Soda Firing 7-15-25

This will be our 21st 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

The bag wall was sagging at the end of the last firing, so Chris bashed it out and I rebuilt it this morning. It is very similar to what was there, although the openings in the wall are smaller. It was a good full load with Laura S.B, Laura H, Chris, & I loading. Everything fit - even two extra pots : )

It will be a bit of a late start, as I teach until 9:30pm. Watch as the firing progresses to come spray soda in with us on Wednesday evening around dinner time.

Kiln Log:

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

  • 9:40pm - 56ºF, KILN START TIME

  • 10:00am - Temps will be listed with top temp first/ bottom temp second.
    114ºF/ 75ºF - I fit in a few more Test tiles (thanks Anika), lit the south burner at 9:40 to candling.
    Bumped gas to 0.5# at 10:30pm, damper at 1”, fan on LOW.

  • 11:00pm - 676ºF/ 194ºF, damper at 1.5”, air on low

  • 7:00am - 1320ºF/ 896ºF, north damper candling
    south burner bumped up to 1#

  • 9:00 - 1487ºF/ 1237ºF, bumping burners up to 2#, more air.

  • 11:00am - 1695ºF/ 1551ºF, waiting for C010 to go down.

  • 11:30am - 1706ºF/ 1579ºF - bumped gas up to 2.5#, damper at 2"”, Air at medium.
    Body reduction is in progress.

  • 12:00pm - 1732ºF/1619ºF - gas held at 2.5#, damper at 2.25”, air at medium

  • 1:00pm - 1829ºF/ 1735ºF - gas at 3#, damper at 3”, air at high

  • 2:00pm - 1925ºF/ 1847ºF - gas at 3, damper at 4”, air on high. Back pressure from top and bottom peeps.

  • 3:00pm - 1982ºF/1917ºF - everything is staying the same. The kiln is climbing slower, but evening out.

  • 4:00 - 2061ºF/ 2011ºF - Opened the damper another inch!
    Cone 4’s are down top and bottom. Stay Tuned!
    4:40pm - 50 degree climb in 30 minutes!
    Definitely looking like a 5:30pm Soda Introduction (I think)

  • 5:00pm - 2156ºF/ 2115ºF

  • Started soda introduction at 5:35pm at 2180ºF top temp.
    3.5# of soda in 2 gallons of water. Sprayed in by Laura, Jody, Joe, & Me.
    3 second intervals. multiple rounds. ten minutes of heavy reduction at the end.
    Brought kiln back up to temperature (2180ºF) then shut down kiln.
    Left damper open for about 5 minutes to clear the kiln.
    That’s a wrap!

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