Soda Firing 2-5-25

This will be our 16th Kiln Firing. Follow along with the firing as I update this page on the hour.
Cones in our cone packs 012, 010, 06, 1, 4, 5, 6, 7

We added two additional soda ports. This will give a more even soda distribution throughout the kiln. Also in the February firing I will be reducing more during soda application aiming at more carbon trapping at the end of the firing. This may result in more grey on surfaces and glazes with copper being reduced in some areas of the kiln. We fit all the bisque ware outside on the soda ware carts.

I will be firing overnight and hoping to have an earlier soda introduction like last time between 12 noon-3pm Wednesday. Please message on the App if you think you will join in adding soda to the kiln.

We had a chilly kiln load with help from Chris, Anika, Charlotte, and myself. Brrrrrr
All the pots fit!

This was a great firing! It was hot everywhere in the kiln. The top front was still a bit hotter that the bottom front. Cone 6’s down all over the kiln.

Kiln Log:

I will log the temperature, gas, damper, and notes pertaining to the firing at the top of the hour here.

  • 7:00pm - 33ºF, KILN START TIME - Both pilots are lit.
    South burner lit, gas at candle (not reading on dial)

  • 8:00pm - 300ºF, Both burners lit, gas at candle (not reading on dial), Damper at 1.5”

  • 9:00pm - 640ºF, Both burners bumped up to reading gas at the first dash on dial.
    Damper at 2”

  • 10:00pm - 1000ºF, Both burners bumped up to reading gas at the 2nd dash on dial.
    Damper at 2”

  • 3:00am - 1422ºF, bottom 1185ºF, no cones down. Slight reduction smell. pulled damper to 2.5”, turned up air on each burner a touch

  • 7:00am - 1637ºF/ 1450ºF, the kiln had just barely entered body reduction at 6:45, so I added a bit more gas. bumped gas up to 1# and added air (dial straight up). Damper at 2”. We have flames coming out of all the soda ports exuberantly. The door ports have a small flame.

  • 8:00am - 1656ºF/ 1514ºF, Burners bumped up to 2#, damper at 1.75”, air at medium high

  • 9:00am - 1767ºF/ 1642ºF, Burners bumped up to 3#, damper at 2.5”, air on high.
    Body reduction ended. We are cruising now. On the chart below you can see the top and bottom temperatures getting closer together.

  • 10:00am - 1892ºF/ 1768ºF, holding previous settings. Opened damper 2.75”.
    We are about 2 hours behind the last firing, so I am guessing we will introduce soda around 2pm. That is just a guess at this point.

  • 11:00am - 1977ºF/ 1875ºF, holding previous settings. Opened damper 3”.
    Climbing about 100 degrees an hour.

  • 12:00pm - 2053ºF/ 1966ºF, holding previous settings. Opened damper 3”

  • 1:00pm - 2116ºF/ 2036ºF, holding previous settings. Opened damper 3.5”
    I am guessing soda time will be around 2pm still : )

  • 2:00pm - 2167ºF/ 2095ºF, holding previous settings. Opened damper 3.5”

  • 2:50pm - 2210ºF/ 2148ºF, soda-introduction
    The bottom front and back top are cooler. The top front is hot.
    We did 4.5# of soda in 2 gallons of water. Chris and I sprayed 3 rounds each at 7 counts.
    The kiln only cooled about 10 degrees on each round.
    We finished spraying by 3:25pm. Held the kiln at temp with reduction till 3:45pm.
    Opened up the damper and let the kiln clear and then shut it down.
    The pyrometer failed at the very end (might need to get a new one).
    It was a beautiful calm firing.

  • 3:45pm - 2202ºF/ 2134ºF, shut kiln down
    Pushed in damper, closed burner ports with insulation, cleaned out sprayer, put away extension cord, put away gloves.

The darker line is the top of the kiln temperature, the lighter grey line is the bottom temperature

Front Stack

Center Stack

Back Stack