First View

I know this cell camera shot is not that great, but I wanted to let my faithful readers get the first view. It's sort of analagous to the ultra-sound image we got when Stacey was with child, "Ahhh, look....honey..."

(snap out of it, kline)anyway, the pots are pinging a little in the back stack so I will take a little break before I start yanking these pots out.

I promise a better image later. Framable, maybe. So have a cup of coffee or tea and check back later. Thanks.

Spy View

Here are a couple of views that I saw of the pots tonight. Thought I'd pass'em your way. Sorry they're not that revealing. From what I can see with a flash light, though, it looks pretty good. My fingers are still pretty tightly crossed. I pulled the dampers out and opened a clod of mud and brick from the top of the door. The pyrometer was just about 600ºF. Maybe I will et a better look tomorrow.


I'm heading over for a visit with Tom tomorrow. It's been a while and it will be good to visit and catch up. He's had a lot of students at his workshop this month and he has a few new pot acquisitions to see and behold.

Days End, Potters Rest

a photo montage of the early morning shift of me, myself, and I.

about 4 a.m.

I'm about too tired to blog, but I wanted to get these out there for ya before I hit the sack. Firing # 30 was a good one, so far. Only time will tell the story of what happened today. With fantastic help from neighbor Alan Gratz, and Stacey's early morning help, the kiln fired off in almost record time. Alan and I decided that it would be best to "soak" the kiln at the end for about an hour and it payed off with all identical cones all around! We used about 20 lbs of salt and it took about 14.5 hrs. Alan shot a bunch of video which he no doubt will upload soon. I'll let you know. In the meanwhile check out Alan's blog that he writes with his wife, Wendi, here.

flame from one of the blow holes

Alan putting the wood to the fire

I couldn't help but mention our "sponsor"

two live crew

4:25 Alan has been kickin it and we're almost at temperature. We're going for cone 9 flat and 10 tip. I'll begin salting after this update!
>:-)

Gratz Industries Stokes Like A Natural

As far as I know Alan Gratz hasn't fired a wood kiln, but you wouldn't know it by the deft stoking he has demonstrated in just a short time. He is allowing me to take a little break, have some quick noodles and finish up on time for Stacey's Montessori board meeting at 7. (fingers crossed!)
Alan brought his video camera and no doubt be doing some blogging of his own. Those of you all who have been reading for a while might remember Alan from the infamous ditch digging we did back in December. Pictures and video will follow.

The last two hours have been tricky as the bottom of the kiln has raced ahead of the top. Exactly the opposite from my usual strategy. I have been tweeking dampers, passive dampers, stoking intervals, wood size, you name it. It's a damp/rainy day and I'm a little concerned about reduction with those copper glazes in there.

I left Alan with about 2100ºF and I will take my mini lunch break and get bak up there shortly. I have some chinking to do and general stoke door maintenance. More later.

10:00 a.m. I'm stoking on the grates and the kiln is eating it up. -till burning poplar, well seasoned! It was cut and delivered last Fall. Pyro reads 937.7*C

9:00 a.m. The kiln is heating well according to the steam coming of the door mud and the pyro-meter. At this posting time it reads 1255*F. We're burning poplar.

Not Webcam

...but the quality of this photo taken with my Centro is probably comparable.

The eight o'clock shift is reporting in with about 900*F. We're probably not going to fire as fast as Brandon Phillips, so don't look for us to be done in a couple of hours. We usually go for about 14-18 hours. I'll try to give you all an update from time to time when there is something worth noting. Oh,
Gotta stoke!

Back Story

another Turner porcelain teacup with wax
resist and Stonepool tenmoku.

Here are a few more pictures I meant to post the other day, but was to busy giving tours of the new studio!

the staging area for loading into the kiln. Not seen
are a couple more tables behind that have the big
jars and some more plates.

birdie that is going to fly real close to the fire

a detail of a short stack (of plates)

Simple

Easy as 1, 2, 3.