NEXT FIRING DOWNDRAFT GAS KILN :: message from kilnmaster Neil

All work on shelves :: Wednesday 17 May, 5pm
Kiln loading ::               Thursday 18 May, 10am
Kiln firing ::                    Friday 19 May, start time 7.45am
Kiln unloading ::             Sunday 21 May, 1.30 pm

After the unloading members can inspect the fired work, before attending the AGM at 3pm.

The last kiln firing was on Good Friday, April 7, with unloading on Easter Monday.
Several members of the cooking with gas group took the opportunity to become familiar with the firing process and the operation of the controls.

It was a good firing; some precautions taken included under several flat trough section pieces from BRT we laid a mat of alumina which allowed the pieces to be easily separated from the shelves, I changed the kiln wash to include more alumina and this allowed work with small runs to be separated from the shelves with just a bit of grinding required.  Winnies blue continues to be a problem by running on to the shelves.  A wide footring is essential with this glaze.  It was good to see some use of setters and this also saved some work by stopping glaze from running on to the shelves. 

Just a couple of pieces from the faulty WC20 clay batches had spectacular spiral fractures.

The perennial problem is identification on the bottoms to allow us to identify the maker.  Please make your mark or member number clearer and keep glazing clear with a dob of wax.
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It is encouraging to see a good volume of work coming through for firing so far this year.