Building a wood firing raku kiln workshop.

 Went to the wood firing raku kiln building workshop by Stefan Jakob organised for 4-5th Aug. by Ceramic Study Group.

Must tell you, was not overly fond of the building part on Saturday... something to do with wrestling tin snips!! But, you gotta love the old Aussie boys who bought along the power tools, nothing like an angle grinder with a cutting head to make short work of all the cutting!!


Did though LOVE the firing day on Sunday - there really is something quite mesmerising about fire isn't there? 

The line of firing kilns looked fabulous. Flames from the kiln fire mouths and plumes of smoke from the chimneys, the sound of crackling wood and that distinctive fire smell.

My first little pots were a bit underfired and I didn't leave them in the sawdust long enough for a good reduction but my second firing of a single pot worked exactly as it should - glossy colourful glaze and rich, black crackling.

 Can't wait to do another firing but thinking will go camping for a weekend and take a load of bisqued work and the kiln with me - wood firing a kiln in suburban Sydney is always an 'adventure' with the neighbours.

Mind you a weekend away for ANY reason is always good but with the new 'toy' it will be LOTS of fun!!!