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Once the pots have been glazed they are loaded into the glaze kiln. Its the final stage of the pottery making process, and it requires exact timing, otherwise, all the work that has gone before will be for naught. |
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We have three electric kilns that are fired regularly. Electric kilns give an even heat, and are more predictable than gas and wood fired kilns. The elements sit in the walls and radiate heat from all sides. |
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Loading a kiln is an art in and of itself. The wares are placed on shelves, and layers are built by placing the shelves on posts. The glaze is fairly fragile, and can easily be bumped off, leaving an empty spot. Gradually it builds from bottom to top, leaving just enough room for air flow so the heat moves evenly throughout the kiln. |
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 The kiln needs to reach peak temperature of 2200 degrees Farenheit, and cool at a precise rate to ensure the glaze develops properly. During the firing the pots will expand then shrink a little, so they need to be kept apart. From firing to firing kilns will produce subtle variations in the glaze depending on how the kiln is packed, the density of the packing, the temperature, the age of the elements, and the like. Fortunately it is the variations that make it so intriguing. |
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