Woodfiring on Saturday 2nd April 2011

Firstly apologies on the lateness of this report, and secondly on the briefness!

I think we all agree that it was a successful firing, and although we are learning all the time about how Bertha fires, there are very few adjustments we can now make to improve on the design and firing of the kiln.

The firing started at 5.40am and finished at a positively respectful time of 7.50pm (approx 14hrs of firing).

We had problems with the thermocouple undereading the temperature at the beginning of the firing which resulted in a small cow exploding (sorry Kim!) so we’ll have to investigate the cost of a new thermocouple.

We also employed the use of Ross’s air bed blower to help break up the embers at intervals when the temperature appeared to be sticking. We’ll try this technique again to see if it really does make a difference. Thanks to the wonderful new fire bars the racking of embers took place much later on in the firing (1130c).

For the next firing remember work must be made of stoneware clay and be biscuit fired. Date of next wood firing not yet decided, but should be sometime in the summer.

So that’s a short conclusion of the firing and photos to give a flavour of the day and firing results.