Learning about reduction firing ..May 22, 2019 with Simon Leach

[@Angela3.0]

Simon! I love these videos. I personally have learned a lot with you on these kiln videos. With that, I have tried allot of tweaking and adjusting for the fire to reduce and climb. So, with that, I suggest you try to make a small movable chimney that will fit right above your exit flu. What happens with that, is the chimney sucks in air feeding the gas, this will help it climb in temperature much faster. The reduction could be done once the kiln reaches temperature on it's way down... The nice thing about this kiln is that one may play and not risk too many pieces. Thank you so much Simon for sharing your experience and thoughts... Have a lovely day!

[@trentwerner2513]

Thanks Leach Dog. Watching you videos for 8+ years. Yes, ABSOLUTELY interesting vids. Keep practicing 😝😉

[@curiousamiba]

The delicate tango of reduction.. I know this dance well

[@margaretfrew6661]

Simon. I just wish I could do exactly the same. I used to have a large fibre kiln, and fired it on the gas bottles. I loved it. My husband and father built it. When you were adjusting the temp I was right with you. I love all of you videos

[@marcisaacs9407]

Thanks again so very much. Learning more about finding the balance of adjustment is priceless. So indeed share🙏

[@janecollette9504]

Thank you for teaching us about reduction.

[@mainelyelectric]

I would love to to try to build a kiln like this but run it on one of my many old Beckett oil burners I have.

[@aubreytauer7308]

I’m planning on converting my 28 in x 28 in x 28 in (internal dimensions) round old electric kiln to a downdraft gas like you and I am wondering how much propane I will need for one firing (I will be firing in both reduction and sometimes oxidation) so I can determine how big of a propane container(s) to have on hand. I am building a fiber raku kiln and for that have decided to have three 20 lb bottles that I can string together if I need to for a day of many firings (also the raku kiln is a bit bigger than your average home made one) but have to be careful with containers that are a lot bigger, as I wouldn’t be able to lift and move them, so I am hoping to get a company that will come out to refill them. I will also be getting regulators. I really enjoy your videos and find them so helpful to learn the process of firing them and the problems that you can run into. Thank you!

[@mark314158]

Very interesting series.

[@sheilacarroll3981]

Love the real live flame process. Have fired for many years. Love a good reduction firing. Have never used a digital pyrometer. After watching I see the benefits of digital. Is it battery? We are total off grid.

[@sleachpots]

Yes digital pyro helps you see the temp rise and fall easily - battery operated 9v

[@sheilacarroll3981]

Thanks Simone. Do you have a recommendation?

[@irongetterlady8281]

Simon, Weigh the empty propane tank on bathroom scale then you can keep up with whats in tank. After thought.Tanks are never filled to full capacity.Weigh a fresh tank when you get one.

[@joostdenouden4727]

Very helpfull Simon. Defenitely I will once give it a try to convert a kiln.

[@gigis.garden]

Thank you so much for these videos. I live in Glastonbury UK and have been doing classes at strode for years on and off. I have just started to learn to fire a kiln myself, Its just an electric one at the mo but will progress to gas :)

[@marcisaacs9407]

Thanks for your sharing. You mentioned enlarging the internal arch at the bottom to help with reduction. Will that give the temp. Rise? Just trying to really grasp the balance point with the ports vs chimney.

[@Kaeltetechi]

Of course i 'm interested what you talking about in all of your videos. I lurk since three years or more. I 'm just a craftsman with training and graduation in electrician and also in coolningtechnician but i 'll know some new things from the experience of the learned craftsman like you :) Thank you so much for doing that ! :)

[@RajasthanRoots]

Very informative video Simon! How many cubic feet is this small kiln, I was wondering what the maximum cu ft. Kiln can be fired with this one burner setup. Thanks 😊

[@josephbrazda5664]

although im happy with my oxidation firings i would like to try a reduction firing one day.

[@shanikayeomans2488]

Is the flame coming out of the kiln flue blue or must it be orange for it to be a good reduction?

[@shanikayeomans2488]

Good morning From UK. Im just starting to fire my kiln in reduction. But I have no clue where to start. Do I reduce the kiln for 12 hours? Or do I start the reduction at about 831°C and leave it in reduction till it reaches 1260°C? I've done one firing like this last week. But im not sure if I got it right or wrong. It did take 12 hours to fire to 1260°C. If you can please help me. I will appreciate it very much indeed. Thank you.

[@reganf.3636]

So once the kiln reaches almost temperature... thats when you begin the reduction process?

[@Illuminating.Outer.Darkness]

I converted an old kiln to gas and am running it in the open air outside. Is it normal for there to be an extremely strong propane gas smell in the air even from 20 ft away? am I doing something wrong where not enough of the gas is being burned off?

[@sleachpots]

Katie Wallace - no not normal ! ... are you reducing ? Check connections are not leaking, rubber tubing etc, use plumbers tape on screw fittings.

[@Illuminating.Outer.Darkness]

@@sleachpots no, I am not doing a reduction. Ill try some plumbers tape on all the fittings. thanks.

[@jeffherboldshimer8880]

@@Illuminating.Outer.Darkness I have observed that once. The propane tank was laying down and this allowed the liquid propane to enter the hose. Impossible to control the flow and way too much fuel. This was a dangerous condition. The valves are always at the top.

[@Illuminating.Outer.Darkness]

@@jeffherboldshimer8880 plumbers tape took care of my issue for me.

[@timseepots]

You are controlling the reduction by just increasing your gas?

[@sleachpots]

Hi Tim ..... yes that is what I am doing, or aiming to do. If I can get the flame pathways inside the kiln just so then all I will need to do is open the gas a touch and kiln will reduce. Some place bricks on flue as dampers and also increase gas flow to achieve reduction. It all depends on what is going on inside with the flame aerodynamics and cut outs that have been made as pathways for flames. It's all a bit hit and miss/ test etc but there are some basic guidelines as I see it.

[@timseepots]

What about controlling the primary air fuel mix with a cover for the air. In a normal burner there is a flap at the back the screws back and forth to allow more or less air in. Covering some of the air holes in the burner you have with something like tin foil or a rigged up soup can would decrease the air and give you more control.

[@shanikayeomans2488]

@@timseepots thank you very much for this reply. I was looking for this exact answer. I've got a gas kiln which had 2 large burner ports. I managed to get okeyish reduction but copper reds were coming out pink. I've recently made a cut out of the front panel in order to see the cones better and ive cemented the gaps between the kiln door and bricks. Ive also covered the ports with ceramic fibre just when I started the reduction today. The flame coming out of the kiln seems to be orange blue? Could you please help 🙏. Many thanks shanika

[@gabrielboren865]

Hi Simon, Do you think that a smooth wall chimney will help?

[@gabrielboren865]

Thanks for your videos!!!

[@craftand3dworld]

가마를 때는 지루한 시간을 영상촬영으로 한방에~~ 날려 버리시는 군요~~~^^

[@shuvalassaf]

How would you improve reduction without lossing temperature ?

[@sleachpots]

The key is to get reduction and temperature rise. In this case I must open out the flame pathways inside the kiln, and possibly enlarge the burner port a little.