The old kiln ...
Rakuing
(Click on pics for larger view)
Rakuing is great fun, and
hard work, too ... before you start, you make sure you're wearing your GRUNGIEST
clothes ... 'cause you're gonna smell like a smoke pit when you're done!
Rakuing is best done in the fall and winter when the day temps are under 60° ... the
cold air helps bring out the colors, among other factors. Some of the
BEST, prettiest colors have come out in the SNOW!
We had to remake a new kiln ... the old one disintegrated ...
The old kiln ...
The new kiln
The kiln set-up ... the hose from the propane tank goes to the Venturi (you
might call it a flamethrower though!)
The first batch of pieces is put in with the kiln still cold ...
Here a raku glazed fountain piece is being put in the kiln
But it warms up pretty fast ... to 1,800 degrees!
The pieces come out glowing RED-HOT ... obviously, we use tongs AND Kevlar
gloves! (NOTE: Remember the Pueblo lady in the first pic ... )
Before the pieces are done in the kiln, holes in the ground are prepared
with a layer of shredded newspaper, sawdust and leaves ... we use cottonwood
leaves a lot, but also use locust, mint, rosemary, sumac, costmary ... WHATEVER
is available.
The pieces, when done, are rapidly put in the prepared holes ... which
immediately ignite, as you can see. A lid is placed over the hole, and
then the edges of the lid covered with dirt to keep ALL the smoke in ... as this
is part of "reduction firing" and brings all the metallic colors out
of the glazes!
A brief break from the smoke!
Some of the pots ... in the cooling process. The pieces are sprayed
lightly with water to enhance the colors ... then plunged into a pan of cold
water to stop the reduction process when the colors are at their best.
(There's the Pueblo lady again, cooling off, in the third pic)
And HERE she is, all cleaned up!
