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the length of reduction firing

updated wed 3 jan 01

 

Hank Murrow on mon 1 jan 01


Raya wrote from Tel Aviv;

>I have been firing a gas kiln (0.5 cubic meters) for more then a year now.
>A question that is bothering me allot is the length of the firing.
>In my last firing I reached cone 9 in 5 hours (while reducing from 850
>degrees Celsius)
>and then I soaked for 2 hours. The glazes, including shino and copper red
>became really nice .

*****This seems somewhat fast to me for shinos, but I don't use
soda ash in mine.

>On the other hand I hear of other people who fire much longer. >Do I miss
>something??

*****My firing in a lifting fiber kiln goes about 24 hours to C10.
Sometimes I add a soaking period in oxidation on the way back down. I get
superb shinos, but also imagine that copper reds would suffer from such a
long schedule.

>Today I read an article in Clay Times by Mark Ward on this subject.
>According to him the important part of the firing is the cooling of the kiln.

*****I just wrote an article about the importance of the cooling
cycle in relation to shinos. Have'nt read Mark's, but with so many words
written about reduction, I think the utility of a final period of oxidation
is overlooked.

>I will be happy to hear some opinions on this subject.

*****Glad to oblige, Hank in Eugene

Raya & Gil Hizi on mon 1 jan 01


I have been firing a gas kiln (0.5 cubic meters) for more then a year now.
A question that is bothering me allot is the length of the firing.
In my last firing I reached cone 9 in 5 hours (while reducing from 850 degrees Celsius)
and then I soaked for 2 hours. The glazes, including shino and copper red became really nice .
On the other hand I hear of other people who fire much longer.
Do I miss something??
Today I read an article in Clay Times by Mark Ward on this subject.
According to him the important part of the firing is the cooling of the kiln.
I will be happy to hear some opinions on this subject.

Raya
>From the sunny winter in Tel Aviv

Cantello Studios on tue 2 jan 01


I fire to cone 11 in about 12 to 13 hr. It's always been my belief that
anything faster will not give your glaze time to ripen. My old glaze teacher
always told us no faster then 265*f per. hr. that's about what I do, the
slow going in the start of the firing when your driving off the H2o can make
the firing seem longer but its really not. Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
Behalf Of Hank Murrow
Sent: Monday, January 01, 2001 10:43 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: The length of reduction firing

Raya wrote from Tel Aviv;

>I have been firing a gas kiln (0.5 cubic meters) for more then a year now.
>A question that is bothering me allot is the length of the firing.
>In my last firing I reached cone 9 in 5 hours (while reducing from 850
>degrees Celsius)
>and then I soaked for 2 hours. The glazes, including shino and copper red
>became really nice .

*****This seems somewhat fast to me for shinos, but I don't use
soda ash in mine.

>On the other hand I hear of other people who fire much longer. >Do I miss
>something??

*****My firing in a lifting fiber kiln goes about 24 hours to C10.
Sometimes I add a soaking period in oxidation on the way back down. I get
superb shinos, but also imagine that copper reds would suffer from such a
long schedule.

>Today I read an article in Clay Times by Mark Ward on this subject.
>According to him the important part of the firing is the cooling of the
kiln.

*****I just wrote an article about the importance of the cooling
cycle in relation to shinos. Have'nt read Mark's, but with so many words
written about reduction, I think the utility of a final period of oxidation
is overlooked.

>I will be happy to hear some opinions on this subject.

*****Glad to oblige, Hank in Eugene

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