Packing a Kiln Load of Pottery and Gas Firing in Reduction - Narrated Version

[@karenr9680]

Wow thanks for this video. It’s an incredibly detailed narration , explaining everything in the firing process which is so interesting. Fantastic pottery KZbin channel, thanks Florian.

[@floriangadsby]

Thanks so much Karen!

[@samuelharley_]

Nice! Firing always makes me excited and anxious as it is running. So glad I invested in one!

[@floriangadsby]

Thanks Samuel, it definitely does the same to me still but I'm getting more and more used to it. What kind of kiln have you got?

[@samuelharley_]

@@floriangadsby After about two months of trying and failing to fix a huge old top loader, I bought a brand new Skutt 822-3. I chalked up the price as an 18th birthday present to myself. It is a little small, but still about 16" wide and 24" deep, so I can still do some fairly big work. It also pulls very little electricity so I can run it pretty often. I've been doing production work on batches of candle forms and mugs so it has just been a treat to use so far!

[@Jimbodrear]

I have absolutely no interest in doing this sort of work myself. However, it is utterly fascinating to watch your process and have it explained so clearly. Thank you!

[@domw3239]

This is so in depth and the first time I've really understood what glaze is. I REALLY want one of your mugs!

[@floriangadsby]

Cheers Dom! So glad to hear that. There's really just so much to explain in a video that's even 20 minutes long, I'll have to do some that are more specific in regard to their topic. My next shop update will be sometime in the spring I imagine, there shall be lots of mugs I'm sure.

[@gregh378]

I've been looking into buying my own kiln lately and this was really informative about the processes involved in firing your own stuff. Thanks Florian!

[@mikewhitaker4150]

I was excited to see the mugs when you opened the door of the kiln, and wow, what beautiful work you do. I'll keep an eye on your store, I want one of your mugs for my morning coffee.

[@paulauksztulewicz4803]

Thank you for documenting this process. This will be a good video to show my 150 students taking my pottery class via Zoom during our remote learning times. Guess who gets to load, bisque fire, and later glaze fire all of their projects when they are delivered back to our school? 😉

[@floriangadsby]

Cheers Paul and wow! I hope they like it. Good luck with all that student work, can't say I envy you 😬

[@nikkilewisceramics8875]

@@floriangadsby I have quite a few students and I was happy to have a thorough video detailing the loading and reduction firing process in great detail. Thank you Florian!

[@crisfer22]

I'm so thankful that you are posting these incredible videos! I'm learning a lot more than in my community center classes. It's like having my own super knowledgeable, meticulous and really calm online teacher. A truly good use of this platform.

[@JamesColeUk]

Thanks for taking the time to make this Florian. Such a clear video, and with so much useful and actionable information. E.g. blowing into the spy holes; the name of the grinding paste, your kiln log. What lovely pots, and what a fantastic kiln. Did I also notice that your ware boards fit your bench quite precisely?! :)

[@floriangadsby]

Cheers James, so glad to hear that. And yes.. the boards fit almost too well, sometimes they can be hell to get my fingers under to move if they're covered in heavy pots. An overhang is definitely on the cards next time.

[@TeomanasAbramovas]

There is a sound like hitting two glass sticks each other slowly. It was... Adorable.

[@alphonsinelepitre1992]

This is a great video, really. Such a beautifull process, a looot of work, we can feel years of experience here. Thank you for sharing.

[@domw3239]

I just went on your shop and getting a mug of yours has become a life goal

[@floriangadsby]

Haha, thank you, there'll be more available in the future. I've got to spend the next few months preparing work for an exhibition, so mugs won't be the focus for a little bit. But thank you!

[@hubertringwald9699]

Beautifully shot and edited and so full of insight! Thank you so much, Florian.

[@MitchPR08]

That ping when you opened the kiln! ❤

[@cloacacloaca3704]

Such a symphony of tinkling i love it!

[@mihiridesilva3015]

Excellent explanation. Thank you

[@slimeconsole]

i would love just listening to that tinkling noise for an hour

[@floriangadsby]

24 hour tinkling video?

[@ghoulz6927]

@@floriangadsby im begging you for it please

[@MrParkiljoon]

I often saw it on Instagram, but there was a KZbin channel, too. I think it's a compact and well-designed kiln. Thank you for the video.

[@Szegro]

I'm beginning training to be ceramics technician next semester at my college, this video was very informative and interesting, especially now that I know I'll be doing similar work rather soon. Great video once again!

[@floriangadsby]

That's really exciting! I hope there's some useful bits in here for you. Good luck and thanks for taking the time to watch as always.

[@carolynpearce4829]

I love watching your videos.

[@kristinalashkay8188]

Yet another epic video that just left me smiling in awe!🤩 All hail the gas kiln guru haha!! 🙌 Thanks again for making my day, have a lovely Christmas!🎄

[@floriangadsby]

Thanks Kristina ☺️ you're too kind! Have a wonderful Christmas too.

[@sarahslade4391]

You should do a virtual tour of your studio. I would love to see the tools and equipment you’re using!

[@floriangadsby]

That's a good idea! I'll see what I can do.

[@rockgrl6]

Beautiful and such precise work!

[@floriangadsby]

Thank you Christine, it means a lot.

[@lynnost1959]

Stunning pieces!! And wow the work that goed into them! Lovely to see the whole process!

[@floriangadsby]

So glad to hear that, thanks for taking the time to watch!

[@Szegro]

Ive been really enjoying my new job as the ceramics technitian on campus and I'm being trained to pack kilns tomorrow! I feel so prepared :))

[@olsim1730]

Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

[@floriangadsby]

Thank you for taking the time to watch!

[@taniatownsend8309]

That was AMAZING! Thank you so much Florian, as a gas kiln inheritee(?) I have just learned so much!

[@francoishofer9254]

Beautiful work, especially the cylindrical box !

[@floriangadsby]

Thank you François!

[@karlthepotter4228]

Beautiful and inspiring! Thank you. I'll never forget my first "Howard Carter moment", What do you see? Beautiful things!!

[@wugzi9260]

Wishing good growth for your channel. Well explained and high production value here.

[@floriangadsby]

Thank you Wugzi, that's very kind of you!

[@dbcoco]

just beautiful work!

[@joycee5493]

Oh, that glaze!!!

[@phantomnet8131]

Oh those are gorgeous

[@floriangadsby]

Thank you! 🙌🏼

[@stuhaysman135]

That was fascinating, thank you so much! The reduction firing still confuses me at the end though - crash cooling down from peak temperature adds a lot of oxygen into the kiln as the spy holes and dampers are open - does this not affect the reduction chemistry, or does it not matter once the fuel has stopped going in? I’m comparing in my mind to anagama kilns etc. where they literally seal every crack once temperature is reached to stop air getting in. I fire electric, so no such issues for me, although I would love to be able to reduction fire for the colours 😃

[@muddymikeart]

Reduction is more important coming up in temp. Once the glazes have melted, the glass layer hinders the kiln atmosphere from reacting with the glaze underneath the surface. Reduction on the way down really only affects the very surface of the glaze / clay

[@michaeldausmann6066]

super super fantastic video, thanks Florian for putting it together with so much info. re: natural gas, I always thought that it didn't have enough energy density to fire a kiln and that everybody used LPG, can any kiln be fired with natural gas? I guess the 4 burners helps, not sure.

[@tejaltomar4883]

I just love this products so much ❤️❤️ from India

[@floriangadsby]

Thank you! Greetings from London, UK.

[@itsmescl]

For a new potter like me who’s trying to learn as much as possible, it’s amazing to see this whole process. Thanks for doing it. Would this type of outcome be possible with an electric kiln?

[@floriangadsby]

Thank you Steve! I'm afraid these types of glazes don't work all too well in an electric kiln. The green hues especially and the depth that the glazes have is quite hard to replicate, hence why I got a gas kiln initially.

[@KriaDarkoss]

I can't be the only one who thought that sponge was toast

[@iamivar]

Lovely video as always. Thank you for taking the time to educate so detailed. I noticed that you propped up some bowls. Why is this? Are they particularly prone to dripping or does it have to do with airflow or space wise?

[@floriangadsby]

Thank you! The reason for the propped up bowls is to simply allow me to squeeze more pots in. The bottom shelf had to be quite open, height wise, to fire evenly, so I prop bowls like this so they overlap one another, let’s me fit in lots more.

[@iamivar]

@@floriangadsby thank you! That makes a lot of sense. I’m firing my first own kiln next week Monday and your videos and advice have been an inspiration in getting here!

[@p43210]

What you do is ART! Can I ask you where have you learnead to do all this in that perfect way?!?

[@floriangadsby]

Cheers! Well, I started making pottery in school on the wheel potter's wheel at the age of 17 or so, then after finishing school I went to the DCCoI Ceramics Skills and Design Training course in Ireland for 2 years, which was superb. After that I did a 3 year apprenticeship with Lisa Hammond at Maze Hill Pottery and thereafter I did a short six month apprenticeship with Ken Matsuzaki in Japan. Then I finally setup on my own, so I had a ton of practice prior to starting my own business thankfully.

[@p43210]

@@floriangadsby Oh woah! I new some of the information because I've read It on your web, but that is incredibly awesome!

[@felipetascon9142]

A bit of cmc gum for the glazes would help with it coming off on your fingers. It will spoil, but you're working with blues and greens, so a literal (minute!)(.35 grams per bucket) pinch of copper carb will keep bacteria away.

[@floriangadsby]

All good info. Thanks for that, there's still so much to learn in this craft. Thanks for taking the time to watch!

[@fredmathieu4695]

thanks for these video and many more! sorry for my poor english ;-) I don't understand who made these little ball? 50% china clay and ?

[@iamivar]

“..and 50% coarse alumina hydrate”. Hope this was helpful!

[@victoriamiskolczy6336]

Thank you for such an interesting and detailed explanation of gas kiln firing. It’s far more labour intensive than I realized. Do you make your own wadding or is it a purchased item? If you make it, would you mind sharing the “recipe”...? Seems like a good idea for me to start using too...

[@floriangadsby]

Thank you! I Actually do tell you the recipe in the video, it's very very simple stuff. The recipe is just a 50/50 ratio of china clay and coarse alumina hydrate. Mixed and wedged up to a clay like consistency. I would recommend adding the water to the powder very very slowly, as it tends to turn from clay-like to sludge in a matter of seconds.

[@victoriamiskolczy6336]

@@floriangadsby thanks very much!

[@nigelcunningham2817]

Thanks for this. Can you please clarify whether you fire in reduction from 860 to the end?

[@34ofaninchofbrain80]

Hi thanks that was very interesting. Can I ask in dollar terms how much does the gas cost for a firing like like this in your vid. Thanks

[@colekeller]

What is the clay called that he uses in between the pots and their lids? It sounds like he's saying "wooding"?

[@floriangadsby]

It's called wadding, made up from 50% china clay and 50% coarse alumina hydrate.

[@felixmykat]

Thank you!

[@StefAdr]

The taps you use to close the spy holes! Do they have specific name? Can we buy them or diy? Mine are lost and I wish to replace!

[@jonfisher9214]

Why do you reduce from 860c? The glaze won't have melted at that point. I normally start reduction around 1060 once I've passed the point of the previous bisc firing.

[@floriangadsby]

Some glazes benefit from early reduction and some kilns just need to be initiated earlier. When I first fired my new gas kiln I set reduction at 960ºc, but the reduction only caught a tiny amount of the work inside. So for the next firing I tried it at 860ºc and it hit everywhere, totally even. In the past I have initiated it later but who knows, if it works, it works. Famously, copper red glazes are reduced very early, even as low as 750ºc, otherwise the bright red hues won't start to appear, depending on your recipe of course.

[@jonfisher9214]

@@floriangadsby I fire copper reds in most kiln loads. For my kiln what guarantees a good red is 100% positioning in the stack. Anywhere too close to the burners and the pots tend to lose the red as they cool due to re-oxidation from the air flowing into the kiln (it's a forced air system) I teach at a college, so I ask my students to leave a note with their pot when it's put on the shelf for glaze firing if it's copper red. That enables me to make sure I place it in the right place for it when loading. As you say, if it works, it works.

[@____Ann____]

Wonderful video! Learned about wadding (didn't know those pieces where so small) and grinding lids. Where do you find the grinding paste?

[@floriangadsby]

Thanks! You can find it on Amazon, together with lots of other places, it's called Chemico Valve grinding paste.

[@____Ann____]

@@floriangadsby Thanks a lot! I'll look for it (I don't shop on Amazon). Looks like handy stuff.

[@p0ptart01134]

May I ask what filming equipment (camera/mic) you use? The quality is very nice!

[@floriangadsby]

Thank you! I use a Canon 5d mk iv and a 50mm 1.4 lens for filming and a Blue Yeti microphone for recording the audio.

[@shuvalassaf]

Whats the purpose of the compressed air in the firing ?

[@alexforget]

You don’t need protection glasses to look into the kiln?

[@floriangadsby]

I do occasionally, generally I only ever glance in for a moment, I don't really focus my eyes in the spy-hole until after I've blown in so it's literally a second or so that I peek in. But, sometimes, if the cones are more obscured by flames or pots, I'll certainly wear goggles.

[@tariqshaikh6298]

Nice fire shtl

[@senamelamagope9983]

What's specific name of that natural gas heater

[@MEM2022]

which red clay do you use?

[@grozian]

Heads up: everything is sold out at the store.

[@Jayelle1963]

...and after watching this I understand why that's the case. Gorgeous work! 🏆

[@SriharshaaPrabhakar]

❤️❤️❤️

[@franfran8573]

Perfeito 😍😍

[@RazsterTW]

Is that like valve lapping compound?

[@floriangadsby]

Exactly!

[@theladyinjeansbakes]

What type of clay do you use ?

[@bayareaartist999]

that's a muffle kiln. Is it oil fired?

[@floriangadsby]

Neither I'm afraid. t's a natural gas fired Rohde kiln, here's all the information about it - www.rohde.eu/en/arts-and-crafts/products/gas-kilns/kg-series/kg-340-a

[@fionanicholls60]

Did you speed up your audio ever so slightly on this one? I usually find your narration quite soothing but this one made me feel a bit panicked for some reason??

[@floriangadsby]

No, I just speak quickly! There was so much information to fit in!

[@afbennett3038]

17:48 that is one very expensive table

[@floriangadsby]

😬

[@josephxerri87]

I would really love to learn this art from someone as good as you... please let me know if u teach would be interested....