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work near exit flues and in floor of chimney

updated tue 16 mar 99

 

Rafael Molina on sun 14 mar 99

Clayarters:

My colleague, Randy Brodnax, and I will be collaborating on a woodfiring =
next
week and I'm interested in experimenting with ware placement in the kiln. =
The
kiln is right out of Jack's book. It's the Peg Udall kiln from a design by
Ruggles/Rankin of a catenary arch cross draft.

In past firings I've placed work on the bag wall and on kilnshelves which of
course corbel in as they get higher in the chamber due to the arch. I'm
interested in placing work near the exit flues and also reaching through the
exit flues to place work in the floor of the chimney. I got this idea from =
my
friend Bill Newman who tells me he places work there when he goes out to =
fire
with Michael Miller whose kiln is similar in design albeit much larger. My
concern is that by placing work in these areas in our kiln it might affect =
the
firing cycle. Any information will be greatly appreciated.

BTW, in our most recent firing during the Salt, Soda, =40 Wood workshop a =
couple
of weeks ago eight workshop participants and I worked 14 hours to reach cone=
11
top and bottom. I would like to fire longer, but I am compromised by using =
high
alumina shelves instead of silicon carbide. I'm hoping we can purchase =
silicon
carbide next academic year so that we can fire longer which I understand =
will
result in a richer surface on the work.

TIA.

Rafael

Jeff Ferguson on mon 15 mar 99

First word of advice , Don't listen to Bill Newman.