Loading Mid-front of the Wood-fired Kiln part 3 & 4

[gary navarre]

OK Folks,

Well I'm still slow-poking along and we are going over the hump and past the half way point in loading this mule...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBesT7Ni7cU

... with setting the first layer on the kiln floor and then setting the 1" silicon carbide shelves for the second layer. It might seem this shelf setting would cause pain in the back but by bracing myself against the chamber wall my arms are free to manipulate the shelf without loosing my balance and falling onto the setting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3ZOu2Slfww

Then the weather changed and I decided to practice a pignose fire to take off the chill while the wading dried. Of course I'm further along than all this with a few more pieces to go on top of this stack and I'm starting a test setting for the floor and second layer of the front in the studio as I continue with making some 6" pieces for that spot. I've only got 5 12"x24" kiln shelves left and see using three to cover the second layer of pots. Then the remaining two on top of each other setting crosswise to the flame. Might have room right up front for a couple big Dragon Pots but we will have to wait to see if I want to take the time or can still throw a 12" cylinder. My thinking is to make the first shelf high enough to grab some of the flame from the throat arch and pull it under the load where the space becomes 4½" to the back of the load. I'll also open up the front setting a bit to let the flame into the load better before it slams into the main
setting. So I need to decide if the second layer should be 4½" or 6", fussy ain't I eh.

I finally cracked open the sack of Albany and used it straight on a few pieces and I made a 40/40/20 Balsam ash slip. I can't say if the Strawberry Lake Red will be any better, or maybe just different, but they don't look the same wet...

http://public.fotki.com/GindaUP/ca/cam/slr/albany-slip-straybe-1.html

My guess is the Red has way more iron and will not look like the Albany.

Time to check my fresh thrown ware and see if it is ready to trim so stay in there and don't let it fool ya eh!

Gary Navarre
Navarre Pottery
Navarre Enterprises
Norway, Michigan, USA
http://www.youtube.com/GindaUP
http://public.fotki.com/GindaUP/

[Ann Brink]

Hi Gary,

A lot of us have been following your wood kiln story for many moons now- the
suspense is building up!!! You are GETTING THERE! Can't wait to hear more.

Ann Brink in Lompoc CA, doing another elec. firing today, in time to mail a
few gifts, hopefully.
<www.annsgoodies.blogspot.com> (mostly about pottery)

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11:58:00

[gary navarre]

Yes Ann, I'm getting there, slowly to be sure, but that's clay time. Finally found a set of insulated Carhartt bubs in the right size so I won't mind going out in this weather. I usta love the winter! Now I just get sluggish, maybe I should go into town and roll some K-12 kid for their Ritalin and get me a little pep thing goin on eh? The only criticism my boss had during my last performance review at Wal*Mart was I seemed to lack a sense of urgency but he is too young to realize why I don't do "real quick" anymore. But we will get the kiln done, soon, maybe for New Years. Then starts the real work of unloading and interpreting the results for a month or so after the firing. I might end up having to look for a real job so be patient, stay in there, and don't let it fool ya eh!

Gary Navarre
Navarre Pottery
Navarre Enterprises
Norway, Michigan, USA
http://www.youtube.com/GindaUP
http://public.fotki.com/GindaUP/

--- On Wed, 12/16/09, Ann Brink <anns...@verizon.net> wrote: