OPC GAS KILN UPDATE

The last gloss firing of the updraft kiln was on July 28.  The kiln was very tightly packed and included some work for the DCA students.  The results from the firing were excellent.

There were a few pots that didn’t fit into the firing.  On the shelves there were also a number of test glaze pieces and some work more suited to the variable temperatures achieved in the updraft kiln This work has been cleared with an updraft kiln firing.
There have also been 2 bisc firings of the downdraft kiln which has helped in clearing a build-up of pots resulting from one electric kiln being out of commission.
A firing of the updraft kiln was scheduled for the middle of September but as there is a limited amount of work on the shelves at present this has been postponed 2 weeks as follows: 

• Work for firing on shelves in kiln room by noon, Monday 26 September
• Loading Tuesday 27th September, commencing 2pm
• Firing Thursday 29th September, all day from 8.30am
• Unloading Saturday 1st October, 2pm

These dates are subject to there being sufficient work available to fill the kiln and this can only be assessed in advance if work is loaded onto the shelves when it is ready for firing.  Our target is to fire once a month but this is seldom achieved.

One thing to note please, is adding identifying marks on each piece. Without an identifier the pots cannot be charged to the individual accounts. In future pots without identification will be put to one side. 
From Kilnmaster Neil