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ratio of salt to size of kiln

updated thu 10 jul 03

 

Craig Martell on sun 6 jul 03


Hi:

How much salt you introduce into the kiln is reliant on several
factors. First, how much saltglaze you want on the ware. Another thing is
your use of the damper during the salting process. Will you leave the
damper open and go for a more passive salting or will you damper down and
hold the salt in with more back presssure. What I'm getting at is: It
depends on how you fire and what you want.

I have a 55 cubic foot kiln and I use about 15 lbs of salt per fire. This
gives a moderate salting. I don't much like the cottage cheese
effect. The bottom line is that you'll have to figure this out for
yourself so use draw trials. Then you'll have an idea as to how the
glazing is coming along as you fire.

regards, Craig Martell Hopewell, Oregon

Josh Grenier on mon 7 jul 03


I am doing my first wood fire ever and am planning on salting it. does
anyone have a rough estimate of how much salt is needed per cubic foot of kiln
space? I realize that salting could be heavier or lighter depending on personal
preference, I am just looking for a starting point.

thanks

Marcia Selsor on mon 7 jul 03


I think it also depends on how seasoned the kiln is. I am more familiar
with soda and haven't done a salt firing in many years. I have done soda
firings much more recently. In Italy we used about 4 pounds of soda
dissolved in water for a kiln about 1 cubic meter.
At the Bray last year, I used about 2.5-3 pounds of soda in a more
seasoned kiln of a similar size. -cubic meter or a little better.
Marcia in Montana

Josh Grenier wrote:
> I am doing my first wood fire ever and am planning on salting it. does
> anyone have a rough estimate of how much salt is needed per cubic foot of kiln
> space? I realize that salting could be heavier or lighter depending on personal
> preference, I am just looking for a starting point.
>
> thanks
>
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Steve Mills on wed 9 jul 03


This depends how you apply the salt. The throw-it-in-at-the-end-of-the-
firing Potters use quite large amounts for relatively small kilns. I
follow the French method and put 2 pots of salt at the point where the
flames enter the pot chamber. The Kiln is approximately 12 cu.ft. the
salt total is 2 dessert spoons-full, and yes I get a VERY good salting
from that.

Steve
Bath
UK


In message , Josh Grenier writes
>I am doing my first wood fire ever and am planning on salting it. does
>anyone have a rough estimate of how much salt is needed per cubic foot of=
> kiln
>space? I realize that salting could be heavier or lighter depending on p=
>ersonal
>preference, I am just looking for a starting point.
>
>thanks

--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK