| Kiln for Standing Forms |
I have built a number of these kilns. It only takes a couple of days to put together and is a relatively cheap option. The main expense is the burners.
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Requirements for base:
Layer of concrete blocks
Layer of tin foil - acts as a heat deflector
Layer of HTI bricks - to cover the block base
Outer edging layer of HTIs on their sides to act as the kiln wall - I leave a 'burner port' at opposite corners of the end walls.
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The lid is made from a sheet of Weldmesh, reinforced with aluminium flashing, if available, (adds strength and cuts down exposure to ceramic fibre)
I use 2 layers of ceramic fibre held in position with ceramic buttons / nichrome wire.
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That is all the height I need for the Standing Forms, as they are fired on their sides. If firing large 'Pod' forms I add another layer of bricks.
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This is my present kiln for firing the Standing Forms and other long pieces of work
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Kiln for bisque firings and also for raku firings of larger coiled vessels
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Red hot pots in the raku kiln - it is the same as the one I use for bisque firings only half the size. Both were made with the same materials used in the construction of the long kiln.
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'Pyromania' in the reduction bin!
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| Pre-historic style Bonfire firing |
1. Raw pots placed upside down on a board in the centre. Thickish logs were placed carefully around the work and the fire was gradually built up.
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2. Dry twigs placed all around the outside of the bonfire.
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3. A final layer of sod placed over the whole lot, gaps filled with soil. A small 'flue' for air was left open and stuffed with dry straw. There was a small hole left in the top too, to act as a 'chimney'.
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4. The fire was lit in a number of places around the bottom of the heap. Any area where smoke was escaping was filled with bits of sod/soil. The aim was to get the fire to burn slowly from the outside inwards, so that the pots would gradually heat up. This actually worked! That evening I placed a couple of sheets of corrugated iron to prevent sparks from blowing around.
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5. When I removed the iron the next morning, only a small amount of ash remained.
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6. The resulting pots had some lovely markings from the fire, and all survived, except a couple of tiny cracks in the rims of the top layer of pots, due to shrinkage.
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