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 UPDATE ON WOOD KILN 

                                                                                                                     Feb 16^th 2010

Greetings Kiln Club people,

This is an update on the wood kiln.  On Friday (Feb 5^th) Ashley Howard, Sam Chapman (UCA Ceramics technician) and I met Graham Ellerby, wood firer extaordinaire at the Kiln Site at UCA Farnham to do a fine tooth comb diagnosis of the wood kiln and put together a plan of action for completing what will be ‘stage three’ of its renovations…

Graham has kindly gifted some thick firebrick tiles with which we intend to make a ‘chequered floor’ for the kiln (see our rough ‘mock up’ in the images above).  This arrangement creates a false floor through which the draft will flow prior to being pulled up the chimney.  The gaps in the tiles are increased to favour the furthest part of the floor from the chimney, to encourage even flow of draft and heat across the entire packing space and hopefully avoid hot spots.  It may take more than one firing to find the ideal arrangement of floor tiles and draft gaps.  We will hone this over the next few firings if need be.  We have decided to lose one of the fire boxes, the thinking being that two fire boxes compete for draft and are not as efficient as one.  The fire box on the left of the kiln will be extended into the chamber by four inches or so.  The flame will now form a curtain along the entire length of the catenary arch, surrounding the ware, and be pulled through and around the ware into the floor, back along the under floor flue space and out of the chimney.  The pack will have to be fairly loose and space left for the passage of flame.  We will also be replacing the existing refractory fire bars with longer ones to fit the extended fire box.  These will be fabricated from cut scaffolding pole.  These will have the additional benefit of venting to the outside of the kiln and, with air holes drilled in them, provide extra draft of pre-heated air to the fire box.  They will be a temporary measure (as the steel will corrode badly within two or three firings) until such time as we source longer ceramic refractory ones.  The wood should go up like a rocket.  Yesterday I shifted the loose wood we prepared last time into its new home – the ex-store in the kiln building.  There will be no more theft of our hard-prepared wood!

The kiln work will be undertaken by me during the week beginning 1^st of March.  I will confirm the day closer to the time. Any of you who would like to join in are welcome to do so.

I would like to aim for another wood firing as soon as practical thereafter, but I am aware it will take time for you all to make work.  So consider this newsletter notice to get making! I will confirm the next wood firing date after the renovations are complete.  Early April at the latest.  We are going to make this thing work. 

Saturday Feb 20^th is the next Raku firing day.  I will be there from 9 am.  Come early if you are glazing on the day.  We want to get the kilns on as early as possible.  See you then.

Best wishes to you, one and all,

Gareth.