes for, but it came out with few crystals and really did look rather sad!<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpavnb-k6Zy946qht00j9b0SeDRFH5aqGvEkVMn41INa9zkfGez-64tflQax4Asq2PIhmW8Um_jejeArUYgYWpa5hbXr3v0lsvh67-1bHpp0VlhrmQqmAG_Mx1e9vcFfPKdlJ-iwp2SWulyJfZZKZwlKjxAPyPcsndxvWlqH7qlV7bx5Grw7xrKJLSBA/s900/20230307_0018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpavnb-k6Zy946qht00j9b0SeDRFH5aqGvEkVMn41INa9zkfGez-64tflQax4Asq2PIhmW8Um_jejeArUYgYWpa5hbXr3v0lsvh67-1bHpp0VlhrmQqmAG_Mx1e9vcFfPKdlJ-iwp2SWulyJfZZKZwlKjxAPyPcsndxvWlqH7qlV7bx5Grw7xrKJLSBA/w400-h400/20230307_0018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>This white vase was marred by deep moon-like craters in the glaze. This was one of the stiffer feldspar based glazes. It really needed to be put on a little thinner and to have had a short hold at peak temperature to allow for the bubbles to pop and heal over. Whilst this glaze needed a bit more heat work at the peak temperature, it also shows signs of being held at too higher temperature when the crystals were growing, the scattering of crystal rods and occasional crosses are a characteristic of this. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFnYt-gTDvoVh7kSdZyT98ubbqj2Oxrgu2LnkVrqB3bX51oQuoTUhK0RyHGa7k1BFEUviNlooZK0guPZwbke3Eezn8jEBgg5fxtiyYGOU83IbaFzigp60vWmb3ZhYhMTjetvjSUW-8xJa4qO6vs43lKSZprCuGatgUfXG7RUjNP0dL4Zjhi7pzotMxg/s997/20230307_0008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="997" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFnYt-gTDvoVh7kSdZyT98ubbqj2Oxrgu2LnkVrqB3bX51oQuoTUhK0RyHGa7k1BFEUviNlooZK0guPZwbke3Eezn8jEBgg5fxtiyYGOU83IbaFzigp60vWmb3ZhYhMTjetvjSUW-8xJa4qO6vs43lKSZprCuGatgUfXG7RUjNP0dL4Zjhi7pzotMxg/w400-h361/20230307_0008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The vase front right almost worked. This was one that had the same zinc oxide that I used in the tests... and it has turned out very similar to the tests! Annoyingly this had a bubble on the rim that formed a crater, so it is not as good looking as it might have been. Like the white vase with the craters, this one also may have benefited from a short hold at peak temperature to help the glaze smooth out.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgSJj7Zlb2p0qj-crGUHTkzIet8rJxbUzHVZyxvhdc1yCMsxyh_xkEj_9_AfwMCPmqXyzJsXxhzsgAga_b7ocpGK4ZHRSiNw4D2JkpXylCTs_C9ijASfaEcfZjOBjym0pIuTmKaVGECwHjs7-IYzubeh67zR8jJZGsQTXipEN20bnVrW9BMQgS1Qulg/s900/20230307_0014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgSJj7Zlb2p0qj-crGUHTkzIet8rJxbUzHVZyxvhdc1yCMsxyh_xkEj_9_AfwMCPmqXyzJsXxhzsgAga_b7ocpGK4ZHRSiNw4D2JkpXylCTs_C9ijASfaEcfZjOBjym0pIuTmKaVGECwHjs7-IYzubeh67zR8jJZGsQTXipEN20bnVrW9BMQgS1Qulg/w400-h400/20230307_0014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>This one almost worked, but....some tiny fragments fell into the glaze from the lid of the kiln whilst it was firing! Interestingly, the fragments acted as an irritant in the glaze that helped it produce crystals around them. If you look carefully you may notice that two of the crystals in the photo have little black dots in their middles.</p><p> </p><p><b>Having had some failures to peer at.... <br /></b></p><p>I glazed more pots today and hope to fire again tomorrow!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGQotAHWGtElPt3kMHtL8M6m0fZN5fL9lTOdKKjWEZ8-NtQ8In5l8iJbmN2ylK1hekW9z3M1PcbZKu0HyMdodyInHa8Spa3wopS4HDfNlHaOLlI1QlNWwCmAgEZ3v3I7L098xo-f3-AMRQZEUWWgoxUIFFRRUjrLDx8n7ZbrXB6L5rioNSv0tTsXnCg/s1199/20230308_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGQotAHWGtElPt3kMHtL8M6m0fZN5fL9lTOdKKjWEZ8-NtQ8In5l8iJbmN2ylK1hekW9z3M1PcbZKu0HyMdodyInHa8Spa3wopS4HDfNlHaOLlI1QlNWwCmAgEZ3v3I7L098xo-f3-AMRQZEUWWgoxUIFFRRUjrLDx8n7ZbrXB6L5rioNSv0tTsXnCg/s320/20230308_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Here is the kiln, all loaded and ready to fire again! I could only really fit these 4 vases in this time and a couple of testers. </p><p> </p><p><b>From Lessons Learned.... </b><br /></p><p>1) To avoid confusion I have got rid of Cone 8 and will only use Cones 9 and 10 in this firing. </p><p>2) When making these glazes I used some zinc from the same supplier from which I sourced the zinc that the February test glazes were made from. <br /></p><p>3) I have applied the glazes slightly thinner than on the previous firing, and will aim to do a short hold at peak temperature to allow time for glaze to smooth over. </p><p>4) I will aim to grow the crystals at about 1065 - 1075. </p><p>5) I will be alert for further simmerstat problems. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Notes...</b></p><p>For anyone who is still here and likes looking at graphs, here is a comparison of the test firing with the firing of the vases.
The 23 February test firing has a blue line joining the dots, and the 03
March firing has a red line. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjF2u_rtN6GM8ARPLazEQZODL6_N-RwL8D_sZJVqqvgXQq1NTXTZIV9yOTVo99LHjgOi-l4lyd0ZiX4lGxSOhtKQ3Vju4AeyHziyo8V8Ejv32T1nkvb5fs-Nbtmn7UrZfXdStPEj_Box19soxlQpzds7Xq4I18HMXimHepkUtU8aiQOWYkbJwkKuVhw/s900/03MarchCrystallineFiring.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="756" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjF2u_rtN6GM8ARPLazEQZODL6_N-RwL8D_sZJVqqvgXQq1NTXTZIV9yOTVo99LHjgOi-l4lyd0ZiX4lGxSOhtKQ3Vju4AeyHziyo8V8Ejv32T1nkvb5fs-Nbtmn7UrZfXdStPEj_Box19soxlQpzds7Xq4I18HMXimHepkUtU8aiQOWYkbJwkKuVhw/w336-h400/03MarchCrystallineFiring.jpg" width="336" /></a></div><p>The
red line really shows very clearly the rise in temperature when I was
having trouble with the simmerstats. At the time the temperature rise
did not seem quite as bad, but I can see from this comparison that it
subjected the glaze to a lot more heat work over the time the crystals
were growing.</p><p> </p><p><i> "Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough." </i>Elon Musk. (Source: Forbes, Quora, BrainyQuote, and numerous others) </p><p><br /></p><p>NASASpaceflight has great coverage of the SpaceX rocket programme</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@NASASpaceflight">https://www.youtube.com/@NASASpaceflight</a><br /></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-82253347215475729312023-02-26T17:59:00.002+13:002023-02-26T18:05:19.035+13:00Kiln Unloaded. Exciting Crystalline Glaze Test Results!<p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0WxECET2qP6RWj_5ilSWqghQXYdEPbfg0r0uFBKX_QPYsN7xccoLbWkigiEIFecXiTC-myECR1eQi4CgNDhKQGInHN2j-yVHd0qovNd2RHgiF9OtoEOlSBSeLifs2TmyBAngC7lAyiEEhISrUU5QzrLti1hHUVHe0-iI8-DfXAZ8-aU0xWnKoBN-yw/s1265/20230224_0010bKrita.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="1265" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0WxECET2qP6RWj_5ilSWqghQXYdEPbfg0r0uFBKX_QPYsN7xccoLbWkigiEIFecXiTC-myECR1eQi4CgNDhKQGInHN2j-yVHd0qovNd2RHgiF9OtoEOlSBSeLifs2TmyBAngC7lAyiEEhISrUU5QzrLti1hHUVHe0-iI8-DfXAZ8-aU0xWnKoBN-yw/w400-h300/20230224_0010bKrita.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I was delighted with the results of the recent crystalline glaze test firing. I tested quite a variety of glaze recipes, none of which I had used before, and all but two gave very promising results right away. <br /></p><p>Macro-crystalline glazes that are formulated to produce clusters of large zinc-silicate crystals are often *frit based, for example 50% high sodium frit, such as 3110, with 25% silica and 25% zinc oxide will almost certainly make a basic recipe for a cone 9 or 10 crystalline glaze. The frit based glazes are adjusted to the particular needs of the potter, often the frit content comes back a little from the 50% and maybe a tiny amount of china clay or bentonite is added to make the glaze easier to apply, or to help control the flow of the glaze. Sometimes a secondary flux might be added, such as Whiting, but the frit based glazes are often very similar in formulation. </p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-We5clN6qrFGklPsokNO9OXrz_TTsON47kAoJgxeahSESOdkjBEfsM2Bmes_w-tTY08dhOaEy7Z9Z7bXb8eY_fNc4aR6W5CEgvZXMygH3X5TJ1yJahbxa9prbV0wJJ3nENlWyr95fxvDwBEDvqQg6io0rIvvAur1rZ3b4O3mJWb739bUh7ZVCJEsfaA/s1199/20230224_0067.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-We5clN6qrFGklPsokNO9OXrz_TTsON47kAoJgxeahSESOdkjBEfsM2Bmes_w-tTY08dhOaEy7Z9Z7bXb8eY_fNc4aR6W5CEgvZXMygH3X5TJ1yJahbxa9prbV0wJJ3nENlWyr95fxvDwBEDvqQg6io0rIvvAur1rZ3b4O3mJWb739bUh7ZVCJEsfaA/w400-h300/20230224_0067.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Feldspar based crystalline glaze.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>**Feldspar based macro-crystalline glazes are rather more varied. Like their frit based cousins, these glazes often have about 25% zinc oxide, and at least 20% added silica, but feldspar introduces a considerable quantity of alumina to a glaze, so there are limits as to how much feldspar it is practical to use when making a crystalline glaze as one of the prerequisites of growing large crystals is to do so with a low alumina glaze base. When looking at Feldspar based recipes I have noticed that many have Feldspar at no more than about 35 percent, the glaze then needs secondary fluxes from other sources in order to get them to flow. The secondary fluxes can add a great deal of character to the glaze, and calcium, strontium, magnesium, lithium, barium, or maybe a rare earth or two, are all useful candidates, possibly singly, but more likely as a pair. </p><p>Metal oxides, used for adding colour to the glaze, can also play a role in making the glaze more fluid. Sometimes the fluxes or the metal oxides can cause small crystals to form in the glaze that can add a great deal of interest to the large zinc-silicate ones. </p><p>I tested all the glazes on cylinders, each with their own built in glaze catching saucer for any run off glaze. I also tested a few of the glazes in small bowls. It is very noticeable how different the glaze can be on the inside of a bowl as compared to on a vertical surface. <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4SyEDr95_-R6cJWmtma_T7gjLIySHmNj8XOrXeJBBGsa3lAyql219FNnPh1dhIcFwvF-FyZ-WeGesXPzQlr67pWMYfNa-wuSz0OkiDbQv3q1XxJGIpD-FAbM6Ma2CDTtDEgoAg2Pkz-WgpZErygl08eqVXyKcs7zw2nfn27ofvZ8xfhNNGWpTh_0wQ/s1199/20230224_0018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4SyEDr95_-R6cJWmtma_T7gjLIySHmNj8XOrXeJBBGsa3lAyql219FNnPh1dhIcFwvF-FyZ-WeGesXPzQlr67pWMYfNa-wuSz0OkiDbQv3q1XxJGIpD-FAbM6Ma2CDTtDEgoAg2Pkz-WgpZErygl08eqVXyKcs7zw2nfn27ofvZ8xfhNNGWpTh_0wQ/w400-h300/20230224_0018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Feldspar based glaze was one of the most exciting of this batch of tests.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdsJ7bEtOiESbtneLIbZ1ElHX-t122cw4KA8UmL25974bXNORKIpMfNUlMMfc8dZSXLyBkel-Vi4SnIxpTB69MoagJ6kYAPudg1Mcv-lKJ80XbU0HAUd7FRU79V_FeZv39XqS3Mrzd_-vwkMS5hyY-Weba1Pc5409reKHAN0xQoW4sT8BWAa_o0gb8A/s900/20230224_0015.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="676" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdsJ7bEtOiESbtneLIbZ1ElHX-t122cw4KA8UmL25974bXNORKIpMfNUlMMfc8dZSXLyBkel-Vi4SnIxpTB69MoagJ6kYAPudg1Mcv-lKJ80XbU0HAUd7FRU79V_FeZv39XqS3Mrzd_-vwkMS5hyY-Weba1Pc5409reKHAN0xQoW4sT8BWAa_o0gb8A/w300-h400/20230224_0015.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the starry centres of some of the crystals.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnQtqTCNrMcRILMCt7-8mDI_55cjfNBGyYSXIa4a-8D4ABapQPkwxSmX6HmaZBXUWu0GlbM-WUhHzeROKemyIvO_zZX7iRQvPcI7y2Ic8YgTYoZzfAmmWkGKSR-4HJOBAjNlpfhQDKOqlVkf0PA2QBOChyOOSXd2LpPWtODQOX0fUFxCWmEM5BuaZiw/s1199/20230224_0020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnQtqTCNrMcRILMCt7-8mDI_55cjfNBGyYSXIa4a-8D4ABapQPkwxSmX6HmaZBXUWu0GlbM-WUhHzeROKemyIvO_zZX7iRQvPcI7y2Ic8YgTYoZzfAmmWkGKSR-4HJOBAjNlpfhQDKOqlVkf0PA2QBOChyOOSXd2LpPWtODQOX0fUFxCWmEM5BuaZiw/w400-h300/20230224_0020.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The blue and the white are both the same base. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mGjH9S5GsHQwSz7iNt0qjXGF7mN9Fr_bvHKkbiMuuZzIiQkHD_rOtnhK-fyoXGb47aWFoBDDqf9-tG_v5nuv6vHVpbMv1UkpUpZLHSD1ZQK5rSIaCy_UO1aK0iehAlRt3Kwcm14r3s6Yi_St90tSaoox1ESIUDRmAUhItMBPIY5cj2w_Y5P0T7eVMw/s900/20230224_0024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="676" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mGjH9S5GsHQwSz7iNt0qjXGF7mN9Fr_bvHKkbiMuuZzIiQkHD_rOtnhK-fyoXGb47aWFoBDDqf9-tG_v5nuv6vHVpbMv1UkpUpZLHSD1ZQK5rSIaCy_UO1aK0iehAlRt3Kwcm14r3s6Yi_St90tSaoox1ESIUDRmAUhItMBPIY5cj2w_Y5P0T7eVMw/w300-h400/20230224_0024.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The blue glaze has some cobalt oxide added to it.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCknrxyim6t0c2eKZfs_nEDSI0YMR6F4T-nykih40ysRDpGSY7AVMArgRiwzBOO79L2m9GWJEbwCqlDGDg21Z3mzvY0nG17oL5QrEpU-00XvTfEk0oKgJUrwJLBw_HOod6JdyHcqM4gPscLAvhkOOABduQxbqp6Wm19dZlM_pRyV-DT1-jwKViQxEVkQ/s1199/20230224_0034.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCknrxyim6t0c2eKZfs_nEDSI0YMR6F4T-nykih40ysRDpGSY7AVMArgRiwzBOO79L2m9GWJEbwCqlDGDg21Z3mzvY0nG17oL5QrEpU-00XvTfEk0oKgJUrwJLBw_HOod6JdyHcqM4gPscLAvhkOOABduQxbqp6Wm19dZlM_pRyV-DT1-jwKViQxEVkQ/w400-h300/20230224_0034.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This white glaze is very different in colour when inside a bowl.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxujQ5mBrBsJcMs4lL8iANBQjcHu1U5HLn8Vt41bW9V0Y9t8CrYNws6aCXw7D3-Ik6ZGFDIfLDgC9DgFfKaroK6eSGFO5imEp2bimTrDzqmkOrC-TTqIY5yEOZlMMwq1H_6TyKbzu7EPeKa4cz6lqrUh0XZKGurWHCwJ2x516Wb5JFaLU1CBiWnwWdzw/s1199/20230224_0040.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxujQ5mBrBsJcMs4lL8iANBQjcHu1U5HLn8Vt41bW9V0Y9t8CrYNws6aCXw7D3-Ik6ZGFDIfLDgC9DgFfKaroK6eSGFO5imEp2bimTrDzqmkOrC-TTqIY5yEOZlMMwq1H_6TyKbzu7EPeKa4cz6lqrUh0XZKGurWHCwJ2x516Wb5JFaLU1CBiWnwWdzw/s320/20230224_0040.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Glazing inside a bowl with a crystalline glaze can reveal a lot about the glaze. Near the rim the glaze is thin, then it thickens as it flows down towards the bottom of the bowl. In the middle of the bowl the glaze is too thick so the crystals become coarse and dense, then rough and dull, because the glaze is thick enough to allow them to send up little vertical spikes!</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBVYVxLgVaCgCurIJeHXnvhLcSUyczkyn66UgdSSuvEiLLR4w7CV-B_kr0Y6TLlKUxgem3upAmLbbuL52ML41KVpepv3ZTVrZ9gCNlAyEmQIMnk-jgzHMpRFYbsD30xwo9NisTuAObIviKMkHnH_7njEpgD9VFYvDRE-td6eH_cEmQY7l2fB6ESwI3g/s1199/20230224_0025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBVYVxLgVaCgCurIJeHXnvhLcSUyczkyn66UgdSSuvEiLLR4w7CV-B_kr0Y6TLlKUxgem3upAmLbbuL52ML41KVpepv3ZTVrZ9gCNlAyEmQIMnk-jgzHMpRFYbsD30xwo9NisTuAObIviKMkHnH_7njEpgD9VFYvDRE-td6eH_cEmQY7l2fB6ESwI3g/w400-h300/20230224_0025.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I did two tests of each glaze base, one of just the base, and another with an additional metal oxide to add colour. It is a very useful way of getting a glimpse of the potential of the glaze, and to see what the fluxing effect of the metal oxide will do to the crystal growth and shape. You may notice that I also record the glaze name, Cone fired to, and sometimes the whole glaze recipe around the base of the tester.<br /><p></p><p>Some Notes. <br /></p><p>Some of the glaze recipes that I used came from the excellent <a href="http://glazy.org">glazy.org</a> website, others from books, that included Peter Ilsley's Macro Crystalline Glaze book. I am guessing that this book is now, sadly, out of print as I can only find very expensive second-hand copies listed on Amazon. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKbF9qpjxZx__npq01zIzq6QJM6BKvpFmQ3XgR2kCDl4nxltgI9C6URdrJ2bEIJCuvyQn_aWhRwvDaWP-N2UUqpOtutLq69QNIo8S59032YWid3kQoNNabdBvnsTi_R35_J8TTUdRetAIWLzuFkESPl7vCL9Vvz-_1O8iKhsVzasKGXs2ln2pR_-TBg/s1604/23Feb23crystallineGlazeFiringLog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1604" data-original-width="1537" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKbF9qpjxZx__npq01zIzq6QJM6BKvpFmQ3XgR2kCDl4nxltgI9C6URdrJ2bEIJCuvyQn_aWhRwvDaWP-N2UUqpOtutLq69QNIo8S59032YWid3kQoNNabdBvnsTi_R35_J8TTUdRetAIWLzuFkESPl7vCL9Vvz-_1O8iKhsVzasKGXs2ln2pR_-TBg/w384-h400/23Feb23crystallineGlazeFiringLog.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>Here is my log of the Cone 9 glaze firing. I work with a manual kiln so there are little notes below the hours that say what power settings were being used at the time. My pyrometer always reads low so, according to it, cone 9 was achieved at 1245 C, when it was probably closer to 1270 C.<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmtUvJFEkhJXrLop6lX76Qe3hyoOcuLMBeYK_IB9eIkDHagBqZLi3TpRa4xUh3FLs8ZKN-YbN89h5JR8FDhkI7sGCYZX5h9z4VAUsTK-LCXKyzcJay4O86Q7PH3wM6slp7l0LL0Bg2571VqkSiJio-GfqXww1G1xpeqpFCmFMAsJ9XVKjPZOc9ZGmkg/s900/23Feb23crystallineGlazeRecipesSmall.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="620" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmtUvJFEkhJXrLop6lX76Qe3hyoOcuLMBeYK_IB9eIkDHagBqZLi3TpRa4xUh3FLs8ZKN-YbN89h5JR8FDhkI7sGCYZX5h9z4VAUsTK-LCXKyzcJay4O86Q7PH3wM6slp7l0LL0Bg2571VqkSiJio-GfqXww1G1xpeqpFCmFMAsJ9XVKjPZOc9ZGmkg/w275-h400/23Feb23crystallineGlazeRecipesSmall.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>And here is a glimpse of one of the untidy sheets of glaze recipes that I used whilst glazing. I mark a dot by each material as I add them to the glaze, so I don't forget anything, or add anything twice!<br /><p><br /></p><p>*frit (also fritt). Glaze frits are really a special type of ground glass. Frits often contain glaze materials that are difficult to work with in their natural state, such as sodium and potassium, these are combined with silica and often some boron, to make a glass. </p><p>**Feldspar. Nature has glaze frits of its own, such as feldspar that contain almost enough of the necessary ingredients to make a glaze for stoneware temperatures. Feldspars contain silica (the glass former in a glaze), alumina (a stabiliser that controls the flow of a glaze), and various fluxes - usually potassium and sodium, some may also contain calcium or lithium. Fluxes assist with persuading the silica that is in the glaze to melt at a sensible temperature... as without fluxes silica would need to reach above 1700 Celsius to become molten. <br /></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-3107402954936098052023-02-22T22:18:00.002+13:002023-02-22T22:18:54.970+13:00The Kiln has been Loaded!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTZNSL2gOBvL44klgaroYYOSVrKDSKo1qSp6ImrNYwdcJ84RjFGJc10-PCNOt1GbibNqw7WfQm8mnE5KJ-cJJ5FrA8Km-SzpFm_7vDlYy_A-WSUTx78GvPIN9D_x6FsXpaI1axxsB1c-742rk51E_cdkzVYJQQDlP54rBZXSfhr4_Y4S4Q3OVX3QrEw/s1199/20230222_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTZNSL2gOBvL44klgaroYYOSVrKDSKo1qSp6ImrNYwdcJ84RjFGJc10-PCNOt1GbibNqw7WfQm8mnE5KJ-cJJ5FrA8Km-SzpFm_7vDlYy_A-WSUTx78GvPIN9D_x6FsXpaI1axxsB1c-742rk51E_cdkzVYJQQDlP54rBZXSfhr4_Y4S4Q3OVX3QrEw/w400-h300/20230222_0006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>The kiln has been loaded with glaze tests that I hope to fire tomorrow. This 3.5 cubic foot kiln is an entirely manually controlled one, so I don't have a list of ramps, times and temperatures to share with you ahead of time, but I will simply switch it on early tomorrow morning and control things by adjusting the two knobs that control the upper and lower banks of elements as needed. I realise that I am rather out of step with the way things are done now, but nearly all of my crystalline glaze firings in the past have been done manually, and it is not that much of a chore!<br /></p><p>In the "good old days" I would have fired the thing right through the night, but I really do need what little sleep I can get now, so I will be a bit easier on myself!</p><p>The results of many of the tests will be as much a surprise to me as they will to you, as most of the glazes are ones I have not tried before. Several of the glazes use silica, feldspar and at least one other flux to form the glass, but others are based on a high sodium frit. All the glazes have approximately 25 percent zinc oxide in them. The crystals that form should be zinc silicate ones, little glassy rods that tend to cluster and fan out in a circle around things that irritate them in the glaze. All going well, in some of the feldspar based glazes, we might also find a few tiny crystals of another type around some of the zinc silicate ones.... we will have to see!</p><p>If I can, I want to fire to just a shade above cone 8.5 to where cone nine is half over. Armed with welding goggles, I will be judging that by peering at cones through a small spy hole, and I hope that I will be able to see them well enough when the time comes!</p><p> Once the peak temperature has been achieved, then the kiln will be switched off and allowed to cool to about 1100 Celsius, then switched on again and I will hold that temperature for about 2 hours then switch off again and allow the kiln to cool right down. The two hour hold at 1100 C should allow any crystals that have succeeded in forming to grow to at least 10mm in size, which will be enough to show me which glazes are working, and which glazes are going to be difficult! When it come to firing actual crystalline vases rather than small test pieces, the time spent growing the crystals will be much longer, usually at least 4.5 hours.</p><p>I'm off to bed now.... See you in the morning!<br /></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-35281532513856270832023-02-20T22:31:00.000+13:002023-02-20T22:31:53.466+13:00Glazes over Glazes!<p>Last December I glaze fired some jugs, bowls and cups and took photos with the intention of updating the blog, but didn't quite get round to it at the time. Anyway, we can travel time on the blog, so let us wind the clock back to when I unpacked some pots from the kiln. I rather liked some of the combinations of glazes that I tried, so here are a few of them!</p><p>This small bowl was glazed with a modified chrome-tin glaze on the inside, and a magnesium matte glaze on the outside. The blue "breaking wave" effect is where the two glazes overlap just inside the rim of the bowl.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWM0TwpC9bFNMuHdLGY2C6HNSIqrVyh_n4PflsEBpbIH0P9KWwBVxs-8Y1mFaOwTbm0-JbwLDgtvzAFF-5vTXQN9AwkFX1kkggFTS8jI4tNXwXArTAY3zdX0ncDlM8H4PblliyN1z4-rxZ4HdEsZL6lccb5iaZ118asolYqsy1wvO-e94cHjWc0TnAjw/s901/20221220_0109.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="901" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWM0TwpC9bFNMuHdLGY2C6HNSIqrVyh_n4PflsEBpbIH0P9KWwBVxs-8Y1mFaOwTbm0-JbwLDgtvzAFF-5vTXQN9AwkFX1kkggFTS8jI4tNXwXArTAY3zdX0ncDlM8H4PblliyN1z4-rxZ4HdEsZL6lccb5iaZ118asolYqsy1wvO-e94cHjWc0TnAjw/w400-h400/20221220_0109.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBL-HASjbR52vvxHCtZOz30Tgez2SjjdAmiKAtTBR1CVOWXvp9LSe_VYvT5T6NqWHP5DyHAclRy_XWCGAaBVaYA2DqID9XycID74A70y-oaeW58gLZwNqIV5fSfXIKdLgCSSHa_HiBdLGHfTZlzAfE0p4tSxYUkBj-sIKROkP6DPlaw7pEAW86r1kTaA/s1497/20221220_0104detailcropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1497" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBL-HASjbR52vvxHCtZOz30Tgez2SjjdAmiKAtTBR1CVOWXvp9LSe_VYvT5T6NqWHP5DyHAclRy_XWCGAaBVaYA2DqID9XycID74A70y-oaeW58gLZwNqIV5fSfXIKdLgCSSHa_HiBdLGHfTZlzAfE0p4tSxYUkBj-sIKROkP6DPlaw7pEAW86r1kTaA/w400-h240/20221220_0104detailcropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjary4Y2ITUSt7E_1rW9x6vzsOcmiSNivt4aGzLxA_hkkJ0Z_uBpLl5lgIFkZ3J9YKqBEHMULr6tgyNEwGo7KU9rYI6zsTcDPrPkhjmO6X1xQtvLu_Kni82UjTKyTSrn0i_lxeXac0NmG0KhLybX41GEvKzvM1Z-25RWW9wB1qoRYAmH1UYM3uSRYjs3g/s1228/20221220_0107smallSideView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1228" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjary4Y2ITUSt7E_1rW9x6vzsOcmiSNivt4aGzLxA_hkkJ0Z_uBpLl5lgIFkZ3J9YKqBEHMULr6tgyNEwGo7KU9rYI6zsTcDPrPkhjmO6X1xQtvLu_Kni82UjTKyTSrn0i_lxeXac0NmG0KhLybX41GEvKzvM1Z-25RWW9wB1qoRYAmH1UYM3uSRYjs3g/w400-h294/20221220_0107smallSideView.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The magnesium matte is "Buttermilk" (with a dash of about 1 percent copper carbonate added) from John Britt's Cone 10 Glaze book, and the chrome-tin red is my own (the recipe is on my <a href="https://opopots.blogspot.com/p/high-fire-glazes.html">high fire glaze page</a> of this blog). I added about 1 percent of cobalt oxide to the red glaze to turn it dark purple. The interesting thing is that the cobalt dominates things where the magnesium matte flows over it, and you get a nice variegated blue. The outside of the bowl is a silky matte white with just a hint of green from the copper that I added to it. In all, with this combination, you get three colours from two glazes! </p><p>Magnesium matte glazes usually get their magnesium from Talc which is magnesium silicate, or from dolomite which is a mineral that is a natural combination of calcium and magnesium. Occasionally magnesium carbonate is used, but this oddly light-weight material isn't always the easiest to play with when making up a glaze, and dolomite or talc are usually better behaved. Magnesium mattes have a lovely silky smooth feel to them - think of talcum powder - and matte the glaze by forming thousands of tiny crystals. </p><p>Other matte glazes include calcium, barium and alumina mattes. All have their own distinctive look and feel.</p><p>Another way of slightly matting and adding an exciting sprinkle of tiny crystals to a glaze is to add rutile. Rutile is a mineral that is composed mostly of titanium dioxide, along with some iron impurities. </p><p>This bowl is glazed with Chance's Opal, which is a glaze that has a lot of rutile in it for texture and copper for colour. You can find a recipe for Chance's Opal on <a href="http://glazy.org">glazy.org</a> which is a website I highly recommend for potters who are interesting in making their own glazes. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wPGs1g-cU2uE6Vs3AC-AaJK2Ic_3uLEg4zyyB69XB6rsrf0n5AAj5GvGgmF7DWTlGaC0KLALOCM2I_Sa6JoWiDjByCGOqZdI3HiRRLPRFl075QK57sjCTS0RQr1yQBnsYVRvmTGA4-uw_J1H9tsKn7CHjqq1738vRLQlM8e2kSXI26MCVAKXaMwSzA/s900/20230220_0001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wPGs1g-cU2uE6Vs3AC-AaJK2Ic_3uLEg4zyyB69XB6rsrf0n5AAj5GvGgmF7DWTlGaC0KLALOCM2I_Sa6JoWiDjByCGOqZdI3HiRRLPRFl075QK57sjCTS0RQr1yQBnsYVRvmTGA4-uw_J1H9tsKn7CHjqq1738vRLQlM8e2kSXI26MCVAKXaMwSzA/s320/20230220_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilp5zwFXH7nPSLezk2djh9ZKoFvLbfWPvqRzOHLUUZyAjzlEhDACOeUPNENCw2VR3FEc8cL8yPpC3manqZ8aug5SJ_0J3SzfonvYdqP2yxr-pdsNwg_3i1E0r_nB1jB6kmlExpQ4QvaqNbC7Jnij9VEbDbinCgnifBk-xCGRFzfg6bzSEow3LtdI8iLQ/s1199/20230220_0005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilp5zwFXH7nPSLezk2djh9ZKoFvLbfWPvqRzOHLUUZyAjzlEhDACOeUPNENCw2VR3FEc8cL8yPpC3manqZ8aug5SJ_0J3SzfonvYdqP2yxr-pdsNwg_3i1E0r_nB1jB6kmlExpQ4QvaqNbC7Jnij9VEbDbinCgnifBk-xCGRFzfg6bzSEow3LtdI8iLQ/s320/20230220_0005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Chance's Opal has 7 percent rutile in it which can give a great result, however I do find that it can get a bit ugly in the bottom of bowls with far too many crystals if allowed to pool too thickly, so I developed a variation that I used in the bowl in the photo where I first poured a modified version of the glaze with only 2 percent rutile in the bowl, then dipped the rim and sides of the bowl in the 7 percent rutile version of the glaze leaving the centre untouched. I like the result.</p><p> I had a feeling this glaze would do nice things over a good dark iron bearing glaze, such as the black tenmoko that I often use (recipe on my <a href="https://opopots.blogspot.com/p/high-fire-glazes.html">high fire glaze</a> page). </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35Nxja_TwKPetctdUdFn4PGuFZsewq2o-H0yrvYj_vHZT0V_-jEewmrQn05Yf3lJeMV4nNmQQ6bFcQitpt7-WkdvLaV-eDNHsrwVV1_EHh34e-DBzODSpM-h7_Wq2kQXDwo9sCaKCThUwKxsTFD1a6bwXM6WZymPLbcn1F9gHw19oUTq1qSiMyNqRUQ/s1136/20221220_0012cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="1136" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35Nxja_TwKPetctdUdFn4PGuFZsewq2o-H0yrvYj_vHZT0V_-jEewmrQn05Yf3lJeMV4nNmQQ6bFcQitpt7-WkdvLaV-eDNHsrwVV1_EHh34e-DBzODSpM-h7_Wq2kQXDwo9sCaKCThUwKxsTFD1a6bwXM6WZymPLbcn1F9gHw19oUTq1qSiMyNqRUQ/w400-h335/20221220_0012cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Over a dark glaze it will yield an exciting range of blues and greens, often with a pale foamy looking edge. The glaze also tends to move or run when put over the tenmoko glaze, and this can give spectacular results, but care has to be taken to protect kiln shelves from any run off glaze. I usually place a thin piece of insulating firebrick under pots that have a potentially fluid glaze. </p><p> </p><p>All the pots in the photos were fired in oxidation in my electric kiln to cone 9.</p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-21760770879026487492023-02-17T18:28:00.000+13:002023-02-17T18:28:28.840+13:00February... UFOs, and some activity in the studio!<p>In the studio there can be two varieties of chaos - the happy mess of a busy place of creativity, or the sad clutter of a workplace neglected. Over recent months my studio has lurched a little uncomfortably between both those states, but I am pleased to report that the current jumble of stuff in that hallowed room is mostly due to new pots being made.... and there never being quite enough space to store them as they are being worked on!</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtfQ-TC2Tp8lQkac_gP_JONRA3qyliCuaIq5juI7Ezj3EKQGVeulGVuKA5T_EDgpu4PeFZM8cWfoqsYYyBsFETZ9X8g6TAB1BpmHOh6ekmi6oAE_28_wTkvEjt-KD0zHUwbZrYmM0RM_dNvsqyZyHR0I6UwATU0PkIVGFeH4dlN63Xz3WSdydNDHUeg/s1199/20230214_0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtfQ-TC2Tp8lQkac_gP_JONRA3qyliCuaIq5juI7Ezj3EKQGVeulGVuKA5T_EDgpu4PeFZM8cWfoqsYYyBsFETZ9X8g6TAB1BpmHOh6ekmi6oAE_28_wTkvEjt-KD0zHUwbZrYmM0RM_dNvsqyZyHR0I6UwATU0PkIVGFeH4dlN63Xz3WSdydNDHUeg/s320/20230214_0039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I gather from the international news that the USA are making something of an art of shooting down UFOs at the moment, odd cylindrical objects and balloons that stray into their airspace! The shelves in my studio seem to be populated with a growing collection of odd cylindrical objects too, my ones are allegedly drying, rather than spying, and I hope that they will safely complete their mission... challenging as it is about to be!</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCE4mIWYq8i2QopLWzA4-5146kJIfe1M01Uv9QDdN_DdFoEAwPB_u4V3war4rjhKLz6hGzqqyobdiljgOB9SRb6OU09SeH-jwHf2ABAL9uUSOgn9cp4fY7JdV65_LIHBACBQ8MyL_KXZHpWw0LuWNl3kA-dsy5_n6AbgfuwOD9Sui2RbF7M-irhDC1A/s1199/20230214_0034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCE4mIWYq8i2QopLWzA4-5146kJIfe1M01Uv9QDdN_DdFoEAwPB_u4V3war4rjhKLz6hGzqqyobdiljgOB9SRb6OU09SeH-jwHf2ABAL9uUSOgn9cp4fY7JdV65_LIHBACBQ8MyL_KXZHpWw0LuWNl3kA-dsy5_n6AbgfuwOD9Sui2RbF7M-irhDC1A/s320/20230214_0034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Some of my more curious looking UFOs are destined for testing crystalline glazes, which are probably some of the most runny of all glazes that a potter can ever play with, so these test pieces have their own built in glaze catching saucer that is there to deal with the drips and puddles! They are still not quite ready to go in the kiln and could currently be called "drying saucers"!<br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzLGAMnlV5yfdLEdTEbmBTyZ1QEoztabF5cyRP-3cmz24LNGyqw6FAmZG8dui-ChPt1g4yxcJotU_LVP5No6BifCpPQmbFrgDuJMJGYNPF-LAxRg1CzsqrmhCO3as79UWzRFySviI7pTQAaTaFPC9et6ZhClzWQ8PnqwbwhTClq2DcCAVP0jw5cSszw/s1199/20230214_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzLGAMnlV5yfdLEdTEbmBTyZ1QEoztabF5cyRP-3cmz24LNGyqw6FAmZG8dui-ChPt1g4yxcJotU_LVP5No6BifCpPQmbFrgDuJMJGYNPF-LAxRg1CzsqrmhCO3as79UWzRFySviI7pTQAaTaFPC9et6ZhClzWQ8PnqwbwhTClq2DcCAVP0jw5cSszw/s320/20230214_0032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I have also made vases and little clay rings for them to stand on when they are being fired, and glaze catching bowls to protect the kiln shelves. </p><p>Yes, it would appear that I am embarking on a series of crystalline glazed pots, and hopefully some sculptural pieces as well!</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6t9Attq33fGZzmfhyUUh5QLnBkWRXKKu9WQB3fGugkJDxLYVzgMcXOkZmiJbq9z1e6fcGoapnvqCy2ElHZDzFCnuNR_ZCodFhOpCAkHHpZjWCT2xRMmfqhW7q8BBUKDLlq-r9CCHpjEefQC7rLbEduv4G3ZdheiTDCmHtXD5dnjDXkBovODEcZG8gWg/s900/20230214_0025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6t9Attq33fGZzmfhyUUh5QLnBkWRXKKu9WQB3fGugkJDxLYVzgMcXOkZmiJbq9z1e6fcGoapnvqCy2ElHZDzFCnuNR_ZCodFhOpCAkHHpZjWCT2xRMmfqhW7q8BBUKDLlq-r9CCHpjEefQC7rLbEduv4G3ZdheiTDCmHtXD5dnjDXkBovODEcZG8gWg/s320/20230214_0025.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Christmas was a little quiet for us, as both of us were not in the best of health, so the family celebration came early this month when my father celebrated his 89th birthday. I did spend much of the day before this special occasion, looking back at photos from my childhood and thinking about some good times spent with dad as I was growing up. I still remember sitting on a child's seat behind dad as he peddled up a hill on a bicycle, I was probably only 3 or 4 at the time! We also had an enjoyable few hours making a mast for a little sailing dingy dad built when I was in my early teens. We borrowed the school wood work room and hand planes and worked the mast as a team, transforming it from square to oval, and it was a lovely thing to do. </p><p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVaXS5T47m7AsLafVJP_Fewp0KCa_KB0kXVCR_zCrBPitfOodz43nBai6fFIH6hjaqr74lO3bAAZnpObXA9TwZ_5t7Bh6r9bcfi3J2ZSyZdFPpBr08ZsHsZHdCYaLqzvpvLcXGwY_hKz2asty6kmWliV2fqpwytg5Jf5Mk8o7CD9j1K75OHi5yaGTSoA/s908/mandDSqSm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="867" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVaXS5T47m7AsLafVJP_Fewp0KCa_KB0kXVCR_zCrBPitfOodz43nBai6fFIH6hjaqr74lO3bAAZnpObXA9TwZ_5t7Bh6r9bcfi3J2ZSyZdFPpBr08ZsHsZHdCYaLqzvpvLcXGwY_hKz2asty6kmWliV2fqpwytg5Jf5Mk8o7CD9j1K75OHi5yaGTSoA/s320/mandDSqSm.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad and Mum<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>Memories are strange things, my mind seems full of short fragments, like a movie that has been chopped up. Sometimes whole seconds of image and sound can be replayed, but more often it is a fleeting glimpse, or a few words snatched from a conversation. </p><p>It can be sad, sometimes desperately so, trying to recall what a loved person looked or sounded like, and finding almost nothing tangible, but the truth is that the friends and family that we have known are woven through us, they are part of our fabric, because our life has been shaped in part by them. They are like a potter's thumb print on a pot, and we may not have to look so hard after all!</p><p>We are having a drought, whilst other parts of the country have been devastated by floods, with some losing nearly everything. Early this morning I emptied a couple of buckets of water from my studio on some rhubarb plants that are becoming more like bonsai every day. In spite of the ground being like rock, there are some bright and summery flowers out though in the flower garden. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2ZGTV5bfYoe5aO5KAYeXQYdlcIbI0RjZ7_fDiAaNhwaBPhjBW5oOGyD66p2Zm9RSwkxa2VQWtaP_CZ6mMOvcwnnAugmMUEE1UH57nwV-7N7JsyHZRVMN2vgJx-Zjd7acv85JwXhvXFyPhhTEyz4A-T6VDqkyHFe-H3-HCr_HCHVzDFP_26cP5ty4PQ/s1199/20230214_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2ZGTV5bfYoe5aO5KAYeXQYdlcIbI0RjZ7_fDiAaNhwaBPhjBW5oOGyD66p2Zm9RSwkxa2VQWtaP_CZ6mMOvcwnnAugmMUEE1UH57nwV-7N7JsyHZRVMN2vgJx-Zjd7acv85JwXhvXFyPhhTEyz4A-T6VDqkyHFe-H3-HCr_HCHVzDFP_26cP5ty4PQ/s320/20230214_0008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYEgC1CH9LWo_NNSwfItDJEMty9RIDmDQmUfoqrASZJTthkwVGgmCu-uVvPDAMXep-jtnKMKbBpW7trHwSmINdNRvI1bc1QkB67PVOIvmK5kJ8jkEvKrnYYyg0dnbNQCaVhhSREARwTO8q4q2oJ4wV5o9rs19FkW44_UBQPG2YWfZS3Hv9kcXIoCIuw/s900/20230214_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYEgC1CH9LWo_NNSwfItDJEMty9RIDmDQmUfoqrASZJTthkwVGgmCu-uVvPDAMXep-jtnKMKbBpW7trHwSmINdNRvI1bc1QkB67PVOIvmK5kJ8jkEvKrnYYyg0dnbNQCaVhhSREARwTO8q4q2oJ4wV5o9rs19FkW44_UBQPG2YWfZS3Hv9kcXIoCIuw/s320/20230214_0003.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwhtr-A-1ACvHDPnILu9nZBRp-zTmwVHmg_PK5UWrqxj-pxg_EcK9zv3oEy1sbKOSWUNx2QMYWbcTOF6161hlbIryYGSLwFLvl6tG1PHRQhTp_POGTKO9suULFR56BZoBa8ucbmZEaR9lrir5x0gheiNCm9iFXvSB1bTYiI_itp7Gt05tOBHe-cpH3g/s1199/20230214_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwhtr-A-1ACvHDPnILu9nZBRp-zTmwVHmg_PK5UWrqxj-pxg_EcK9zv3oEy1sbKOSWUNx2QMYWbcTOF6161hlbIryYGSLwFLvl6tG1PHRQhTp_POGTKO9suULFR56BZoBa8ucbmZEaR9lrir5x0gheiNCm9iFXvSB1bTYiI_itp7Gt05tOBHe-cpH3g/s320/20230214_0007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>It is the time of year when our little gallery is a bit busier than usual, and I am so thankful for the people who have supported us over the years, it is often in this season that we catch up with people who get down this way once or twice a year, or even after a decade or two, and your visits do give life and vibrancy to this place and more moments for us to treasure.</p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-67806452136337183482022-10-27T19:19:00.001+13:002022-10-27T21:32:28.428+13:00Wood-Fired Kiln Stoneware Success!Unfortunately this month finds us with our household a little smaller in number. Mr Smaug, who was my companion throughout the previous firing of this kiln, became very ill in the first week of October, and extensive tests by a really wonderful vet in Oamaru revealed that Mr Smaug had cancer and abnormalities through half of his gut. He had been full of his usually cheerfulness and good natured fun until a few days before I took him to the vet, and it was a shock to find how unwell he really was. I had him "put to sleep" whilst he was still somewhat under the effects of the anaesthetic that he had been given whilst having an ultrasound scan and other investigations. Naturally losing him was a severe blow, but we are so very thankful for the happy and delightful years that we shared together, he loved it when I was building something outside, or working on the kiln.
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclQ6HfNE3ZNyKAK17ker4pByJg3IuY6dDwntuedHHGlTMAHJ0dTdtJ2JbVzGa2gzowvTSyVueChBBKQDZSoTTMC_SVx54UGLbQsRwdF4uTsd30HkeTwdzgF68OPQqbVNzSyCn2NKOAmIfvbHqkKz6evHo1Bdd9esXPMClFeWgdTwN-X9k4pJzceo0zQ/s1067/20180809_0063.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclQ6HfNE3ZNyKAK17ker4pByJg3IuY6dDwntuedHHGlTMAHJ0dTdtJ2JbVzGa2gzowvTSyVueChBBKQDZSoTTMC_SVx54UGLbQsRwdF4uTsd30HkeTwdzgF68OPQqbVNzSyCn2NKOAmIfvbHqkKz6evHo1Bdd9esXPMClFeWgdTwN-X9k4pJzceo0zQ/s320/20180809_0063.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr Smaug<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
As October draws to a close, I am very pleased to be able to report that about 10 days ago we had a successful stoneware firing of the wood-fired kiln. The firing was not entirely straightforward as I did manage to block up the firebox with embers when we had just past 1000 degrees, and this probably added nearly 3 hours to our firing time and a lot of extra wood was consumed due to things not being fired efficiently, but I am glad that we stuck with the firing and got it up to temperature as the results were very good.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDR142ds0vcDYDRUe37N9U4Hxw8UsfGBrjViPTnLw6a8hRRErE3w82yLDUs-1yWPJTJMfWpFMMZy7vSmC52ZNhh0x2xYMSshHxYSaLCV0cyN0DYEfHbnbc3W_TNR9dEw50yW0zsvueJw1hqnwwwUe46fLrq9w9VTcbMjplxhj1FtKyDpKMaAeo6zTqew/s900/20221027_0002.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="509" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDR142ds0vcDYDRUe37N9U4Hxw8UsfGBrjViPTnLw6a8hRRErE3w82yLDUs-1yWPJTJMfWpFMMZy7vSmC52ZNhh0x2xYMSshHxYSaLCV0cyN0DYEfHbnbc3W_TNR9dEw50yW0zsvueJw1hqnwwwUe46fLrq9w9VTcbMjplxhj1FtKyDpKMaAeo6zTqew/s320/20221027_0002.jpg" /></a></div>
I loaded the kiln slowly, doing it shelf by shelf over a period of nearly a month, and about 3 days before the firing I, possibly foolishly, decided to make some modifications to the Bourry box firebox that had only been fired one time previously. For various reasons, that included a shoulder tear, I didn't fully complete the modification, and this was the main cause of the problem with blocking the firebox with embers. Next firing, when the job has been fully done, should be easier!
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Whilst I was fooling around with the modification, Jim, a new friend who wanted to learn about wood-fired kilns, visited and split lots of firewood for us, which was wonderful. I put a few of his pots in the kiln, two of them in the arch between firebox and the kiln chamber to see if they would get an "anagama" type treatment.
The day before the firing our friend Mark kindly helped install a stainless steel extension to the kiln chimney. This proved very successful, and the extra 3 feet definitely increased the flow of air through the kiln and allowed me to fire with only half to two thirds of the dampers open, and it was reassuring always having something extra available in reserve if we should need it.
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On 18 October, I started the firing at 6.45am, a little later in the morning than I usually would, as I hoped to time things so that Jim could see the last hour or two of the firing after he finished work. We were fortunate with the weather, in that it was overcast and cool which made stoking the kiln less arduous.
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As usual, the firing began with just a very small fire being lit on the floor of the firebox, and fed with a few twigs or thin pieces of split wood at a time. Over the course of about three and a half hours I gradually built up the fire and, when the temperature was at 350 degrees I started loading wood into the Bourry box hopper, and from that point onward, most of the stoking of the kiln by adding wood to the hopper and the fire-mouth that I had been tending the small fire through was gradually bricked up, to allow primary air to be drawn through the Bourry box, and further air through the "mouse-hole" below the ember bed.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfAjXVNHR8onXGr2KMfJ_EZLgvak3ofIL7g-JX8fmEuS1_iu7ajux1Ebk2PoC9bCeTWtO2Ymzhi5C3DIiT_PuIB1OCTzCLQBNSDGOya-eut-TIK-VuBLhui2EJF9PR-luqFCmunh5ciAVrx6SR56EcHEOJhL5m31OD1Waa76c--uDpOcClbyLE5MyOw/s1199/20221023_0017.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfAjXVNHR8onXGr2KMfJ_EZLgvak3ofIL7g-JX8fmEuS1_iu7ajux1Ebk2PoC9bCeTWtO2Ymzhi5C3DIiT_PuIB1OCTzCLQBNSDGOya-eut-TIK-VuBLhui2EJF9PR-luqFCmunh5ciAVrx6SR56EcHEOJhL5m31OD1Waa76c--uDpOcClbyLE5MyOw/s320/20221023_0017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Things appeared to be going very well indeed, with the rise in temperature being rapid until 900 degrees was reached, and then, unexpectedly, it started to taper off. After a really easy morning firing the kiln where I harboured some concern that I might finish the firing before Jim finished work, by early afternoon I began to have "dark thoughts" that the kiln would not get to temperature at all! It took me a little while to correctly diagnose why the kiln was sticking, but a proper look into the firebox after letting most of the Bourry box wood burn away, revealed that the firebox was so choked with embers that most of the archway into the kiln was obscured! I had to do some very hot work raking out about two bucket loads of incandescent embers, whilst still gently stoking the Bourry box.
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwcS8dWrCUWktSeSWtcs3S93c1jkexhtCsll7A6WL5UAdx2Yipjgv8AAom8P8RESJjA7uHI4NnF_FsC2H690pFwAI_j17a7Xj6F9iauuX6Gl9K8RFB9bHZ9uKIxrnfkyCdv3oj05pGwzdvHWRaq-ZCuBXZJYk1dc142b1kwpd9IEm32y4EDcd7B131A/s900/20221023_0020.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwcS8dWrCUWktSeSWtcs3S93c1jkexhtCsll7A6WL5UAdx2Yipjgv8AAom8P8RESJjA7uHI4NnF_FsC2H690pFwAI_j17a7Xj6F9iauuX6Gl9K8RFB9bHZ9uKIxrnfkyCdv3oj05pGwzdvHWRaq-ZCuBXZJYk1dc142b1kwpd9IEm32y4EDcd7B131A/s320/20221023_0020.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The archway from fire-box to kiln chamber that was obscured by embers!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
We were fairly stuck for the best part of 3 hours, but started to make progress again at 3.45 in the afternoon. Fortunately Jim was able to arrive earlier than expected, and he was a great help splitting more firewood, and bringing it to me by the wheelbarrow load as I tried to coax the kiln out of the mire that it appeared to be in! I have only abandoned one firing, and this one came close to becoming number two! It was amazing how much wood was consumed due to the stoppage and the inefficiency, but we got there in the end. I stoked for about 12 hours in total, and it was 8pm in the evening when we had finally clammed up the kiln, made it safe for the night, and cleared up some of the mess. The shower I had after all that was very welcome!
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We fired the kiln on a Tuesday and unpacked pots that were still gently warm to the touch late on Friday afternoon of that week.
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FJrY2lKsM3TpTudO_pczizkHJMwAZPoKA6srDBZuO-WBLVPGCs-DTUxvnfh66niPpXLe1FMeJmWe7QbDLubGfkuNWCNvW90KAgvJyKqkocIdqpybOJ8nmnJQSG0utYWHyGjOyv1HEvYbBT6mZHJz1wWf0KG87Gs59Iw1uMtephPmJuwMwHuoQ-K0DA/s2090/20221023_0007.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="2090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FJrY2lKsM3TpTudO_pczizkHJMwAZPoKA6srDBZuO-WBLVPGCs-DTUxvnfh66niPpXLe1FMeJmWe7QbDLubGfkuNWCNvW90KAgvJyKqkocIdqpybOJ8nmnJQSG0utYWHyGjOyv1HEvYbBT6mZHJz1wWf0KG87Gs59Iw1uMtephPmJuwMwHuoQ-K0DA/s320/20221023_0007.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim's Pots<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
I was really delighted to see that Jim's pots were all very successful, he really deserved it after all his many hours splitting wood, and his two from the firebox arch were just like anagama pots with some nice natural wood ash glazing. He also had some lovely shino glazed pots in other parts of the kiln.
My pupil, Becky, had work in the kiln also, and most of that came out really well, it was lovely to get some though to glaze firing as she has done a lot of throwing with me on the wheel, but we are well behind with glazing her work due to my pace of work being rather slow over the last year or two for health reasons. She had some very nice goblets, bowls and jugs.
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYT4hO_SUPx4qkoNVJHSybT-0UMdOywo4JplMk0SMHLe8EJsNiIbjwGRnRpM0-Q5X6L-4mUt6f_5ODdoDCiPl9qmc7PXtVPcLKdorxbfElK5-GRV9y9JGaFaauP4Hrvn5qt4uaeeUvyG3t1s33zNMikLYND62y4u41JcBoRWReDvem9l5v81TbQvhrQw/s900/20221027_0016.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="509" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYT4hO_SUPx4qkoNVJHSybT-0UMdOywo4JplMk0SMHLe8EJsNiIbjwGRnRpM0-Q5X6L-4mUt6f_5ODdoDCiPl9qmc7PXtVPcLKdorxbfElK5-GRV9y9JGaFaauP4Hrvn5qt4uaeeUvyG3t1s33zNMikLYND62y4u41JcBoRWReDvem9l5v81TbQvhrQw/s320/20221027_0016.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Becky with Goblets</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
It had been interesting and difficult choosing glazes for that firing, as I was uncertain as to how well the kiln would perform to stoneware temperatures with all the changes that had been made. I selected glazes that I knew would mature over quite a wide range of temperature, and I anticipated that the top shelf would fire cooler than the ones below it, so glazes there were mostly capable of firing from about cone 6, to cone 9. On shelves further down in the kiln I looked at glazes that could be from cone 7 or 8 to cone 10 or 11.
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In fact the kiln did manage to average about cone 9 or 10 through most of it (that would be about 1280 C or 2336 F in a fairly straightforward firing).
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In spite of having difficulty controlling heat rise and the kiln atmosphere, I was very pleased to see that some celedon glazes and a copper red had worked very well.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXYqoq2-hCSu3wbrPtyg2-KS1CY1BlffLCD_kgoaqSuzBDhQx65sLWjv2WbfQNwYK5nwZTD5kY0x5u6CorTflNNvFyLyVm4z9FGXZ9y6n1BVomlIc9t8DZEfchtYP-FNQ-XR0q0qXpqe8-KajMd_umoIMOqA2nS4bzPrHTCyDi5BG05BXsJkgHpXm3w/s900/20221024_0008.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXYqoq2-hCSu3wbrPtyg2-KS1CY1BlffLCD_kgoaqSuzBDhQx65sLWjv2WbfQNwYK5nwZTD5kY0x5u6CorTflNNvFyLyVm4z9FGXZ9y6n1BVomlIc9t8DZEfchtYP-FNQ-XR0q0qXpqe8-KajMd_umoIMOqA2nS4bzPrHTCyDi5BG05BXsJkgHpXm3w/s320/20221024_0008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I was lucky with that as these are glazes that usually require fairly careful firing to get a satisfactory result. Some sculptural work that I had done also turned out well, with a runny ash-type glaze giving almost a salt glazed effect to them.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlHlOOusRuAoGKbipE72I0EjYqdwTBmHSZ4CeJfyKDT20uiGm2P8GU8FH8TO7ZvcMrKgNAh3e8ec2bYIwClQQ56K8prlkjOMRYQWqqR4SgPx_b2JE7uvh2uyqL34fTnzRuiatoenMpm_LplWfoVTpNp0QawVY21LjDIN74kKGxiCgHqxy3dJLjavTYg/s900/20221024_0116.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="644" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlHlOOusRuAoGKbipE72I0EjYqdwTBmHSZ4CeJfyKDT20uiGm2P8GU8FH8TO7ZvcMrKgNAh3e8ec2bYIwClQQ56K8prlkjOMRYQWqqR4SgPx_b2JE7uvh2uyqL34fTnzRuiatoenMpm_LplWfoVTpNp0QawVY21LjDIN74kKGxiCgHqxy3dJLjavTYg/s320/20221024_0116.jpg" /></a></div><p>October has been a month with plenty to celebrate, the kindness of friends and family, the excitement of a firing that finally worked well after a great struggle, and we are fortunate to have our lives enriched by memories of those we love who are no longer with us. </p><p><a href="https://opopots.blogspot.com/2018/08/walking-with-mr-smaug.html">Walking With Mr Smaug</a><br /></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-9623181330376115202022-09-21T22:01:00.000+12:002022-09-21T22:01:18.235+12:00All is Revealed! Opening the Wood fired kiln.A wood fired kiln is like a living thing when it is full of heat and there is a muffled roar of flame from somewhere deep in its belly. After the firing, when the firebox is sealed, and the kiln is left to cool, the living thing slips into a deepening sleep. This kiln is well insulated, and it takes many hours for the heat from the chamber to seep through to the outer wall of the kiln, and the following day it is pleasant to run a hand over the outside, and to feel that warmth, it is like brushing the flank of a huge cow or horse!
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Two days after the firing it is safe to slide open the chimney dampers and carefully pull a brick or two from the bricked up fire mouth, and maybe a spyhole brick from the chamber, to help air circulate.
After a few hours of this, the door of the chamber can be unbricked, a few at a time, and as the gap in the chamber door widens, the potter gets a glimpse of the fired pots inside.
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I am sure that levels of anxiety go up measurably in any potter at this moment, as it is when the work is seen, and better still when it is plucked still warm from the kiln and held in the hand, it is then that the potter knows if the firing has been a success and if there are any "treasures" to be found.
This firing, being a first test firing after major changes to the kiln, was always going to be full of surprises and things to learn. The terracotta pots that filled the kiln's belly ranged from a rich brown to an orange-red and were able to tell me a great deal about how the heat in the kiln had been distributed.
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In this case, rather hot low down in the chamber and cooler towards the arch of the roof. The variation had been expected, but it was helpful to see the evidence of it, and the range of heat from front to back of the kiln too, more subtle than that from bottom to top, but it was there never the less.
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Unloading a wood fired kiln, even a comparatively small one, can take longer than you would think for it is not just a case of reaching into the kiln and pulling out pots, but nearly every pot in this firing had been fired on little pads of clay and sand called wadding and this had to be removed. Wadding lifts the pot a little way so it doesn't stick to the kiln shelves and also allows some circulation of heat under its base.
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The wadding could sometimes be broken free from the pots just with gentle finger pressure, but most of it had to be smartly tapped with a little rubber mallet. This was always the case where the pot had got slightly overfired, as wadding and the pot had started to form a bond. As this was an earthenware firing that did not need to reach the heady highs of stoneware temperatures, I made the wadding from a mixture of builder's sand and earthenware clay, roughly equal parts of each. This worked quite well, and there were few real scars, and rarely damage done to the pot. The beauty of using earthenware clay and sand was that it would leave a mark the same colour as the pot*.
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I was very thankful that most pots have fired well and there was no bloating or slumping of the clay in spite of some pots being fired to a very high temperature, and we will have some nice pots to put up for sale in our gallery.
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Whilst most pots were a success, some small garden pots were a little damaged around their rims where I had fired them rim to rim and had separated the rims with wadding. In retrospect the wadding was probably not necessary, and it did chip a few of the small pots when the wadding was removed. I am sure we will have no problem finding a use for them in our garden!
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One rather heavy bowl that got too hot did have some damage to its foot.... so I will probably use it as a bowl for bread making!
After the wadding is removed, I usually take a few minutes cleaning the pot of any wood ash or debris (wood fired kilns can be rather messy), and I also make sure that the foot of the pot has no sharp edges or projections. Imperfections are sorted out with a diamond sharpening stone, such as is used for sharpening chisels or plane blades.
I put together a video of unloading the kiln, and I hope this gives a bit more of an idea of the process.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe class="BLOG_video_class" allowfullscreen="" youtube-src-id="evCEamQnR_U" width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/evCEamQnR_U"></iframe></div>
*When I make wadding for a stoneware firing it has to be very refractory, and capable of crumbling away from the pot easily after the firing. For stoneware wadding I use a more complicated "brew" of alumina hydrate, china clay, a dash of ball clay and some stoneware grog, but some potters use a half and half mix of alumina and china clay. Other potters fill sea shells with clay and sit pots on those, like many things in life there are often multiple solutions to a problem!Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-44924029610980295182022-09-16T16:21:00.000+12:002022-09-16T16:21:23.162+12:00Wood Fired Kiln Revisited!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigm1239jSpQCFO5poJFz0SlUdFytcVebLdYS87f0L2pG3gmhILDPW67ivkgO6xAisk5ABxwmhTiY3VXn6VLGmb2aY1bQZ4aa29kxSID6okx3eOfz9gywhEpYI5iTWJh5uC-kYhbLoBCSZhLFMhQ26BzhDcJS7rWbecOcw08mr5pBpgmYb7RT5NI5v_cA/s900/20220827_0027.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigm1239jSpQCFO5poJFz0SlUdFytcVebLdYS87f0L2pG3gmhILDPW67ivkgO6xAisk5ABxwmhTiY3VXn6VLGmb2aY1bQZ4aa29kxSID6okx3eOfz9gywhEpYI5iTWJh5uC-kYhbLoBCSZhLFMhQ26BzhDcJS7rWbecOcw08mr5pBpgmYb7RT5NI5v_cA/s320/20220827_0027.jpg"/></a></div>
I fired the wood fired kiln recently, almost a year to the day after the previous firing. I hadn't realised that the kiln had been quiet and cold for such a long time. Quite a lot had happened to the kiln in its holiday slumbers, as I made major changes to it late last year, rebuilding the inside of the chamber and making a new firebox.
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At the time I was doing most of the work on it I had hoped to have fired it before Christmas, but "life" conspired to prevent this, so maybe I should be celebrating Christmas right now... this late in the year, having completed the firing at last!
The changes to the kiln were really substantial ones, so rather than fire to 1280 C (2336 F) stoneware temperatures first time around, I elected to load up the kiln with unglazed earthenware planters and small flower pots, and aimed to fire to Cone 1 which is about 1140 C (2084 F).
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I arranged the kiln with top, middle and bottom shelves, and expected there to be a temperature variation from bottom to top of the kiln. Usually, when loading a kiln like this I would place baffles on the lower shelf that would direct the flames higher in the kiln before finding their way to the exit flue, but with this test firing, I kept things simple and mostly just loaded pots on the shelves, so that I could get a better idea of the natural flow of the flames around the chamber so as to have a better idea of how to correct things in subsequent firings. I placed pyrometric cones on each of the shelves to give me a record of temperatures reached throughout the kiln.
All my previous kilns and the earlier versions of this one, had either conventional grates in the firebox or fire boxes, or ladder type grates. The biggest change this time was building a Bourry type firebox.*
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These are rather like a hopper that is loaded from the top, and are to some extent self feeding once loaded with wood. The air passes through the stack of wood. And the wood preheats before burning from below with the flames passing through to the chamber of the kiln where the pots are. In theory a Bourry box firebox should be far less labour intensive to fire than a more conventional type that has a grate, as the wood just needs to be replenished by the armload from time to time from the top, rather than having to continuously feed a hungry fire with two or three pieces of wood every 2 or 3 minutes for hours usually whilst kneeling or bending!
There were lots of unknowns with the new firebox, I did not know if it would be sufficient, or if it would be overpowered and hard to control. An additional challenge for this firing was that majority of the pots were completely unfired, and some were moderately large and heavy, so I would need to control the early part of the firing with great care to allow any moisture to steam out of the pots without blowing something up!
I took two days to carefully load the kiln. Once the chamber door was bricked up and the kiln made ready to fire, I lit a very, very small fire in a little temporary extension to the firebox that I made out of a few old bricks. It was more like a tiny camp fire, and I just directed the heat into the kiln, and very slowly brought it up to about 50 C (122 F) indicated on the pyrometer.
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It was rather smoky and dispiriting work at first as the cold and damp kiln took a while to get enough warmth into its old bones before the chimney could exert any pull on the fire. The first sign of any life in the kiln was a strange grey cloud that formed at the chimney top, like a large clammy pillow. The smoke did not rise further but just sat there looking rather ominous! It took 45 minutes before the chimney started to draw with any enthusiam, but once it did everything became much more fun!
I let this fire go out and lit a similar one the following day, this one lit easily and the chimney worked right away.
The day after that I fired the kiln!
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The weather was still and the temperature a healthy 4 degrees C (39 F), with just a hint of frost in some of the low parts of the garden. The sky full of stars, but birds were starting to stir and I could hear Magpies in a nearby tree try out a few notes of a pre-dawn chorus. I lit the kiln at 5.39am and was pleased to see that the pyrometer indicated that the kiln had retained a temperature of 45 C (113 F) from the gentle warming fire that I had lit the day before.
To begin with I progressively built up a fire in the ashpit of the kiln below the Bourry Box. I really wanted to "nurse" things along carefully at first because of the unfired work that was in the kiln. Four hours into the firing, with the pyrometer showing 350 C (662 F), I started to feed the Bourry box. I had no idea if this would produce a dramatic rise of temperature, or how long it would take for the fire to become established, but there were no dramas, the wood that I fed into the box, burned easily, but without causing the kiln to run away like an escaping horse. After a while I started to have a slight concern that the box was too gentle, and that it really wasn't taking over from the fire that I still kept stoking in the ash pit beneath it.
The temperature continued to rise at about 100 degrees per hour (212 F), then seemed to run out of puff as we passed 700 (1292 F). My unease about the "gentle" box magnified to definite worry! 700 degrees was so far short of where we eventually needed to be, that I started to formulate plans B, C, D as to how to proceed or at what point to admit defeat!
I thought about things, and then remembered the nice line drawing of a Bourry box that is in the pages of Bourry's marvellous book "Treatise on the Ceramic Industries" (that thanks to a good friend I have a 1901 English Edition of). The illustration shows a good pile of small logs that completely fill the box. The box has no top, and really, the pile of logs is doing most of the work of regulating the primary air to feed the fire below. I thought about my own Bourry box, and how I still had not filled it very far, but was burning no more than a layer or two of wood ... And I started to wonder if I was letting far too much air through to the fire. I decided to fill the jolly thing right up and see what happened!
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The kiln responded with good cheer, and probably a sigh of relief that finally its human workmate had begun to understand what was required!
We got to temperature in about nine and a half hours. From what I could observe, the top shelf was quite a lot cooler than the lower parts of the kiln, and I had to make one of those difficult calls as to when to halt. If I continued to try for Cone 1 in the top of the kiln, then I realized that I could actually start to lose some of the pots in the lower part of the kiln, due to seriously overfiring them. I reasoned that it is always possible to re-fire underfired pots, but never possible to redeem something that has slumped and bloated, or has been melted to a puddle by excess heat!!
So I stopped stoking just after 3pm and let the fire burn out. When the temperature had dropped to 920 C (1688 F) I began to seal up the kiln with a slurry of clay slip to close up cracks that might let too much cold air in. By 4pm, with the kiln now at 850 C (1562 F), everything was clammed shut and sealed, and I was able to leave the kiln to cool.
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*The line illustration of a Bourry Box that I used earlier on in the text was from the 1901 English Translation version of Emile Bourry's "Treatise on the Ceramic Industries".
Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com7Otago, New Zealand-45.479067099999988 170.1547567-70.029533856387133 134.9985067 -20.928600343612839 -154.6889933tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-8830157725569358282021-04-26T14:48:00.000+12:002021-04-26T14:48:44.664+12:00Harvesting and Hail!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GYt0O4slZ_8xXOOghZma-V7nv1TC4NYKVkahl-A3mGc_XXOxjwijUgsKVeqen8pLqgO1h2ZBpjOc7di7MmIwD2K5XUg1qXRi39TIayTe8r5Itd3bNM8W3J_oSVGBiSpicrfByfQZrozD/s1067/20210422_0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GYt0O4slZ_8xXOOghZma-V7nv1TC4NYKVkahl-A3mGc_XXOxjwijUgsKVeqen8pLqgO1h2ZBpjOc7di7MmIwD2K5XUg1qXRi39TIayTe8r5Itd3bNM8W3J_oSVGBiSpicrfByfQZrozD/s320/20210422_0020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Last week I made some small vases on the potter's wheel. These range from about 4 to 6 inches in height, and it has been fun trying out different forms. It is amazing how many variations it is possible to come up with, and I have lots more in mind! <p></p><p>At some point in the week the sun was out, and it almost felt like Spring... rather than late Autumn, and we spied a butterfly sitting on a flower that stayed there long enough for me to get the camera and take a few photos of it.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKObbWQFN_EzXk4Wr1eS19A68WtdAkjvvZGvgCqhOunGpnk8Y0SugbqERQFQg4lumqvNW_lD1Fb36zijtPY2QaJRMyOHeLG9wg51XQzZViBJ-r2a_sWNnxT67v2uIsUT5gNFEDkBUFtj-/s1067/20210422_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKObbWQFN_EzXk4Wr1eS19A68WtdAkjvvZGvgCqhOunGpnk8Y0SugbqERQFQg4lumqvNW_lD1Fb36zijtPY2QaJRMyOHeLG9wg51XQzZViBJ-r2a_sWNnxT67v2uIsUT5gNFEDkBUFtj-/s320/20210422_0010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> On Saturday morning I got a strong "urge" to get up on the roof at the back of our house and clean out leaves and other debris from the gutter, and make sure the down pipes were clear and working. It is not a high roof, and there is an area with only a gentle slope to work from, but getting up a ladder is not as straightforward as it once might have been, because I injured my remaining "good" shoulder at the beginning of February (a small tendon tear), and the various pills and potions I consume daily for a blood disorder tend to make me a little giddy, but I got there, and found both outlets from the gutter almost clogged, so I was able to make myself useful! When it came to the moment of truth, the "dismount" from high places proved more problematic than my ascent and, fortunately, Laura was on hand to shift the ladder to a slightly easier position for me... otherwise the roof may have become my home for a bit longer. The view from up there is actually rather nice!<p></p><p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstEVLSa70w2NHnQKEZk2WBn1FpkzMhfEY-NkyZmrzxGFtOUODkb85DOCAhX4JrAWMTtqZjvWa0QR21X4vyXXV1I8lrZ3pVtaxiWFOpLGpGII8iY_Egv4QrTMKJtI5PaiJe8ZvgDpX5OFb/s800/20210425_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstEVLSa70w2NHnQKEZk2WBn1FpkzMhfEY-NkyZmrzxGFtOUODkb85DOCAhX4JrAWMTtqZjvWa0QR21X4vyXXV1I8lrZ3pVtaxiWFOpLGpGII8iY_Egv4QrTMKJtI5PaiJe8ZvgDpX5OFb/s320/20210425_0007.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laura with a potato, she was pleased that its red colour co-ordinated well with her jersey. It would seem that the potato is something of a fashion accessory!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Another job I had an "urge" to get done the same morning was to harvest the last of the
potatoes from the vegetable garden, and pick the solitary pumpkin that I
had managed to grow this year.... a rather small and lonely member of
the genus Curcurbita, but one on whom the continuation of the line of
pumpkins I have grown for the last 3 years, depends! </p><p>For me, the day of
harvesting pumpkins (or pumpkin) really marks the beginning of winter.
It is a declaration that nothing further can be achieved by keeping the
pumpkins in the garden, there will be no further ripening, nor increase
of size, and the risk of a frosty night is now too great. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanRNvIJJkLI8PN2s488pEbAikAZNHtRv-UOn9c533v3_YNbaRZczYelUhix9rGReNijaoe41ZCUvkmv4NoEQevgMBDLpLeaoSCUzsDEoCRetrQjGPpkGaWKg_ao22qDiicpSFLkSfuv7c/s1067/20210425_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanRNvIJJkLI8PN2s488pEbAikAZNHtRv-UOn9c533v3_YNbaRZczYelUhix9rGReNijaoe41ZCUvkmv4NoEQevgMBDLpLeaoSCUzsDEoCRetrQjGPpkGaWKg_ao22qDiicpSFLkSfuv7c/s320/20210425_0002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>So I gazed
somewhat sadly at the pumpkin, before raising my knife and severing it
from the vine, and reflected on the summer past, and the winter to come. </p><p>It was not a good season for pumpkins or tomatoes. The tomatoes flowered
well, but the days were rarely hot enough to allow pollination to take
place easily, hand pollination did help, but from what I have read,
tomatoes really need the mid temperatures in the mid 20s (Celsius) to
complete the process. I think the lack of real summer heat affected the
pumpkins too, male and female flowers rarely occurred at the same time,
and the vines struggled to grow with any real enthusiasm. The solitary
female pumpkin flower that bore fruit was fortunate to have had two male
flowers arrive just in the nick of time, one on the same vine, and one
on a rather pathetically unwell vine that all but expired with the
effort of flowering! I feel quite a fatherly bond to the pumpkin as I assisted the pollination process with a nice
sable water colour brush, carefully transferring what pollen I could
find from the two flowers, and hoping that it would be enough... and it
was!</p><p>As we reverently carried one small pumpkin, 4 tiny runner beans, 6 small half ripe tomatoes and about 2 kilograms of potatoes back to the house, a few flecks of rain fell from a sky that was the colour of a sheet of galvanised iron.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Xck41AAVcIp55a6FlP8qmLBSqTbDRcVQhSPHss0MctFWUVEw1_0h8gMgYj-jc2jqH7Fsd0LfhutoOQmwgWB9FmxYSWEnQFMtfRejuTQ4bLJi4YdvckPl7D6l2okOhbinqkhkid36SUU9/s1067/20210425_0045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Xck41AAVcIp55a6FlP8qmLBSqTbDRcVQhSPHss0MctFWUVEw1_0h8gMgYj-jc2jqH7Fsd0LfhutoOQmwgWB9FmxYSWEnQFMtfRejuTQ4bLJi4YdvckPl7D6l2okOhbinqkhkid36SUU9/s320/20210425_0045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Shortly afterward, the heavens (as they say) "opened". I am not really sure how hail the size of large peas, and the colour of a pearl necklace, really equates to the idea of it having a heavenly origin... but dense pebbles of the stuff pelted with increasing enthusiasm, and the rattle and swish of it was accompanied by booming rolls of thunder, and a remarkable quantity of rain. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwfQkP9hiwUNA_NZbP11T1_YFQbUXs3N1yYWd8RzBj5XHmnnRCMhEgT4fRLkkznSiiLKY1sHBOUdfj62iX4P5LtqnxiCsTQvBr7mX-Sz5HBcA-vjsagofyEWTh1YUemdz75n61ZQkuHns/s1067/20210425_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwfQkP9hiwUNA_NZbP11T1_YFQbUXs3N1yYWd8RzBj5XHmnnRCMhEgT4fRLkkznSiiLKY1sHBOUdfj62iX4P5LtqnxiCsTQvBr7mX-Sz5HBcA-vjsagofyEWTh1YUemdz75n61ZQkuHns/w400-h300/20210425_0016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>The ice quickly filled the recently cleaned gutters and down pipes, and with that means of escape blocked, water cascaded from the roof to the ground by what ever means it could improvise. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvTqzjFaibjeQxhM-uVrmzVBtS-wLXsVThrsb1HM7_lvLH1KR8pc2YE3V-IPFtHuC_JH-NjXWK80OQELF-raGjk_mmJuAXjwmkxAnrLpCqcQyiq5TVC886UQ7sdYiDxhtYCDYjFSsLpSy/s1067/20210425_0029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvTqzjFaibjeQxhM-uVrmzVBtS-wLXsVThrsb1HM7_lvLH1KR8pc2YE3V-IPFtHuC_JH-NjXWK80OQELF-raGjk_mmJuAXjwmkxAnrLpCqcQyiq5TVC886UQ7sdYiDxhtYCDYjFSsLpSy/w400-h300/20210425_0029.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Out the front of the building, the storm water drain by the main road blocked and the edge of the road, and the footpath, became awash with a mixture of ice and water. Most cars slowed, or pulled over to a complete stop as drivers feared for their windscreens, a few crazy fools continued driving at pace. </p><p>The fall of hail was quite prolonged, and, as I write this Monday morning, we still have some shady areas in the garden that are adorned with white.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmXq9ex6naGP0UtTCuRqhK8bo4AfIOq8HJMpdcyZcuRJ2VbcPmXlRASPL_1koP4Dz-atq6Odeohqdj8OOiQp3U8B0h1fkFdRvNroUflmQwCEDlMmorb9ZPFk_R02PJvLToqUCih_FAR2N/s1067/20210425_0093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmXq9ex6naGP0UtTCuRqhK8bo4AfIOq8HJMpdcyZcuRJ2VbcPmXlRASPL_1koP4Dz-atq6Odeohqdj8OOiQp3U8B0h1fkFdRvNroUflmQwCEDlMmorb9ZPFk_R02PJvLToqUCih_FAR2N/s320/20210425_0093.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Whilst my morning's cleaning of gutters and down pipes did not prevent chaos when the hail was at its worse, the water could at least clear away faster when the deluge had abated. We had one leak into the building, a rather odd one in the gallery that must have been due to water getting up under the ridge of the roof, but other than that we escaped fairly lightly. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1aUltnkZ43VY02jebtjj6sXlaczDYkg8AN0o6Am6ltpDKVxdMLINQVrjXEsq0hlQloqrm2TRsVKFSzlMte3hWpQ-jFQXqVRtbBlBJqio1lTeBiBZKRQlMJ6gW44NBdPwLIaw0vXCQKukr/s800/20210425_0076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1aUltnkZ43VY02jebtjj6sXlaczDYkg8AN0o6Am6ltpDKVxdMLINQVrjXEsq0hlQloqrm2TRsVKFSzlMte3hWpQ-jFQXqVRtbBlBJqio1lTeBiBZKRQlMJ6gW44NBdPwLIaw0vXCQKukr/s320/20210425_0076.jpg" /></a></div> <p></p><p>After the heavens had "closed"... well, I assume they must if they "open", I went for a tour of inspection with Mr Smaug. He was very brave about walking on ice with his bare feet, definitely not quite happy about the chilly sensation between the toes, but still curious to explore the oddly changed world that he found around him.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNo1P7fVUSV8iK7w7-I-g3MZBGo9AhaCAQbQevDOdjWYVDSA-wfLrfidk8o65w5I_7tY4j8t7Eee2jcIQibkPbOnD8wdE4Aab5MHsplWWyhNMbJcdA_AglEth5sRZkjtqg5-Bq0bYgRlB/s1067/20210425_0080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNo1P7fVUSV8iK7w7-I-g3MZBGo9AhaCAQbQevDOdjWYVDSA-wfLrfidk8o65w5I_7tY4j8t7Eee2jcIQibkPbOnD8wdE4Aab5MHsplWWyhNMbJcdA_AglEth5sRZkjtqg5-Bq0bYgRlB/s320/20210425_0080.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />It was worth getting down to the level of Mr Smaug and looking closely at the ice. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWUP-axJfr3e3XFdj9KdQIb5eY6d-WRNGBMU0WRDoJOukBKmvxYMG8aFGmpcPVriKltC6sCRVJ9QGF-I_CQJDvecdCxODvzmCf7d3C8Evw57PITTgEEnH3JIVxh6Xk3LuQko6HybX7BpV/s1067/20210425_0074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWUP-axJfr3e3XFdj9KdQIb5eY6d-WRNGBMU0WRDoJOukBKmvxYMG8aFGmpcPVriKltC6sCRVJ9QGF-I_CQJDvecdCxODvzmCf7d3C8Evw57PITTgEEnH3JIVxh6Xk3LuQko6HybX7BpV/s320/20210425_0074.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Whilst most of the ice was an opalescent white, there were some glassy crystals, and others that had joined their neighbours in the happy plunge from the lofty clouds to terra firma. I remember a brief time when the hail was falling when the pieces became noticeably larger and oddly shaped.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUoumePFfA26cs3m2dvgSMcbRSx-ZD5lJW7CJ820sYMvv7ONHU9b_GL0fBPGjCm74tnksW6r2iKmSLmpIHOs6gk7w_keZCDIOxIq1EtE2yb9YSzh9DbmKGIFQ_7I6s13xAtVNuhyTTcA5/s1067/20210425_0088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUoumePFfA26cs3m2dvgSMcbRSx-ZD5lJW7CJ820sYMvv7ONHU9b_GL0fBPGjCm74tnksW6r2iKmSLmpIHOs6gk7w_keZCDIOxIq1EtE2yb9YSzh9DbmKGIFQ_7I6s13xAtVNuhyTTcA5/s320/20210425_0088.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Hum, we may be able to salvage some of the green tomatoes that were packed in ice, <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUwPxyaift1iUMty6brceXC4V6NY3vTekFvAD3Sf6223zHNdduile5Y5YRwt1dwZkDz73dCQi8GkLO2I87640GDkt5nEp97RhTzvzPFxID2FTXoiW4pmanXFu4RcJsVtEJTqyerm0skJb/s1067/20210425_0062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUwPxyaift1iUMty6brceXC4V6NY3vTekFvAD3Sf6223zHNdduile5Y5YRwt1dwZkDz73dCQi8GkLO2I87640GDkt5nEp97RhTzvzPFxID2FTXoiW4pmanXFu4RcJsVtEJTqyerm0skJb/s320/20210425_0062.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>but it is just as well that I picked the pumpkin before the storm, what was left of the vine was completely shredded.</p><p><br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGAhqSZFLtmoC-nIY1CJEaF3VXTujKWRtYpVtEwvBCWkadKypSoDY1Cv3aHJQ347AaddtC2UoaawYLNHtVBpuEzyv5_XAgskXaJKMJRbX4Sa3Cw90VU11Qbu4ifxc6N-qa9fLBiB3L3fp/s1067/20210425_0057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGAhqSZFLtmoC-nIY1CJEaF3VXTujKWRtYpVtEwvBCWkadKypSoDY1Cv3aHJQ347AaddtC2UoaawYLNHtVBpuEzyv5_XAgskXaJKMJRbX4Sa3Cw90VU11Qbu4ifxc6N-qa9fLBiB3L3fp/s320/20210425_0057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-53970401279082015022021-03-13T16:14:00.002+13:002021-03-13T16:14:35.907+13:00December and January... and a Scottish Garden Saint!<div class="separator"><p style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><br /><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpA67SSvuP2zVfNLs9re-Py17LhVt3WTcVPDvdU9XqnIDdVwlcrTvZUhqMZP6xesKZ3VoTUtRPHQ_mEe_zqU3k1gX23KgJ_m4xSkde5QJ5Z5bxpgbKbO2v2ynOI-uhan8zgnKS9j0-nUiZ/s800/20201222_0035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpA67SSvuP2zVfNLs9re-Py17LhVt3WTcVPDvdU9XqnIDdVwlcrTvZUhqMZP6xesKZ3VoTUtRPHQ_mEe_zqU3k1gX23KgJ_m4xSkde5QJ5Z5bxpgbKbO2v2ynOI-uhan8zgnKS9j0-nUiZ/w480-h640/20201222_0035.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>I made this tall jug (or pitcher) for someone who wanted me to make a garden saint, rather like St Fiacre (the patron Saint of growers of vegetables and medicinal plants), but with a Scottish flavour. I think the jug ended up at about 14 inches high when fired (35.5 cm).<br /></p><p>A most interesting treasure hunt with Google brought to light several images of St Fiacre and also a watercolour that is reputed to be the earliest known depiction of a Scotsman in a kilt. I was able to combine Fiacre and the Scotsman in my little illustration of the Saint. I used black under glaze on raw clay for the line work. The illustration was waxed before I glazed the rest of the jug so as to keep the Saint free of glaze.</p><p>I might do a post just about making and glazing the Scottish Garden Saint jug as there were some techniques that I used for the illustration that might be of interest to someone.</p><p>Making a large jug led quite naturally to making several more of assorted sizes. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="642" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPinokTrk8trRitvR1d21-Qwokmon-Xa80K9AjvcBVLXjw-D5eg97VR987u6APB8vINh11tJo2CyS5DijisruycTmfAecKOGsHlwhQAMapwZCoo1PLyEOABKv6h3BkETfb9mGpIhIdi2fo/s320/20210121_0013.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEA0BJ_c4wpKXxK1F4fZUwgLcngTmapLukNhv_USPvWOuJPDeFoCIp-jBC3ai8ymQxT3Tmgi67BSToT_9ClUG-xJhUjIjhd95VmmIeWYJqWsni2HWMqxr65Xg-KKpT2Y97iiLTIf9JR0f/s800/20210121_0068.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRax24ELG8wcut31qSe5vg6Yr007LNUgJn7ooVXNOGrEtBTv88FmhepMjCnExthY_tK7AX-UxFmvWulRSNZtQmSW_Hb-0DZ8Qm01QJLYGtBrb0SXdJMuLFJQrKhSuNA7s-7wMqY87JJe0d/s800/20210121_0063.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="577" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRax24ELG8wcut31qSe5vg6Yr007LNUgJn7ooVXNOGrEtBTv88FmhepMjCnExthY_tK7AX-UxFmvWulRSNZtQmSW_Hb-0DZ8Qm01QJLYGtBrb0SXdJMuLFJQrKhSuNA7s-7wMqY87JJe0d/s320/20210121_0063.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFTywnRPAZYEUC0IRFKHEeG9Q75v3YXoPRP95R6VZBAb5RGbUivid81x2BJK6vksbytcT5WcImaEzA58j3bfJjOC958T2mIOVuspTnerYl-hX5aDdr05ZuPjrjHFh-xzmIAZzi0Csoa9H/s800/20210121_0068.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="517" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFTywnRPAZYEUC0IRFKHEeG9Q75v3YXoPRP95R6VZBAb5RGbUivid81x2BJK6vksbytcT5WcImaEzA58j3bfJjOC958T2mIOVuspTnerYl-hX5aDdr05ZuPjrjHFh-xzmIAZzi0Csoa9H/s320/20210121_0068.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyDoZRked99Ke33UX12iDQskn-SoYSUiugoeMTwj8dQTS2SDUROXIaSao_JSjvE5psgurykqvxWL2IMnuzNf9fz_onB1hjOz4Ek4jHsDThUHm29ElgDInf4AoRwOmqJj-04zV-bJcRPJV/s800/20210121_0073.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="559" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyDoZRked99Ke33UX12iDQskn-SoYSUiugoeMTwj8dQTS2SDUROXIaSao_JSjvE5psgurykqvxWL2IMnuzNf9fz_onB1hjOz4Ek4jHsDThUHm29ElgDInf4AoRwOmqJj-04zV-bJcRPJV/s320/20210121_0073.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>I also experimented further with the glaze that I used on the Scottish Garden Saint jug. On a buff stoneware clay it gives a cool white and green depending on thickness.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5XXURYGJfYkY1Zn7cGNwtoOpVBMPKHftloIf5pBFqWMAkln53aZV6048E31MJ6ZYx7NqQQ4wg1NodWLdfSKUXxIsxv5WIiCg0dj4KJZEJVWlA7Kaj3ji0t14rfLO4BBpIJGIdTc2gJ9D/s800/20201222_0049.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5XXURYGJfYkY1Zn7cGNwtoOpVBMPKHftloIf5pBFqWMAkln53aZV6048E31MJ6ZYx7NqQQ4wg1NodWLdfSKUXxIsxv5WIiCg0dj4KJZEJVWlA7Kaj3ji0t14rfLO4BBpIJGIdTc2gJ9D/s320/20201222_0049.jpg" /></a></div>On a white stoneware, the colour is blue grey over green.<br /><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_8HUCUqNE6dlrt9DRAIBhRuH6PT5cTvckVS0kTkOTsquuB6EQsk04Jkhu-aoL-g17GbV6t-ajpjE2qjytWzvw5v77VIcN4pM2BfO8cJCL0rXaBYYipC7rz-SjajSidZDyGJ6iuo5NNUA/s800/20210121_0043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="761" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_8HUCUqNE6dlrt9DRAIBhRuH6PT5cTvckVS0kTkOTsquuB6EQsk04Jkhu-aoL-g17GbV6t-ajpjE2qjytWzvw5v77VIcN4pM2BfO8cJCL0rXaBYYipC7rz-SjajSidZDyGJ6iuo5NNUA/s320/20210121_0043.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOOr2hQqdyiSWFUn3AWYUNZw-qYqjedW10ZvXMn_tqXDKON1N4VT-XKbDsTCS2DAXjCWZKEjhrTuZ4gWt08Wd-kgaZfNcWchiELfh7x_a1TKHy2q1H90o25X4syTaLGK8tFeyXqPhS8l1/s800/20210121_0044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="765" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOOr2hQqdyiSWFUn3AWYUNZw-qYqjedW10ZvXMn_tqXDKON1N4VT-XKbDsTCS2DAXjCWZKEjhrTuZ4gWt08Wd-kgaZfNcWchiELfh7x_a1TKHy2q1H90o25X4syTaLGK8tFeyXqPhS8l1/s320/20210121_0044.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnCAUlgW20MbSxucRYArX3iM5GUDN-YdBIC7f5tNmCi8ME1aco1nRLNfz9ZfWlvp26HNB4hhQZhHpxNM0izzXdPwJKtpNhVmsfwcOxCc5sWsJ9VdYMR6WmaoMJtIV0efW4Z7a6PLVW9Ad/s800/20210121_0045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnCAUlgW20MbSxucRYArX3iM5GUDN-YdBIC7f5tNmCi8ME1aco1nRLNfz9ZfWlvp26HNB4hhQZhHpxNM0izzXdPwJKtpNhVmsfwcOxCc5sWsJ9VdYMR6WmaoMJtIV0efW4Z7a6PLVW9Ad/s320/20210121_0045.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>In a glaze firing of the electric kiln where I "fired down" from the peak temperature in order to slow the rate of cooling I was able to get very distinct small crystals to grow over a dark background. The crystal growth showed up particularly well on this bowl.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dU3-WVQlCbDG5oXeXH-6Y7xmk7h-3aefozJRFZn5srY80-UGLAdAQ0_hHfLxApD20pkiF-QldMZd7b8ykKlu9o0R2-o7yKAX7oqrJgQmXoFgvs17lpmv9y3oz2RnQhKk-NY7nBgaj0Rd/s2048/20210121_0110.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dU3-WVQlCbDG5oXeXH-6Y7xmk7h-3aefozJRFZn5srY80-UGLAdAQ0_hHfLxApD20pkiF-QldMZd7b8ykKlu9o0R2-o7yKAX7oqrJgQmXoFgvs17lpmv9y3oz2RnQhKk-NY7nBgaj0Rd/s320/20210121_0110.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4rpxAMLK87im963EUJlrJ6zfz_t5VoT67MNdY0xF0CDOH7yIOtIMEKZTDZREBc4yM-Kh04LS7-ODfUxYlZa7YW3J1DexeHFiawRIQQmk9p5FzD65Q5RaJ1T0nZpnl85UU32D5p8sOqIL/s2048/20210121_0111.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4rpxAMLK87im963EUJlrJ6zfz_t5VoT67MNdY0xF0CDOH7yIOtIMEKZTDZREBc4yM-Kh04LS7-ODfUxYlZa7YW3J1DexeHFiawRIQQmk9p5FzD65Q5RaJ1T0nZpnl85UU32D5p8sOqIL/s320/20210121_0111.jpg" /></a></div><p>When I make mugs I still search for the "perfect form"... Of course that is largely a matter of individual preference, but I do like the comforting "cuddly" shape of these mugs. The slight, but definite, flare out toward the rim of the mug, makes them more pleasant to drink out of, and also helps keep the mug round when it is being fired in the kiln. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQlQrEOucAn2U0bugkUG_zrV2Cxfxs_3aqSlgetSQjh-tv-bDxJ6vjW0MfVJMVHf6a4ZbWed_9ZEk_kNhA87v3lnPr_nrqo227RMVhw25ZmeAZdqPZ_eO3DaqW3yWuSw7J5as6HrYgSsy/s800/20210121_0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="463" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQlQrEOucAn2U0bugkUG_zrV2Cxfxs_3aqSlgetSQjh-tv-bDxJ6vjW0MfVJMVHf6a4ZbWed_9ZEk_kNhA87v3lnPr_nrqo227RMVhw25ZmeAZdqPZ_eO3DaqW3yWuSw7J5as6HrYgSsy/w231-h400/20210121_0017.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><p> I have been experimenting with this cobalt blue glaze. It is one of those fascinating ones that gives two or three colours depending on glaze thickness, and also turns green when titanium is added to it... either as titanium dioxide or as rutile.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLSKnxCIJQvDP13Q8aBKOuLZ6v3f4hyZcA4kBTYp0qEFbdNAgdvbzVJGOphc9syJw7u3VSCxeq0Rt_XEdh2U7lPacR04I7hmpml_eFiHN5974U5xYPXkC50PGYM7sSBjT9sTqSL8UmbLx/s800/20210121_0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="687" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLSKnxCIJQvDP13Q8aBKOuLZ6v3f4hyZcA4kBTYp0qEFbdNAgdvbzVJGOphc9syJw7u3VSCxeq0Rt_XEdh2U7lPacR04I7hmpml_eFiHN5974U5xYPXkC50PGYM7sSBjT9sTqSL8UmbLx/w344-h400/20210121_0020.jpg" width="344" /></a></div><p> </p><p>Here is the same "blue" glaze as the previous example, but this one has 4 percent rutile added to it which has made blue turn green. The glaze has a nice "waxy" feel to it, and works well on both white and buff coloured stoneware.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhe2oRyDvZdeleDBoYCY8M-w1d0_P3uDo_26pbL_X-kk7XwZFUKlhoQTx-t9mLjJWi_LCGu2tgclKyw7EHuEAu9gh0cFqyy1qVR8QkrMTP5hvBBKSu9xboCUA7HRiOGHhxwVGt7iZsYuAQ/s800/20210121_0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="718" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhe2oRyDvZdeleDBoYCY8M-w1d0_P3uDo_26pbL_X-kk7XwZFUKlhoQTx-t9mLjJWi_LCGu2tgclKyw7EHuEAu9gh0cFqyy1qVR8QkrMTP5hvBBKSu9xboCUA7HRiOGHhxwVGt7iZsYuAQ/w359-h400/20210121_0019.jpg" width="359" /></a></div><br /><p>We had some lovely people through our little gallery over the summer season, and we have greatly appreciated meeting new people and also having repeat visits from previous customers. Due to the strange world that we all live in since Covid, we had no idea ahead of summer how busy or quiet we would be, but it was actually a comparatively good season for us.</p><p>Due to very indifferent health I have found it particularly difficult this time round to make sufficient pots to have here for sale, but we haven't run out, although there have been occasions when we almost had no bowls or mugs here. Whilst I am determined to still keep making pots, and other things that interest me, I think I am going to have to say "no" to most commissions in future. These days I keep falling behind with such things or completely forgetting them, which is sad... and I hate letting people down.<br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZtHgmAzKUcBkgyJelClNS1PadeJmIQlmJv3gw1HTIrWd_wrUi7JK3Ux14dDzREteGy-5YdRnNVJXTDKmDSZwAezEjCsD_wFbfCnyUgGlpdI5Lhb-F-VgF88y6JeDFkl2ezLkZlMjPYqk/s1011/20210121_0083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1011" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZtHgmAzKUcBkgyJelClNS1PadeJmIQlmJv3gw1HTIrWd_wrUi7JK3Ux14dDzREteGy-5YdRnNVJXTDKmDSZwAezEjCsD_wFbfCnyUgGlpdI5Lhb-F-VgF88y6JeDFkl2ezLkZlMjPYqk/s320/20210121_0083.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> Here's that blue glaze again! Pale blue, dark blue, and almost black.... depending on glaze thickness. It is really most entertaining!<br /></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-24384924688348244352020-12-10T18:46:00.000+13:002020-12-10T18:46:33.112+13:00Wood fired Planters<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBgK28T09AFMhCW66aNCNzB2YPo8t1XQ96L5X_39-TFLrnj5Vlqn3UdW9jvb-AQ4S34N0W45jMIZ_6AoJUrr4HJLVn1vM9ZJ3_ULZFNzO8YVChmG-iH_INZJpiqhiYCafd6fdMA4E1c2z/s800/20201210_0014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBgK28T09AFMhCW66aNCNzB2YPo8t1XQ96L5X_39-TFLrnj5Vlqn3UdW9jvb-AQ4S34N0W45jMIZ_6AoJUrr4HJLVn1vM9ZJ3_ULZFNzO8YVChmG-iH_INZJpiqhiYCafd6fdMA4E1c2z/s320/20201210_0014.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wood Fired Kiln with planters.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilt9nOQoO_VwJxcDxrmwWlKqQBxKvvtVH5tbIjcD-SYXKYVdLCRhbzDHfyptchzNRwLwOLN844lUt17WBQi_7cPKRHztygLU3_mlZOA4nIzSRqolo8nRUdWusHXJDnH9QcGX60_14t3BLc/s1067/20201203_0048.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilt9nOQoO_VwJxcDxrmwWlKqQBxKvvtVH5tbIjcD-SYXKYVdLCRhbzDHfyptchzNRwLwOLN844lUt17WBQi_7cPKRHztygLU3_mlZOA4nIzSRqolo8nRUdWusHXJDnH9QcGX60_14t3BLc/s320/20201203_0048.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Earthenware planters.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I am not sure if my brain really does work at 4 in the morning, I made a start at a new blog post then, but it is now 4.30am and this page is still blank*. I have been writing with the goal of describing the happy pleasure of firing the wood fired kiln on a rainy day, but keep not finding the words. </p><p>I do keep a record of kiln firings on graph paper, with short, rather terse, notes such as "Cloudy and still day around 10 degrees. Chimney damper fully open", or "Raining", or "Still raining!" And in the last hour or two of the firing there are short hand coded utterances such as "T^01r" (which is to say that Orton cone number 01, located in the top part of the chamber of the kiln, is bent over about half way).</p><p>But these jottings and charts really do not communicate the experience of firing the kiln, which is really not a "wordy" experience at all, but one of the senses.</p><p>We fired the wood fired kiln on the last Monday in November, an activity that was for the most part accompanied by the splash, plop, rattle and hiss of heavy - rather weepy- tokens of rain that bounced and exploded into a shrapnel of misty small drops whenever they hit the corrugated iron roof over the kiln and the nearby wood shed. </p><p>A temporary tarpaulin had been rigged up to extend the "dry" area behind the kiln, but in spite of a patchwork of black sticky tape, there were gaps and numerous small holes through which water could ooze and drip. We sat on collapsible camp chairs, Laura on one, with a thick newspaper on her knees for insulation and waterproofing, and I with Mr Smaug the kiln cat on my lap, and a steepled roof of newspaper over his back to protect him from a persistent splash of water from a hole that was in the tarpaulin above him. </p><p>The kiln was lit at 6am, and the fire was soon happily popping and chuckling away without much smoke or fuss, because the kiln was already warm and dry inside, thanks to a small fire I had maintained in the ash pit for about 4 hours the day before.<br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuv8pvIalkiwh7JM9m_9dGl_ca9ptiCB3l5NhkL9vs3gHN4jc8WezSVTX7-BBWzkzs_WYcocQcyqhxdxyoj-52DBWj3ceSIKPovJg4KiGNrLLdYO6JGeqL1f9g40Uiuwg5AZ1Ma84bNm3z/s800/20201128_0026.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuv8pvIalkiwh7JM9m_9dGl_ca9ptiCB3l5NhkL9vs3gHN4jc8WezSVTX7-BBWzkzs_WYcocQcyqhxdxyoj-52DBWj3ceSIKPovJg4KiGNrLLdYO6JGeqL1f9g40Uiuwg5AZ1Ma84bNm3z/s320/20201128_0026.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kiln loaded with earthenware planters prior to bricking up the doorway.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>Packed in the chamber of the kiln were earthenware planters, these were without glaze so could be stacked rim to rim and food to foot. I used no kiln shelves at all in this firing, a first for me, and of course I feared the towers of pots collapsing, or the planters welding themselves together. I had used wadding to separate bases of pots, from each other and to
give a level base to stand on in the kiln. I did not want to use the
regular alumina, china clay and grog mix that I would use in a stoneware
firing, as this leaves white deposits on the clay that doesn't look
good on red earthenware. Instead I made wadding from earthenware clay
mixed with a generous quantity of sand and some grog. I kept thinking
about what a "traditional country potter" would have used for such
things, and I am sure that they would have not rushed to the pottery
supply to purchase alumina hydrate and other such fancy stuff! I hoped the earthenware wadding would work. I had also made some significant modifications to the kiln inside... so these added up to quite a long list of "unknowns" to have lurking in the recesses of the mind. <br /></p><p>The first 5 hours of the firing were taken slowly at an average of 70 degrees per hour until we reached 350 (158 F/hr until 662 F). The pots in the kiln were all raw, and being planters some were quite heavy so any moisture had to be got rid of with care. From 350 to 650 (662 - 1202F) the pace was increased to 100 degrees per hour (212F/hr). Once a good red heat through the whole chamber could be seen, the rate was accelerated further, and we climbed at a steady 140 degrees per hour (284F/hr), and then slowed this for the final hour of the firing to try to even out the heat in the chamber which was noticeably hotter in the top.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nzOP9814IaGXyQlWd_s5drLrPPaal9GkPmewCMb-Bl1JmFsuPG0CBBHHEl8ApWQ7sJaiHKo2CsVn5FvC9CXNEucZY3WLhlauI9F77dC4vxNscM5rtyEreJMGQwU-Phomn5UVKZyvAQGV/s2345/wfKilnLog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2345" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nzOP9814IaGXyQlWd_s5drLrPPaal9GkPmewCMb-Bl1JmFsuPG0CBBHHEl8ApWQ7sJaiHKo2CsVn5FvC9CXNEucZY3WLhlauI9F77dC4vxNscM5rtyEreJMGQwU-Phomn5UVKZyvAQGV/w400-h200/wfKilnLog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graph of the firing. Temperature is in Celsius. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>I was delighted with how controllable the kiln was throughout the course of the 11 hour firing. I did not need to rake the firebox at all, and maintaining a very steady increase in temperature was easy to do. The only difficulty was with the top of the chamber being hotter than the bottom, it made the question of when to finish the firing more of a challenge, but I had set a cone 4 at the top as an absolute "do not exceed", and was greatly relieved to see cone 03 go down in the cooler part of the kiln, just when the drooping of cone 4 meant that it was imperative to call a halt. Given the rate of temperature increase of the kiln throughout the last 2 hours of the firing Cone 03 would be about 1095 Celsius and Cone 4 about 1178 (2183 F and 2152 F).<br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguRxeIFXaLBImPs97Mf51P2iYFs8uDdkB3IxHv9KCSr-gpypjugmLri_cCMoqWqcLlvrwZJBzMQdvFP03msfHyohsYhqmf0rg7fbEp6G0xc_GPYuwd6wchU7owZ2zorEFCxohyphenhyphenuRb5U05/s800/20201203_0007.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguRxeIFXaLBImPs97Mf51P2iYFs8uDdkB3IxHv9KCSr-gpypjugmLri_cCMoqWqcLlvrwZJBzMQdvFP03msfHyohsYhqmf0rg7fbEp6G0xc_GPYuwd6wchU7owZ2zorEFCxohyphenhyphenuRb5U05/s320/20201203_0007.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fired pots.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLz9NCXj6x49c7RNtMxUYpffsysxvNa-Th5ViH4mGrq0_bGpA7nm20i1ssscLUJP0rjecrcEltoiiw5ejPKwU7SAOHMEtxVoqctKetbD8beypHHhgQ-wfyNnXVqLfL0FjQtYr271HzCb3/s800/20201203_0015.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="591" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLz9NCXj6x49c7RNtMxUYpffsysxvNa-Th5ViH4mGrq0_bGpA7nm20i1ssscLUJP0rjecrcEltoiiw5ejPKwU7SAOHMEtxVoqctKetbD8beypHHhgQ-wfyNnXVqLfL0FjQtYr271HzCb3/s320/20201203_0015.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hottest pots were toward the back of the kiln, the ones at the front were cooler.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The kiln was opened Thursday morning. The first impression was that a lot of pots were over fired, but in fact the firing was much better than it first appeared, the toasty pots look gorgeous, and most of the larger pots had others inside them that were well protected from direct flame. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3xyhtniHMEBhQorzH2itZWKKAA_JXtdmap3siLwsr13I25dChDhNbSYtLWLc2TS9ig4IEleTgoGmi2Cd6B6h36iBb1OwLhC9yHlAIrKO7bbhB88Y4NB3UjI1_WUT7HaRPxmT2mppW6Ig/s800/20201203_0022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="596" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3xyhtniHMEBhQorzH2itZWKKAA_JXtdmap3siLwsr13I25dChDhNbSYtLWLc2TS9ig4IEleTgoGmi2Cd6B6h36iBb1OwLhC9yHlAIrKO7bbhB88Y4NB3UjI1_WUT7HaRPxmT2mppW6Ig/s320/20201203_0022.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Separating pots with a rubber mallet.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>I had to use a rubber mallet and a few taps of a wide metal scraper to free some of the pots that were rim to rim. They had stuck quite firmly, but released from each other without damage. The good thing is that the wadding that I put between the bases of the pots, when they were stacked base to base, worked really well, and did not leave nasty marks other than occasional indentations when a pot had got so hot that it had softened enough for the wadding to push into the clay.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiqLstSdoWEnSa_ysbL2fGTvkDHggGlh14KIP_lj3ax4R4RBRWiXTDEeFFtlmOJwn-R0MXXPu73Pmg7UMSNQy-H-Jt6XEWR4s2FFLJmSOrhC-FPst127RHWLnXUvRo7C6asciEh28S-6B/s1113/20201203_0027.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiqLstSdoWEnSa_ysbL2fGTvkDHggGlh14KIP_lj3ax4R4RBRWiXTDEeFFtlmOJwn-R0MXXPu73Pmg7UMSNQy-H-Jt6XEWR4s2FFLJmSOrhC-FPst127RHWLnXUvRo7C6asciEh28S-6B/s320/20201203_0027.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Removing wadding from the base of a pot.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>I am currently making some stoneware bowls, tea bowls, jugs and other useful things that I hope to fire in the wood fired kiln before Christmas if at all possible. It will be very interesting to try the kiln at stoneware temperatures. The changes I made to the the kiln have increased the pull of the flame around the inside of the arch of the kiln, and has strengthened the flow of flame across the chamber. I think that ash glazes and shino glazes should really "sing" with this cross draft arrangement. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tqB1cf76PmXpSNA0LhAVR0DJS2l6VkHvXJWOSlT3i_9ELbxv5UBFhUKHH3Mm2fTyRfxIlJkA8bUEuzGu8uMeO0atmtkLUnGiA_75CLELQw-MNdZNF1hK5d-Ydte2Nj_sy4nK6_URskDp/s1067/20201128_0006.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tqB1cf76PmXpSNA0LhAVR0DJS2l6VkHvXJWOSlT3i_9ELbxv5UBFhUKHH3Mm2fTyRfxIlJkA8bUEuzGu8uMeO0atmtkLUnGiA_75CLELQw-MNdZNF1hK5d-Ydte2Nj_sy4nK6_URskDp/s320/20201128_0006.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The checkered floor of the kiln chamber. On the left the heat enters the chamber via three inlet flues. After circulating in the chamber, gasses are exhausted through openings in the checkered floor and make their way to the chimney.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLd_XhurTfeEmNeUWmf6QCJoY_mtIJcLw71cT2eavturjpNM6WV-pSYI5wqw6ou5rBoWEsgOl1yjcBv_CGefhc_rUwllcWYsKvAJLoaW1lkPckFSxmlGn1IKhmhxQFFFH7IsjcuKf7rgj/s800/20201128_0007.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLd_XhurTfeEmNeUWmf6QCJoY_mtIJcLw71cT2eavturjpNM6WV-pSYI5wqw6ou5rBoWEsgOl1yjcBv_CGefhc_rUwllcWYsKvAJLoaW1lkPckFSxmlGn1IKhmhxQFFFH7IsjcuKf7rgj/s320/20201128_0007.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view inside the kiln. Lots of "fine tuning" of the flow of flame inside the chamber is possible, as I can vary the size of the inlet ports and can block, or partially obscure some of the outlets in the floor checker to help direct flame around the chamber.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XOJNvubBxZYYUytWkSmzTE6zPTVRydPqIz8hZ7wTtbT_dQJWY3_52XWwO-WdSoswPa5mFI9DNPlFrl3YPQEcPQCVisUeY4UOBvrGXejYcPau26AW9VeYrIlWYAKrErbLJXUsFYBxN5P6/s1067/20201210_0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XOJNvubBxZYYUytWkSmzTE6zPTVRydPqIz8hZ7wTtbT_dQJWY3_52XWwO-WdSoswPa5mFI9DNPlFrl3YPQEcPQCVisUeY4UOBvrGXejYcPau26AW9VeYrIlWYAKrErbLJXUsFYBxN5P6/s320/20201210_0017.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy pots in the morning sun complete with pepper seedlings.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> Now almost a week has passed since I wrote this post, and it was rather a busy one, so getting this finished and photos added to it has taken a few days. I have potted up some peppers that I grew from seed and it is lovely to see a few of the planters with something in them. </p><p>I'm hoping to get another post written in the next few days - before Christmas - !</p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>*Why write a blog at 4 in the morning when the brain isn't working? A
good question! We have had cats in residence here since the 1990s, and
most have adapted themselves to our waking and sleeping habits very
well, curling up comfortably behind us in bed, and arriving, stretching
and yawning for breakfast at about the time that we would be making our
first cup of tea. Nigella Stopit has been the exception to the rule...
she currently thinks eating just before dawn is OK, and will do all she
can to assist us to fit in with her desires and needs! She has a keen
intelligence and an impressive vocabulary and vocal range! </i><br /></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-20236809130092887372020-08-28T10:18:00.001+12:002020-08-28T21:09:45.072+12:00"Share a Cuppa" goes live today 28 August at 2pm (NZ time)... And an update already by 9 in the evening!<p> 9pm ... An update already!</p><p>The event was so successful that, after going live at 2pm today, the last cup had found a home by 6 in the evening! 225 items were sold which was a wonderful result! It does make the rest of this post rather old news even though I posted it this very morning..., but I will leave it up as a thank you to those who made the event possible.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKl30qqBzRNg5tLA1MbB8CH35Qe1ehy8ETgPRcy-054xrTS1KJlFN_9j1mYsVUwy3IDto1d1wZbgOyq358vqrICjvwpuYKD9JwXSTrGq1vQGMA9g1cxhyphenhyphenNrdXp3Mu0UvgyLU1fdA9SQKg/s866/title02small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="866" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKl30qqBzRNg5tLA1MbB8CH35Qe1ehy8ETgPRcy-054xrTS1KJlFN_9j1mYsVUwy3IDto1d1wZbgOyq358vqrICjvwpuYKD9JwXSTrGq1vQGMA9g1cxhyphenhyphenNrdXp3Mu0UvgyLU1fdA9SQKg/s640/title02small.jpg" /></a></div> <p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180;">We are live today at 2pm! Choose a cup to say thank you to your support hero this year! Share a Cuppa features the work of over 40 studio potters from across Aotearoa. This collection is exclusively available in our Felt shop for the cost of postage and packaging on the 28, 29 and 30th of August. It come beautifully wrapped in a gift set with tea, chockies and a thank you card.</span></p><h5 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180;">From 2pm 28-31.8.2020</span></h5><span style="color: #800180;"><span face="" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The very special hand made cups are available in gift sets with a locally blended tea, artisan chocolates and a thank you card.</span></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBpwQqAGTFaVBQkg-fjdvVkN1Rx70Efl5UzfJ9smpqTse3RfbDdpUYRaCGqpBTNGdD8iN7-zYP_vXru3tvdmWLipopAUdr_2zp6FA3m1TUoyB50kPED0TY2FpXpeY8aSCLKFGXX7ZFMCT/s800/Share+a+Cuppa_Gift+SetSmall.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBpwQqAGTFaVBQkg-fjdvVkN1Rx70Efl5UzfJ9smpqTse3RfbDdpUYRaCGqpBTNGdD8iN7-zYP_vXru3tvdmWLipopAUdr_2zp6FA3m1TUoyB50kPED0TY2FpXpeY8aSCLKFGXX7ZFMCT/s640/Share+a+Cuppa_Gift+SetSmall.jpg" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">I</span>n my 19 July blog post I mentioned that I was making cups that would be part of an online exhibition that would be taking place soon, well ... it is going live this afternoon at 2pm! The event will be on Felt, which is a New Zealand based online marketplace for hand made goods. This link <a href="https://felt.co.nz/shop/shareacuppa" target="_blank">https://felt.co.nz/shop/shareacuppa </a>should take you there!<br /></p><p>I was delighted to be invited to take part in the Share a Cuppa event, and really appreciate the hard work of the people that have organised it. The event was conceived in the dark and troubled days of the level 4 lockdown that we had earlier in the year because of Covid-19. At that time no one really knew if New Zealand would be overwhelmed by the virus or if the lockdown would prove successful. Many creative people lost their income as galleries and markets closed, and tourism dried up, and this event was a way of offering some hope to those of us who were able to still produce a little work in our studios, and also a way to make something really nice that could later be gifted to the special people that have helped so many of us in this difficult time. </p><p>The cups will become part of gift sets that include tea, chocolates and a thank you card. Support from Creative New Zealand has helped make it possible for the gift sets to be available on Felt for just the cost of postage and packing! These will make an ideal gift to send to the special people in your life who may have encouraged you and cared for you through the difficult time of Covid-19. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMjwFX8_Sf2WGVEqYgePszVSI5pVbPqjEBmAfXNxHPJDlrUb8nTgrWG_JUsNAf7HUxouHvEIscvGPFV2Q6ZNUUYIV7nI3a2CbyZInBl7PPX7yRDlagvg5JJPazWC0gvQepEVawR7E3163/s800/PGREGORY2small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMjwFX8_Sf2WGVEqYgePszVSI5pVbPqjEBmAfXNxHPJDlrUb8nTgrWG_JUsNAf7HUxouHvEIscvGPFV2Q6ZNUUYIV7nI3a2CbyZInBl7PPX7yRDlagvg5JJPazWC0gvQepEVawR7E3163/s640/PGREGORY2small.jpg" /></a></div><p> </p><p>After 2pm today (28 August) Do take a look at <a href="https://felt.co.nz/shop/shareacuppa" target="_blank">https://felt.co.nz/shop/shareacuppa</a><br /></p>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-7584901303052458882020-08-22T07:32:00.000+12:002020-08-22T07:32:18.243+12:00It is Spring! Flowers, vegetables and a teapot or two!<p>It is early Spring and the garden is waking up. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih636e-blJW7F-JrSmIrblASv9Vxkel_-s9G4ZYRNUWeFSA6C7Ugp_3wxHjuNNEzeCI9Q9S0lXUjnKUgKKwicyLNzW03r_44LsODy9TTtaGBgcCniH2sZA7ZlJG9ILrKKKM9IJzM5_2cvx/s1020/20200819_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1020" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih636e-blJW7F-JrSmIrblASv9Vxkel_-s9G4ZYRNUWeFSA6C7Ugp_3wxHjuNNEzeCI9Q9S0lXUjnKUgKKwicyLNzW03r_44LsODy9TTtaGBgcCniH2sZA7ZlJG9ILrKKKM9IJzM5_2cvx/s640/20200819_0012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>White, violet and yellow flowers peep shyly atop stems that have emerged from warming soil and leaf litter. Now we can say "Hello" to snow drop, crocus, blue bell, iris, celandine, daffodil, whilst high above the acacia is crowned with gold.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Z2c19J1S8k6BGWJjpstRl2nyeMpquluBi9d4_0VI8PsCRt9ISRVo0IXpEZRKGsTlt1CzAyMpESGLiDozc0qVXPjIa6iNVM_3trS9CG5uX4wJY8CxQ-BTQIJBdJ0HoPFLMIH2OHbrJIQ2/s799/20200729_0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Z2c19J1S8k6BGWJjpstRl2nyeMpquluBi9d4_0VI8PsCRt9ISRVo0IXpEZRKGsTlt1CzAyMpESGLiDozc0qVXPjIa6iNVM_3trS9CG5uX4wJY8CxQ-BTQIJBdJ0HoPFLMIH2OHbrJIQ2/s640/20200729_0022.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Mnvub_1smHNeOv84zlsf2Lp3d_O6TLzLR8vojIhApTBkpGHFsJZhszXy1a3hVmmnE1UeF_BmI1NPf7EbJc6VONLWv4J3-4HLYdOFNCiqSgXUu3wg5yArKz_DMtl6LqjDHlFkk1fwEWAE/s1067/20200820_0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Mnvub_1smHNeOv84zlsf2Lp3d_O6TLzLR8vojIhApTBkpGHFsJZhszXy1a3hVmmnE1UeF_BmI1NPf7EbJc6VONLWv4J3-4HLYdOFNCiqSgXUu3wg5yArKz_DMtl6LqjDHlFkk1fwEWAE/s640/20200820_0024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKNmhjM5SJ2NHe8REmLPnYt6f4WwV_on54xIocZZGpBiKCcBNcnCtoM1d7bqwKUS6jMR5A8DGoqmdnRuRa26xfaZ1s4bjA7_rK_yK6asiDbwG2CZw5v5oMLPW9jgABqCc66r_bXZ5qfzE/s800/20200820_0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKNmhjM5SJ2NHe8REmLPnYt6f4WwV_on54xIocZZGpBiKCcBNcnCtoM1d7bqwKUS6jMR5A8DGoqmdnRuRa26xfaZ1s4bjA7_rK_yK6asiDbwG2CZw5v5oMLPW9jgABqCc66r_bXZ5qfzE/s640/20200820_0020.jpg" /></a></div><p>Last month I posted photos of a new raised veggie garden that I had made near the wood fired kiln, it has been good to see the little seedlings that I planted growing with enthusiasm!<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffy89kd_yGIBGxqc_Ib2nhBuVRzd0fMTY-NzPCxywc5huy7sW7qqGe73VtCDdfztcCCbgX5Di7akTB7ynIJi5ktXDAx3ofoe2_wVWHqNWmJKmSWDfHsaFD4mhOts6yh7iysIypo-kVmTP/s1067/20200818_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffy89kd_yGIBGxqc_Ib2nhBuVRzd0fMTY-NzPCxywc5huy7sW7qqGe73VtCDdfztcCCbgX5Di7akTB7ynIJi5ktXDAx3ofoe2_wVWHqNWmJKmSWDfHsaFD4mhOts6yh7iysIypo-kVmTP/s640/20200818_0010.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Armed with sharp scissors I have already been able to carefully harvest a few leaves of corn salad, lettuce, Pak Choi, and Kale from this new bed and add them to leaves of mustard, endive, silverbeet, beetroot and parsley, all plants that struggled their way through winter out in the open. Together they made rather a nice fresh green salad. It is wonderful to be able to enjoy our own vegetables again, and there is a special pleasure to be had from having grown most of them from seed. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-fN7wkqwZWK2PFqcj78CjJEGHV7g80hV0usYcHD96XPdSn8E0_T2iFESu-7-rnOWyLa4DUKbiSIhEmucihphH7TlIdeCqdQwNOX5WCHRppFbO7BkPKKQ4IFaP3iCsY55aC6Egmkfxv9I/s1067/20200819_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-fN7wkqwZWK2PFqcj78CjJEGHV7g80hV0usYcHD96XPdSn8E0_T2iFESu-7-rnOWyLa4DUKbiSIhEmucihphH7TlIdeCqdQwNOX5WCHRppFbO7BkPKKQ4IFaP3iCsY55aC6Egmkfxv9I/s640/20200819_0002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p>It is very exciting to see how much can be grown in a very small garden and, with all the concerns about the pandemic, it is a comfort to be able to provide something to eat that is grown at home.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEESi1E9691cL_jrJ0Rtk2b-JcrwlS00e-RDqzT6i2ojTy3lN6eLdIGEXrbGIzKkWk2hcx3pUbqbKZOTv9RacdwZ0w8aFNxGcXdWs5qypKXM_acVXUZwNKuA1WM1ge0gZ_Hec62HJjXgF/s800/20200820_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEESi1E9691cL_jrJ0Rtk2b-JcrwlS00e-RDqzT6i2ojTy3lN6eLdIGEXrbGIzKkWk2hcx3pUbqbKZOTv9RacdwZ0w8aFNxGcXdWs5qypKXM_acVXUZwNKuA1WM1ge0gZ_Hec62HJjXgF/s640/20200820_0003.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>I made this teapot two days ago. The clay that I use is enjoyable to throw on the wheel, but readily forms a multitude of cracks if pulled in the usual way when making handles. The clay is happy enough in compression, but is exceptionally weak in tension. This presents a real challenge when it comes to making a large handle for a teapot, and the last thing that you need, after carefully making body, lid and spout for a teapot, and assembling them, is for the handle to prove impossible to make! To navigate my way around this problem, I centered some clay on the wheel and made a wide open ended cylinder that I was able to cut handle material from after the clay had firmed up a bit. I attached two short stubs of the handle material clay to the teapot to make anchors for the handle, then attached the handle to the stubs of clay. Making the handle material on the wheel kept the clay under compression, and it all turned out rather well. </p><p>Working with clay and glaze is all about problem solving, and this helps to keep potting interesting, because there is always something to learn! </p><p>Not everything turns out as planned. Years ago I did a very hot firing of the wood fired kiln, well in excess of cone 11, and some of the stable glazes that never moved at cone 10, ran a bit in the intense heat, this livened up many of the pots, but, sadly, a teapot glued itself to a kiln shelf, and a chunk of the pot broke away as the kiln cooled. I was disappointed at the time, but the teapot found a new purpose in life and became sculpture for our garden, and I was delighted to see that moss and lichen are making a home with it!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvf6O7qn0vrEhdyeNTjKABkAzoBvsxyL35fETEJTa8e5463j1X877IOeoK9PZBRPf88nul6w0ylyyCC_v9GNY3B99c1M_zLFjSRyg5z1KrYenEor3Yosk7Lvo7nEKJ9NqOyfyt00i6k-M-/s800/20200819_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvf6O7qn0vrEhdyeNTjKABkAzoBvsxyL35fETEJTa8e5463j1X877IOeoK9PZBRPf88nul6w0ylyyCC_v9GNY3B99c1M_zLFjSRyg5z1KrYenEor3Yosk7Lvo7nEKJ9NqOyfyt00i6k-M-/s640/20200819_0016.jpg" /></a></div>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-8174853974925505652020-07-19T15:52:00.000+12:002020-07-19T15:52:40.219+12:00Share a Cuppa! A video and Winter Vegetables!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmB0zindoa8nvP6aK2BeO_OCbUVAnFB9hgbxEe5GwGpvPL1yNZc4egb3bBOQiJR7o05VhdxXa6o7dOPHgU3LpkISQUA6UdifcxSlZuDBAhyCXZNgdeEOSpuP5R8b4kf_TZxFtjPQ_Kk4z/s799/20200623_0029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmB0zindoa8nvP6aK2BeO_OCbUVAnFB9hgbxEe5GwGpvPL1yNZc4egb3bBOQiJR7o05VhdxXa6o7dOPHgU3LpkISQUA6UdifcxSlZuDBAhyCXZNgdeEOSpuP5R8b4kf_TZxFtjPQ_Kk4z/s320/20200623_0029.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The last few blog posts have been about how I work with crystalline glazes, but that is not the only thing that I do! Whilst working on new crystalline glazed pots I was also making some cups that will be part of an online exhibition that should take place soon. I think that somewhere between 40 and 50 New Zealand potters will be taking part in this event so it should be really interesting to see how different people creatively solve the puzzle of making a cup that is beautiful, practical, and just right for a cuppa. When the exhibition goes live I will let you know. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieflnely9z3vO3ely_TKd4fxBsIO3qjhH1irikWjdinZMKTELNbxzO1nM6Z-IO5i_aZ6_Qpi-KWF0hxZX2XaPoodLLzdvag8ae1To1BREd5niEkOlfqGCu8DunC5ko6EHLF6FEsVpDFE0B/s1000/20200623_0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieflnely9z3vO3ely_TKd4fxBsIO3qjhH1irikWjdinZMKTELNbxzO1nM6Z-IO5i_aZ6_Qpi-KWF0hxZX2XaPoodLLzdvag8ae1To1BREd5niEkOlfqGCu8DunC5ko6EHLF6FEsVpDFE0B/s320/20200623_0039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSupKzItxwL81xDYiQycPWdskvgsQSGJdUyoJAWYAkTOuI5tclyltUjQkM9kPFJpeFse3W4Nly3rgxex8djUpeE2xyREqgF8wsX4g9eenRMja_LO4a7IstTPzcTJ3Toh72Dvl0emZtvq9/s1000/20200623_0049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSupKzItxwL81xDYiQycPWdskvgsQSGJdUyoJAWYAkTOuI5tclyltUjQkM9kPFJpeFse3W4Nly3rgxex8djUpeE2xyREqgF8wsX4g9eenRMja_LO4a7IstTPzcTJ3Toh72Dvl0emZtvq9/s320/20200623_0049.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Whilst making the cups I recorded the process on video, from the centering of the clay, to making the cup, turning the foot and adding the handle. I enjoyed editing the video footage, it made a pleasant change from my usual activities, and I hope that someone might find the video useful if they are struggling with making things on the potter's wheel, or if they simply want to watch something being made. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I have signed up for a YouTube channel and have uploaded the video there and two other ones that I had on here a little while ago. It was an interesting exercise doing the YouTube thing for the first time, and I must say that the process has been made quite straight forward and there is a lot of useful help available to guide one along the way. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Having now watched a few "how to" videos about making videos I can now appreciate how much I have to learn, and I can see that I need to invest in some studio lighting if I am going to do many more of these "how to" videos, and I also need to think more about sound, but it is a start.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is a link to the video about making cups<br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WOJnTLomG1s" width="320" youtube-src-id="WOJnTLomG1s"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>Winter is "biting" this month with frosts most nights and fairly chilly day time temperatures. Really this is how it should be, last year we had no real winter at all with only 3 or 4 frosts and few genuinely cold days. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>To ensure that I could still have some hope of growing something green and edible over the next month or two I rounded up some old concrete blocks that were left over from other projects, and built a raised vegetable garden that is in a sunny spot close to the chimney end of the wood fired kiln. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJf53fxL7KjNq7KhOT9I4lwr5OCv_lUJLVX4Az0F5su3fGphnmsF2hGACaSokHhjD0dkW86vB6W-5JeqqtXMG7j3ZJXL0S8y1Pzg1kokDMn3ckZADM7cBMk4fd5-kYEGLAH8DoOxvImlOo/s799/20200713_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJf53fxL7KjNq7KhOT9I4lwr5OCv_lUJLVX4Az0F5su3fGphnmsF2hGACaSokHhjD0dkW86vB6W-5JeqqtXMG7j3ZJXL0S8y1Pzg1kokDMn3ckZADM7cBMk4fd5-kYEGLAH8DoOxvImlOo/s320/20200713_0002.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0cnsX5Yu2gUUSt7LPBPjk_J35B27dIXVmvsDatTLkrBxvKko0sa6LjJgezNDflazVsI66mp4a2J0CaiFrrOdhdZHT4hLTtsPb1kwezBBS1HhFGoqiStYRFEo6SmSgFQQpOtqX-Bxd2tEe/s1066/20200713_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0cnsX5Yu2gUUSt7LPBPjk_J35B27dIXVmvsDatTLkrBxvKko0sa6LjJgezNDflazVsI66mp4a2J0CaiFrrOdhdZHT4hLTtsPb1kwezBBS1HhFGoqiStYRFEo6SmSgFQQpOtqX-Bxd2tEe/s320/20200713_0012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8WHIcP0_TNkU66RaHU00IyW1wEZlTBxywlTuqV_JQbSm8Bz8pIbR8hY-PQkMbj0y7cyRFGRC-AKQVESUfsyiKaOi43MSmquZQYtunSCUfEQIgXURDj6jPu7uP_kbp1pGRn-aLIXKHtov/s1066/20200713_0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8WHIcP0_TNkU66RaHU00IyW1wEZlTBxywlTuqV_JQbSm8Bz8pIbR8hY-PQkMbj0y7cyRFGRC-AKQVESUfsyiKaOi43MSmquZQYtunSCUfEQIgXURDj6jPu7uP_kbp1pGRn-aLIXKHtov/s320/20200713_0017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The concrete blocks looked very grey and like something out of a totalitarian regime, but planting out my vegetable seedlings and giving them a polythene cover to shelter under has made it more cheerful!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tCl-aT8mOXkyn3LYiR-k2isw0l3FjIeVALvFypbGPleP5VXtk1CHbJE61B9V9qHhHO8fXcka6i8_3EHKI84cTayKQfpgfemrWKNAy9E3xoC55-mJeAF7D4Lt7F3CbB559lFczP09jKTj/s799/20200713_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tCl-aT8mOXkyn3LYiR-k2isw0l3FjIeVALvFypbGPleP5VXtk1CHbJE61B9V9qHhHO8fXcka6i8_3EHKI84cTayKQfpgfemrWKNAy9E3xoC55-mJeAF7D4Lt7F3CbB559lFczP09jKTj/w300-h400/20200713_0010.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Mr Smaug supervised the construction of the raised veggie bed and the process was so exhausting that he fell asleep a few times on a handy chair in the sun!</div><div><br /></div><div>The poly tunnel cover has proved irresistible to him, indeed he assumed that I had made it especially for him to occupy. He was disappointed when I closed off both ends of the tunnel, and spent quite a bit of time over the next two days circling the bed and testing it for hidden doors or weakness. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>On one frosty morning he climbed on top of it and walked along the wooden ridge a few times before becoming excited by the chunks of ice that were on the polythene and batting at them with his paws. He then discovered that it was fun to slide around on the polythene itself! <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It was funny to watch, but a worry too, as 6.5 kg of a playful Mr Smaug is quite a lot for a poly tunnel to put up with. I managed to distract him and happily no damage was done!</div><div><br /></div><div>We have been opening our little gallery most week day afternoons and also on Sunday afternoons for the last two or three weeks now. It being winter we have some days where we see no one, and others where we can be moderately busy. It has been delightful catching up with returning customers and new ones. When there was community transmission of Covid-19 we kept shut, but things feel reasonably safe in New Zealand right at this moment, so we are happy to be open.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is sad to hear news from the rest of the world, and we do think of family and friends in far away places. We have been very lucky that our government "locked us down" here so soon and so completely as they did, before the virus got too well established. It would have been a tough call for the government to make at the time, but it was the right one.<br /></div>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-13084218352623567532020-06-23T08:41:00.000+12:002020-06-23T08:41:09.226+12:00Crystalline Glazing. More hours of fun... using temperature and time to creatively shape our crystals.<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">
</font></span><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lxGzAOYf_erv8oPfU4fcOlCG4Bla7IUW_gd22N4Xo_N1prIA83qfGyxyBaB-KllNaCj9Yt5Kba8en8m-e6KwxJvlpvOIA0el9p_deU1gQAm-ZO84HW4xWF1pt_tYks5XcibVGmvYVmke/s803/DSCF1793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="803" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lxGzAOYf_erv8oPfU4fcOlCG4Bla7IUW_gd22N4Xo_N1prIA83qfGyxyBaB-KllNaCj9Yt5Kba8en8m-e6KwxJvlpvOIA0el9p_deU1gQAm-ZO84HW4xWF1pt_tYks5XcibVGmvYVmke/w400-h300/DSCF1793.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><b style="line-height: 1.15;">Lark ascending...</b><br /></font></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">Many years ago<b style="line-height: 1.15;"> </b>I remember</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">
watching a skylark ascend into a blue cloudless sky. Rapid beats of
its tiny wings lifted it steadily higher and higher, all the time
circling and singing. At last, it was so high that it was almost
impossible to see. I dared not look away or blink my eyes lest I lost
sight of it and could not locate it again. Then, still singing
</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">merrily</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">, the lark
folded its wings, dropped like a stone,</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">
</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">abruptly halted its dive, hovered for a few
seconds, then dropped again and hovered some more. Every time it
hovered it was as though it had reached a solid platform in the air.
</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">Eventually it </font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">fell</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">
quickly to the earth and made a safe landing just out of sight over
the curve of the hill top.</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">C</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">uriously
this memory of the lark’s happy climb to altitude followed by the
pattern of rapid fall, plateau, then rapid fall reminds me of firing
crystalline glazes!</font></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3"></font><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody style="line-height: 1.15;"><tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIMSzuZYax4wURczow4VYp_7gNft4-9-PfaQKbw1RfONXg8tqqzvupyJvOs7-SQUIcdOSrpBHyaHM0kI6tfhI6wCzS6WbTcQWhyphenhyphenDEQNXFaMJdKHwySNptDgN35MOtduFQQTfiXjfmCt-I/s1067/20151030_0040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIMSzuZYax4wURczow4VYp_7gNft4-9-PfaQKbw1RfONXg8tqqzvupyJvOs7-SQUIcdOSrpBHyaHM0kI6tfhI6wCzS6WbTcQWhyphenhyphenDEQNXFaMJdKHwySNptDgN35MOtduFQQTfiXjfmCt-I/w500-h375/20151030_0040.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td class="tr-caption" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">Crystals arranged themselves like thistledown where the crystalline glaze overlapped the liner glaze on the inside of a large vase.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><b style="line-height: 1.15;">Previously....</b><br /></font></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">In
the previous blog post </font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">I wrote about 6 things that can determine how many crystals grow on a crystalline glazed pot. The first three were concerned with clay body and glaze, and the rest related to the firing itself.</font></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">Just like a happy lark, our kiln has ascended to peak temperature. By cleverly using our rate of climb, our maximum temperature, and how long we have lingered there, we have influenced how many crystals will remain for us to grow on to a large size later in the firing.</font></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3"></font><b style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></b></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><b style="line-height: 1.15;">The Fall!</b><br /></font></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">Now the kiln is switched off and the temperature allowed to fall
until a zone is reached in which the crystals will grow well. If
the peak of the firing has been around 1280 – 1300 Celsius (2336 - 2372 F) then
we are aiming for a point somewhere around 1100 Celsius (2012 F).</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">Some
exponents of crystalline glazing open all the vents of the kiln, or
even crack the door or lid in order to speed the initial descent. Opening kiln lids at 1300 Celsius (2372 F) is potentially lethal and I
do not do this, but I think it needs mentioning that some do! You may
recall that crystalline glazes are abnormally fluid when at peak
temperature, and will be sliding off the pot like molasses or
treacle, the abrupt fall in temperature will prevent further glaze
loss.</font></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3"></font><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><b style="line-height: 1.15;">Getting in the Zone...</b><br /></font></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">The
zone in which crystals will grow is quite broad, somewhat greater
than 1</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">50</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"> Celsius (302 F),
and the </font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">interesting</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">
thing about it is that the way the crystals arrange themselves will look quite different if they are
grown at a hotter temperature, </font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">or</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">
at a cooler one. In simple terms, crystals will arrange themselves in rounded shapes if grown at the cooler end of the zone, but will become progressively more spiky looking towards the hot end of the zone.</font></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody style="line-height: 1.15;"><tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbFObK5R9-BdGmFeEbl5cFeITU8P3wYI4T12_zXrIL8jp1-Z9sE-J5YhL82FVZR7pin4VCGfDBSXc_3qbL1hwDaoIfJUoBdt9HqwUnRTfkeipd2_n-R2_W8Qse5AJIZ-xrNt-jiyj-9uD/s1067/20130724_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbFObK5R9-BdGmFeEbl5cFeITU8P3wYI4T12_zXrIL8jp1-Z9sE-J5YhL82FVZR7pin4VCGfDBSXc_3qbL1hwDaoIfJUoBdt9HqwUnRTfkeipd2_n-R2_W8Qse5AJIZ-xrNt-jiyj-9uD/w400-h300/20130724_0006.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td class="tr-caption" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">Spiky<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><font size="3"></font></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">Somewhere in
between the two extremes </font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">crystals tend to arrange themselves in axe shaped clusters.</font></span></font></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><b style="line-height: 1.15;">The fun begins!</b><br /></font></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">And
that is just the start! </font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">A slow fall of
temperature over several hours can give a star shaped centre to the
crystals. <br /></font></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody style="line-height: 1.15;"><tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUwp_Zo-53Ca0aqIax0yCFRl_YA-UdBqHFHw9DCalZu3l1wl8x7taol224CwW-Y-feV5fNyqry7DIa2XmVOt5dmsFhmlv9lQNMWD-Fo_bkxJTaqtlZp8D5xmU2JVVfumsqMakFQukY7c1/s800/20151030_0051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUwp_Zo-53Ca0aqIax0yCFRl_YA-UdBqHFHw9DCalZu3l1wl8x7taol224CwW-Y-feV5fNyqry7DIa2XmVOt5dmsFhmlv9lQNMWD-Fo_bkxJTaqtlZp8D5xmU2JVVfumsqMakFQukY7c1/w300-h400/20151030_0051.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td class="tr-caption" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">A star in the middle, surrounded by growth rings.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">A dark ring, almost like a cartoon outline, can be put
around crystals by dropping to about 1000 Celsius (1832 F) at the end of the
main growing </font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">period</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">,
and holding for a further hour. This </font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">dark
ring </font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">is particularly noticeable in glazes
containing copper.</font></span><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody style="line-height: 1.15;"><tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaTynGtNdo6oreQPeYBryGzjeeXFj0Z9XSR-EVZZCMHB8JWl092NJXU2puEYXBtDIA5-BeLgglYQ604yw-qFY0LbM4_LOp0xRNDuAyHulujBBbec0jHEzkR2-fPLt5EKZegJngysVfW06/s1066/copperWithCartoonRings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1066" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaTynGtNdo6oreQPeYBryGzjeeXFj0Z9XSR-EVZZCMHB8JWl092NJXU2puEYXBtDIA5-BeLgglYQ604yw-qFY0LbM4_LOp0xRNDuAyHulujBBbec0jHEzkR2-fPLt5EKZegJngysVfW06/w400-h300/copperWithCartoonRings.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td class="tr-caption" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">Cartoon Outline.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">G</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">rowth
rings can be put in crystals by abruptly lowering the temperature by
40 – 60 Celsius (104 - 140 F) from the growing temperature, holding for a few
minutes, then quickly returning to holding temperature. Pale growth
rings can be made by rapidly raising the temperature, holding for a
few minutes, then dropping back to the holding temperature.</font></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"> <br /></font></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody style="line-height: 1.15;"><tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLFhxe4-z1cT6lk1U3CMRSbOnMBvVjIy8q_uTVXgrQUu-vUAVo3GHz_iTejPBwsNAs9oV_Sxf6fz819E8PG5OjLwKfvlznpCNzQuyqV0XNIk8z1jVf1pwtNkTcbpyMJpW9gnQqKmXChqc/s800/rings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLFhxe4-z1cT6lk1U3CMRSbOnMBvVjIy8q_uTVXgrQUu-vUAVo3GHz_iTejPBwsNAs9oV_Sxf6fz819E8PG5OjLwKfvlznpCNzQuyqV0XNIk8z1jVf1pwtNkTcbpyMJpW9gnQqKmXChqc/w300-h400/rings.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center" style="line-height: 1.15;"><td class="tr-caption" style="line-height: 1.15;">Growth Rings.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">Putting close spaced growth rings in crystals is hard work when you have
a manual kiln. The frequent temperature changes mean much adjusting of
the simmerstat switches, but it can be done! If a kiln can gain or lose
heat quickly growth rings can be closely spaced. If the kiln is slow,
then rings have to be far apart, that is one good reason that
crystalline glaze firings are best done with only a few pots at a time
and little if any kiln furniture.</font></span></font></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">Crystals
with dark centres and pale outer growth can be made by starting
growing them at a temperature that is at the low end of the zone, say
about 1050 Celsius (1922 F), staying there for two or three hours, then
rapidly climbing to around 1130 or 1140 Celsius (2066 -2084 F) and holding for two or three
hours more.</font></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody style="line-height: 1.15;"><tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFV1rY96Ag0zYkIlw3LWIt7Pd6S4ryrtq_Rm-lqrO-pYa8vqugWUsPkaZFxWTu_HWtGsRM-jJeR6yM_xPBVLWcgSqiCRyvjCNtOyEvMYdpAr43LiICd0hbGmX5xvm7nWJtwww055Wh6i7p/s803/DSCF1984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="602" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFV1rY96Ag0zYkIlw3LWIt7Pd6S4ryrtq_Rm-lqrO-pYa8vqugWUsPkaZFxWTu_HWtGsRM-jJeR6yM_xPBVLWcgSqiCRyvjCNtOyEvMYdpAr43LiICd0hbGmX5xvm7nWJtwww055Wh6i7p/w300-h400/DSCF1984.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td class="tr-caption" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">These crystals had 2 hours growing at low temperature followed by 3 hours at a much higher temperature. The high temperature gives a spiky outer fringe.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody style="line-height: 1.15;"><tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITl4CZd0ZmsCLJSRPngZNi6KPEUrGXojr2gxbO8TNmpNPW6aXraIPAdKiMwj7U1MBubS-1DJ-0v0b2s9ORUbvHN7awslgGtRZxwl1diV7AhyMzkZyXj0ajfPMmdkOliHJWvcYMfrkNC0d/s803/DSCF2062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="602" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITl4CZd0ZmsCLJSRPngZNi6KPEUrGXojr2gxbO8TNmpNPW6aXraIPAdKiMwj7U1MBubS-1DJ-0v0b2s9ORUbvHN7awslgGtRZxwl1diV7AhyMzkZyXj0ajfPMmdkOliHJWvcYMfrkNC0d/w300-h400/DSCF2062.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td class="tr-caption" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">These were grown with the timing reversed, 3 hours for the middles and 2 hours at higher temperature for the outer fringe.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">The
hours in which the crystals grow is the most creative part of
crystalline glaze firing.</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"> How
long the kiln is held will determine size, and the temperature will
influence the way the crystals look. </font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">A</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">s
you can imagine, there are numerous variables that feed into what the
crystals finally end up looking like, but I hope this post, and the
one before it, give some idea of the process of firing crystalline
glazes.</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></p><div style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><b style="line-height: 1.15;">Homework!</b><br /></font></font></font></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">It
would be very useful to explore crystal growing temperatures over a
series of firings. Start with a firing that has a crystal growing
hold at 1100 Celsius (2012 F). Follow this with a series of firings that step
the hold temperature upwards. Then try some that hold below 1100 Celsius (2012 F). Compare the
results.</font></font></font></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></font></font></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">
</font></span></div><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;">Notes</span></b></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">Firing times are long, and potters can become tired and forgetful! It helps to plan what you want to achieve before the firing. Sometimes I will</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">
sketch a crystal on paper, </font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">and think about how I would fire the kiln to achieve its size and shape. If there are to be growth rings fired into the crystals, I need to think about the timing of when to change the temperature of the kiln to achieve them.</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody style="line-height: 1.15;"><tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5h-1xCiFs3SrxLo_VIOSPgKS0QV7Ixx2pCu74s0tiqa_t6oyTvQ_Qcnh2F8qY4yFY5bJ-FxLDL-ZD8M8_rkF7bcXWuT70fiA3uTOAAflkSQtCvf9YfqHmBzsuRd9DWY6-wGCLWFc77Hw/s895/reducedRed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="895" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5h-1xCiFs3SrxLo_VIOSPgKS0QV7Ixx2pCu74s0tiqa_t6oyTvQ_Qcnh2F8qY4yFY5bJ-FxLDL-ZD8M8_rkF7bcXWuT70fiA3uTOAAflkSQtCvf9YfqHmBzsuRd9DWY6-wGCLWFc77Hw/w400-h358/reducedRed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr style="line-height: 1.15;"><td class="tr-caption" style="line-height: 1.15; text-align: center;">The thread-like rods of the individual crystals are visible in this close up. </td></tr></tbody></table><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></span></p><div style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">I
should note somewhere, and here will do as well as anywhere else,
that zinc silicate crystals are rod shaped, </font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">and
</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">what </font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">we</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">
usually refer to as “crystals” are </font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">actually
structures that are made up of numerous rod shaped crystals </font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;">that
cluster together.</font><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3" style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></font></font></font></span></div>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580639918656230427.post-1805633912555733942020-05-20T17:59:00.001+12:002020-05-20T21:10:15.506+12:00Formulating and Firing a Crystalline GlazeI am writing this blog post whilst firing a crystalline glaze so I will be rushing out to the kiln shed every 30 minutes or so. Hopefully you won't be distracted by my regular brief disappearance!<br />
<br />
The fact that I am firing at all today does show that I have a working electric kiln again, in fact both are now "clothed and in their right minds" as the Good Book would say! The kiln that has a new contactor is cooling down after a regular stoneware firing that it did two days ago with the help of the controller, and the smaller manually controlled electric kiln is the one doing the crystalline glaze firing, its second since changing the elements.<br />
<br />
There was a frost overnight and Laura excitedly called my attention to an icicle that had grown on the rim of a bucket that had been left under the garden hose. Dripping at a rate of one drip every two seconds or so the water had frozen into an stalagmite that was about 4 inches high! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7giLzkEzpuqfyOmx3TgFt1TuP2CKG3DBheGschImt7uDzlC_JL1NV51AjA9k1ab2YdT8IygOKTdzdX_eHp9_MSe1QccqKiEqFHNQDQnJLQ3GKyXEHTfQWZ4YVFAaScIGP8PbzGKkizZN/s1600/20200520_0011.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7giLzkEzpuqfyOmx3TgFt1TuP2CKG3DBheGschImt7uDzlC_JL1NV51AjA9k1ab2YdT8IygOKTdzdX_eHp9_MSe1QccqKiEqFHNQDQnJLQ3GKyXEHTfQWZ4YVFAaScIGP8PbzGKkizZN/s320/20200520_0011.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice stalagmite. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Firing crystalline glazed pots is different to other firings. There are two very important targets to fire to, the first is the peak temperature, currently I am firing to Orton Cone 9, and this is followed by a lower temperature that is likely to be around 1100 Celsius (2012F) which may be maintained for several hours to grow the crystals.<br />
<br />
In this blog post I will touch on the first of those two temperatures, the peak temperature. I will say more about the second important temperature, the one where the crystals have a chance to grow, in a separate post. <br />
<br />
Several things determine how many crystals grow on the pot that is fired in the kiln, here are some of them:<br />
<br />
<b>1) Clay body used to make the pot </b><br />
<b>2) the glaze recipe</b><br />
<b>3) glaze thickness</b><br />
<b>4) the peak temperature of the firing </b><br />
<b>5) how quickly the kiln fired to temperature</b><br />
<b>6) how long the kiln is held at peak temperature</b><br />
<br />
The first three items are taken care of before the pot goes in the kiln!<br />
<br />
<b>1) The clay body</b> needs to be low in iron, fine textured, and mature at a temperature appropriate to the glaze, some crystalline glaze potters would go for a clay body that matures 2 cones above that of the glaze, because the alkaline crystalline glaze is an aggressive flux. Really the choice is between a porcelain body, or white stoneware. A coarse texture will "irritate" the glaze enough to cause numerous unwanted small crystals to form over the course of the firing. A crystalline glaze is highly caustic and will attack the clay body when at high temperature, some clay formulations may leach out flux or alumina and have a detrimental effect on the ability to make crystals. You really have to experiment to see what will work.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>2) The glaze recipe</b>. The majority of crystalline glaze recipes that are in popular use are based on glaze frits. High sodium Frit 3110 is often used. Frit based crystalline glaze recipes are generally rather simple. A cone 9 - 10 glaze base <br />
<br />
Frit 3110 50<br />
Silica 25<br />
Zinc Oxide 25<br />
<br />
is where many recipes begin, and if you look at a few dozen of them, you will detect that most are variations on this. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NpHmi2gNP9mo8UrUNwx_SD-Tj3cWDaTzA1BqK0PYE5WwDM6GVdoHSGNSCi0ESXGTqn-ktLwoWZOMNV7k6-5iDqFn9d2b6BbRfSpfi9hLNpYYvMAe40apm4HW9Qn4tpoXIQGBC4AUymsx/s1600/20200508_0067.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NpHmi2gNP9mo8UrUNwx_SD-Tj3cWDaTzA1BqK0PYE5WwDM6GVdoHSGNSCi0ESXGTqn-ktLwoWZOMNV7k6-5iDqFn9d2b6BbRfSpfi9hLNpYYvMAe40apm4HW9Qn4tpoXIQGBC4AUymsx/s320/20200508_0067.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is an example of a very simple glaze that is based on the 50:25:25 recipe above.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
A glaze may have a small amount of china clay added, probably between 0.5 and 1.5 percent to add just a trace of alumina to help to control glaze flow and crazing. Or there may be an additional flux added to lower the maturing temperature, you might see Lithium carbonate, talc, or dolomite in some recipes for this.<br />
<br />
1 - 3 percent of Titanium dioxide or Rutile may be added to a crystalline glaze base recipe to help stimulate crystal growth. Larger amounts can make a glaze opaque.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWvT12I4xzZkXcVEavQufIjZhy8eQyaUyv2cTdbtS1EHYr1MNyBEL-LgcnbnK_N5WLsbtDL_PusqWYBPzpRvh82pZ0LJwwA8dBb9h_PdegvcnKG5eLFFyAs-7eIaBsJiS9ET-9QmMFKkr/s1600/20151030_0066.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="546" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWvT12I4xzZkXcVEavQufIjZhy8eQyaUyv2cTdbtS1EHYr1MNyBEL-LgcnbnK_N5WLsbtDL_PusqWYBPzpRvh82pZ0LJwwA8dBb9h_PdegvcnKG5eLFFyAs-7eIaBsJiS9ET-9QmMFKkr/s320/20151030_0066.jpg" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Titanium dioxide in this glaze gives cream coloured crystals on a cold white background.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqG_-PBvqsHSaBuv8lpOnn0HtT3MZ8ItxY7x1wbZzv6e9EnyPEm3LmqdgLxJ-XLDc3ut2PswCeD_ZbQtJLLGXXZX05Tm-Ztp0OOWXQdKatn0dZdlwwPZruqwD10-WFqwyfXaILNsJSWN8/s1600/DSCF1920.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="602" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqG_-PBvqsHSaBuv8lpOnn0HtT3MZ8ItxY7x1wbZzv6e9EnyPEm3LmqdgLxJ-XLDc3ut2PswCeD_ZbQtJLLGXXZX05Tm-Ztp0OOWXQdKatn0dZdlwwPZruqwD10-WFqwyfXaILNsJSWN8/s320/DSCF1920.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rutile as an opacifier gave shell-like orange, pink and cream colour.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Zinc oxide may be as low as 20 percent or as high as 30 percent, this figure is one that can be adjusted to control crystal growth on different clay bodies and for different temperatures.<br />
<br />
Just to confuse things further..... the various metal oxides that can
be added to the crystalline glaze base to give an attractive palette of colours have an effect on how fluid the glaze is. Copper and cobalt may make the
glaze more fluid, where as nickel could have the opposite effect. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2b_i01UT3s4cy0zc1CVJex5evSfCVhgH6jl1xa58CAS2_CnnHf9mC84aBR8cXobhhIPdAdcoWAsYYphXALlHdSqMvxxMh30sq_HNwzzZ7dhgwSBwS-Kcgsv43zdLFVB3iUDS7ahAX-iA/s1600/20200428_0079.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="641" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2b_i01UT3s4cy0zc1CVJex5evSfCVhgH6jl1xa58CAS2_CnnHf9mC84aBR8cXobhhIPdAdcoWAsYYphXALlHdSqMvxxMh30sq_HNwzzZ7dhgwSBwS-Kcgsv43zdLFVB3iUDS7ahAX-iA/s320/20200428_0079.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nickel oxide has the peculiar ability to give blue crystals with an orange background in a crystalline glaze.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Silica also can appear to be as low as 14 percent in some recipes, but be aware that silica can be supplemented by adding china clay, bentonite, talc, frit, feldspar and so on, so the silica percentage in the recipe might not tell the whole story, you really need to see the glaze formula to understand what is in it more clearly. Someone wrote that silica is like "water" in which the crystals form, and you need enough of it for that to happen. I thought that was a rather nice analogy.<br />
<br />
There are other ways of making crystalline glazes. I also enjoy crystalline glazes that
use feldspar to supply the primary flux instead of relying on a glaze frit,
and there are some that work well, if a little temperamentally.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IBy8QdF-dZMnsPU46Xa_VdeoZ70ZZcpZfFH_A3tATX9IbSvQpBjUoy5T1wYlJVCCymSBZNgFZ_Xz-ZlACZIbmLmb7H6zluuHZEMdN_sAh19mb9ikPfBszfq666QV-DDncHicGyndywIx/s1600/20200322_0003.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1066" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IBy8QdF-dZMnsPU46Xa_VdeoZ70ZZcpZfFH_A3tATX9IbSvQpBjUoy5T1wYlJVCCymSBZNgFZ_Xz-ZlACZIbmLmb7H6zluuHZEMdN_sAh19mb9ikPfBszfq666QV-DDncHicGyndywIx/s400/20200322_0003.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These complex crystals were grown in a feldspar based glaze.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
What ever the formulation I always add 1 - 2 percent of bentonite to my crystalline glazes, it really makes a great difference in how the glaze behaves in the glaze bucket, its ease of application, and how firmly it stays attached to the pot before it is fired.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>3) Glaze thickness </b>influences crystal growth. Too thin gives "nowhere" for the crystals to grow, and they are too much affected by the clay body so you get thousands of them.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMQvRXHYtvX6HuIF9WUCMeJCKyKEBb_lybX5jY-0eduQOS75PCTBi9vbksujZfaFKjNDsxgMaQ2OwX0sC5J6cu28qOQsH18txeoAbv2CvabmFgaVbTchqaYRWm5K-qEQv5nXuSz3yaIsY/s1600/20200227_0016.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="401" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMQvRXHYtvX6HuIF9WUCMeJCKyKEBb_lybX5jY-0eduQOS75PCTBi9vbksujZfaFKjNDsxgMaQ2OwX0sC5J6cu28qOQsH18txeoAbv2CvabmFgaVbTchqaYRWm5K-qEQv5nXuSz3yaIsY/s320/20200227_0016.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One and two coats of glaze on this sample. See how rough the glaze looks on the lower left of the photo where it is too thin. There are thousands of small crystals here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Too thick can yield too few crystals on a vertical surface or a mass of coarse "sand paper" in a pool in the bottom of a bowl where the three dimensional crystals have grown strongly upward as well as outward.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Just right", will allow for good sized crystals to grow surrounded by some space.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTn0ixBHIHDoKk9u3v8uV1EWdpPEJKr4Y838_vfbAfxZGCRndFXHKeR5vWLIiReOyo2_s5QdPrs5j9RNzjs9lYdWlF1CsL05GG0gWfDKx1LHBxzQoQj1qh0HXbxURe4mRj1F60AYzj1JFv/s1600/20140305_0055.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTn0ixBHIHDoKk9u3v8uV1EWdpPEJKr4Y838_vfbAfxZGCRndFXHKeR5vWLIiReOyo2_s5QdPrs5j9RNzjs9lYdWlF1CsL05GG0gWfDKx1LHBxzQoQj1qh0HXbxURe4mRj1F60AYzj1JFv/s400/20140305_0055.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cobalt blue coloured crystals on a pale background.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I mostly brush on crystalline glazes (I have sprayed them and also dipped and poured them in the past). I apply at least three or four thick coats on the top third of the pot tapering to two coats near the foot.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIzUSk4w3gRElrEpSRr0qBppU9PVuruTVUhvjlSZ_gJTZx8Cl-lb1RrPvcizyta18CnQ9BWhd7wN0qfe_gNEnDF4Wy4w_L38RkjSv6ZP0yof4oMcJ5JvAc2Hlzb7iIVCLo89qh_vsO8_I/s1600/20200504_0003.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1066" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIzUSk4w3gRElrEpSRr0qBppU9PVuruTVUhvjlSZ_gJTZx8Cl-lb1RrPvcizyta18CnQ9BWhd7wN0qfe_gNEnDF4Wy4w_L38RkjSv6ZP0yof4oMcJ5JvAc2Hlzb7iIVCLo89qh_vsO8_I/s400/20200504_0003.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brushing a glaze, use a large soft brush that holds lots of glaze.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
To apply with a brush I make my glaze with 1000 g of dry ingredients to 650 - 700 g of water.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>4) The Peak Temperature</b> <b>of the firing,</b> this is crucially important. Always use cones to determine this. Small variations, a mere 5 degrees or so, will make a noticeable difference in how many crystals cover the pot. If you fire at too low a temperature there will be far too many crystals that might even feel rough or dry. If you fire too high you will be left with few if any crystals. Just right, is a matter of taste. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq02Y9rDWTIJGzsrAqw2vgiA2OxDl6YLgar6UGBaSl8xbhjlzoTHFscVZICLulyZFDCLogqsFF008nQ5DCUADxBT8oBPQTWZAnGiIi_0AIUZ4-ACCDtNGJFSvulfA_xkG-mMVp2N5E3UjV/s1600/DSCF2063.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="602" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq02Y9rDWTIJGzsrAqw2vgiA2OxDl6YLgar6UGBaSl8xbhjlzoTHFscVZICLulyZFDCLogqsFF008nQ5DCUADxBT8oBPQTWZAnGiIi_0AIUZ4-ACCDtNGJFSvulfA_xkG-mMVp2N5E3UjV/s400/DSCF2063.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large crystals with plenty of space around them.</td></tr>
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Large crystals can look very impressive if they are surrounded by plenty of "empty" glaze, but crystals that cover a pot can also be spectacular.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSnIaQR_-XeliTofrYQkW1SOTxSFbc6S6rPew2zk-lgN6ITajE5MWg4fk59dc0Chex7F4jIlE_F0zB6FIZObAJveB2rQfe03Hm-fKbA60OGubuuyDdChUp7WIxy7BL3IbMq-T81bh-n7F/s1600/DSCF5877.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="649" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSnIaQR_-XeliTofrYQkW1SOTxSFbc6S6rPew2zk-lgN6ITajE5MWg4fk59dc0Chex7F4jIlE_F0zB6FIZObAJveB2rQfe03Hm-fKbA60OGubuuyDdChUp7WIxy7BL3IbMq-T81bh-n7F/s320/DSCF5877.JPG" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crystals covering a vase and looking spectacular!</td></tr>
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<b>5) How quickly the kiln fires.</b> In my previous post I mentioned how important it was to have elements in good condition when firing crystalline glazes. In spite of accurately firing to cones, cone 9 reached rapidly will give a different result to cone 9 that has been reached slowly. It may be that the aggressive nature of the alkaline glaze has something to do with this, as a long while spent at high temperature gives more opportunity for glaze to interface with clay body. What ever the reason, it gets harder to grow nice crystals if the kiln reaches temperature too slowly. I suspect that this is especially the case with frit based glazes that go into a fluid state much earlier in the firing than a feldspar based glaze.<br />
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<b>6) How long the kiln is held</b> <b>at peak temperature.</b> It may seem counter intuitive to hold the kiln at peak temperature after being in such a rush to get there, but a hold here can help fine tune how many crystals remain on the pot. What is happening here is that surplus glaze is flowing off the pot, (yes you did remember to fire with a glaze catching bowl!?) and also more of the zinc is going into solution.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHjFQreeQGnTrCLDUPLYmdU_Azi1a81rKjts58nUlfg6VX0zNayxMSN6pBGTjJu54X1HjhqOwjksJ9fZsMTqOsPC3OsOH2BPrfjr6uNSv0F7h41ws3UZWVegQ6PVx-fGx3pe-kNwE2Wv2/s1600/20200428_0025.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1066" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHjFQreeQGnTrCLDUPLYmdU_Azi1a81rKjts58nUlfg6VX0zNayxMSN6pBGTjJu54X1HjhqOwjksJ9fZsMTqOsPC3OsOH2BPrfjr6uNSv0F7h41ws3UZWVegQ6PVx-fGx3pe-kNwE2Wv2/s320/20200428_0025.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glaze run off into the catching bowl.</td></tr>
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<b>A simple Glaze and Schedule</b><br />
Well, after all that, my head is buzzing, and you may be asleep or have run away! For those who have stayed the distance I hope this little introduction does show some of the many variables and complexities involved in firing this sort of glaze. Those determined to give it a go should definitely have a try, and the following recipe will give you something to play with at cone 9 - 10<br />
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<b>50 Frit 3110 </b><br />
<b>25 Silica </b><br />
<b>25 Zinc oxide </b><br />
<b>3 Titanium dioxide </b><br />
<b>2 </b> <b> Bentonite </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
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<b>A simple firing schedule would be</b><br />
<b>Fire to cone 9 in 8 or 9 hours</b><br />
<b>Switch off</b><br />
<b>On again when kiln is at about 1100 Celsius (2012F)</b><br />
<b>Hold for 3 hours</b><br />
<b>Kiln off</b><br />
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<b>Use porcelain or a smooth white stoneware. </b><br />
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<b>Protect kiln shelves, take note of my previous post where I have written about <a href="https://opopots.blogspot.com/2020/05/nearly-ready-for-crystalline-glaze-well.html" target="_blank">glaze catching bowls and rings</a>.</b><br />
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<b>Apply the glaze thickly.</b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Record your firing hourly, or more frequently, on graph paper. </b><br />
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<b>Good Luck!</b><br />
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Well I am nine hours into my firing as I finish this episode of the blog. We hit peak temperature an hour ago, and now I am half an hour into the long hold at around 1100 Celsius (2012F) where crystals will have the time to grow to a good size. You can generally count on an average of about 10mm per hour of crystal growth at this temperature, and I will aim to grow these for 4 and a half hours. <br />
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Bye for now!</div>
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<br />Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03078608554226394069noreply@blogger.com13