Our Cone 10 Kiln Technicians and Instructors Nick and Lela will introduce you to the basics of firing Shirley, our gas kiln. Every kiln is different, but there are shared principles that apply to most manual gas kilns. During this cone 10 reduction firing, you are welcome to either purchase space in the kiln for your own work or simply attend as a participant to observe and learn if you just want to dip your toes in.
Students may attend any or all parts of the workshop. This experience is designed for drop-in attendance during the listed time windows, and you do not need to attend every stage. The more time you spend at Radius during the firing, the more you will learn. Because this kiln is new and each firing has many variables, exact timing is difficult to predict. All time windows are our best estimates.
Workshop Schedule (Attend what you can):
Exact dates and times are listed on the firing page and take place during the kiln firing of the month you sign up for.
Friday @ 6:00pm: Loading begins.
Arrive by 6:00pm for an explanation and demonstration of how to load the kiln. Loading typically takes 3–4 hours, and you are welcome to stay for as much or as little of this process as you like. After loading, the door is bricked up and the burners are turned on to warm the kiln overnight.
Saturday @ 7:00am (reduction begins around 10:00am): Firing day.
The kiln is turned on at 7:00am (you are welcome to join for this part) and will heat up over several hours. The goal is to keep the temperature even and shift from an oxidation atmosphere to a reduction atmosphere around 10:00am. This transition is one of the most exciting parts of the firing and can be affected by many factors such as weather and how the kiln was loaded. We will explain how temperature and kiln behavior guide firing decisions, and the difference between oxidation and reduction.
Saturday @ between 7:00–9:00pm (approx.): Final stages of firing.
The kiln will have been gradually adjusted over about 12 hours. Temperatures are high and things get exciting. We will explain the steps leading up to this stage and strategies for maintaining reduction at peak temperatures. It is hard to predict exactly when the kiln will reach temperature. The firing could finish as early as 7:00pm, but it may take longer.
Tuesday @ 6:00pm: Unloading.
We unload the kiln and see the results of the firing. We will discuss and interpret what we see, and participants with work in the kiln may take their pieces home.
Workshop objective:
You will leave with a broader understanding of cone 10 reduction firing and the differences between gas and electric firing.
Learning principles:
– How to load a gas kiln for best results
– Cones and heatwork: how to use them and what they measure
– What reduction means, how it works, and what it does
– Cone 10: how it differs from cone 6
– How to make decisions and adjustments while firing a gas kiln
– How to assess and interpret fired results
We are excited to share the knowledge and the magic of reduction firing.
****Firing dates are subject to change due to weather conditions. Extreme wind is a fire hazard. Participants will be notified by email of any schedule changes.