Firing Processes

Firing completes the pottery-making process by removing all water from the clay.

Temperature is a deciding factor in choosing a firing method. From among the many methods, I fire to "stoneware" temperatures, which are approximately 2250 ° Farenheit to 2350 ° Farenheit.

I fire in my 24 cubic foot gas ciln to cone 6 (2250 ° F), and in an anagama wood kiln located in Madrid, New Mexico.

Take a closer look at these two firing processes:

» Cone 6 Firing method	» Wood Kiln Firing method

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Cone 6 Firing

I fire my dinnerware and functional ware to cone 6 (approx 2250 F.) This is the lower end of stoneware, dishwasher and microwave safe. See images below:

Gas kiln waiting to be unloaded.

Spoon holders fired to cone 6.

Above are glazed clay pots waiting to be fired.

» See more Cone 6 Firing pieces in the Gallery

This anagama-style wood-fired kiln is unique to New Mexico. It is a climbing kiln, whose design is on Japanese origin. There are 15-20 members in "Fuse", the group of potters who fire this kiln. Firing with wood as the fuel produces interesting and unexpected results. It takes four weekends to fire.

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The first weekend is spent prepping 5 cords of wood, which is stacked underneath the wooden structure protecting the kiln.

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The second weekend is spent glazing and loading the kiln.

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Glazed pottery waiting to be fired.

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The kiln is loaded all the way up the hill. The potters have to climb up into the kiln and use an electric light to see.

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The third weekend is spent firing the pottery. The ash from the wood coats the entire kiln, including the pottery. The path of the flame "flashes" the pots and combines with the glazes for a unique look.

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A potter adds wood to the kiln. The kiln is watched overnight, with the potters taking shifts.

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Flaring fire escapes from the kiln.

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Also on the fourth weekend, the kiln is unloaded.

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The bricks that support the shelves are taken out and restacked to be used in the next firing.

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Ben unloads pieces from the kiln.

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The fired pottery is loaded onto tables, and art dealers and the public alike come to view the newest pieces.