Reduction Firing in a Gas Kiln

Welcome to The Potter’s Round Table, the topic for this episode is Reduction Firing in a Gas Kiln: A General Procedure.
Working with a gas kiln can be quite daunting. There are updraft, downdraft, propane and natural gas-fired, large and small gas kilns, but all gas kilns have certain features and controls in common. This discussion provides some general background information on gas kilns, an overview of the different stages and procedures in a reduction gas firing, and some of the common mistakes that are made and problems that can be encountered.
The Potters’ Round Table is a production of Washington Street Studios. As a result of the pandemic the Round Table is hosted as a KZbin livestream event and then edited to be added to our video library.
Show notes, including handouts, can be found at www.hfclay.com/the-potters-ro...
The Potters’ Round Table is brought to you by Washington Street Studios, a community pottery studio, gallery, and pottery school located in Harpers Ferry / Bolivar, WV. We exist to provide ceramic artists an affordable, fully equipped studio space for aspiring, emerging and established artists to share their creative energy and knowledge in an environment designed to support the ceramic artist. If you want to learn more about Washington Street Studios, visit our website at www.hfclay.com/.
At Washington Street Studios, we believe the sharing of creative energy and knowledge will improve the quality of our art and increase the appreciation of art within our community. We are striving to create an environment where the arts are shared and appreciated. We want to grow as a family of artists and contribute to our community.
This video is one of our steps to share our passion for the ceramic arts, creative energy and knowledge with other artists and art lovers. We also created an audio version to expand our audience. If you are looking for the podcast of our show search for the ‘The Potters Round Table’ on your podcast platform of choice or go to anchor.fm/thepottersroundtable.

[@bismarachman9691]

what a comprehensive lecture from mr. Phil. Rest in peace for the good soul

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thank you for the encouragement! Phil's lectures are the best!

[@spencerstuart1653]

Phil has done an outstanding job in covering the topics he discusses in these videos. As a newer member of the ceramic community, I really appreciate the information and the details!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Spencer Stuart, thank you for the encouragement. Please share the channel with your friends and fellow potters to help us grow our community and best of luck on your ceramic adventures!

[@laurencecooper2675]

Thank you for taking the time to explain the kiln operation so effectively. It was very clear and I have gained so much comprehension on issues I have faced with reduction and general gas kiln control. Great job.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thanks Laurence, please share the channel with your friends and fellow artists to help us grow our community. And let us know if there are other topics you would find useful.

[@amimackey8095]

This was super informative! Our Olympic Gas 2831G kiln just arrived today - and we learned SO much from this video. Invaluable! Thank you!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Ami Mackey, Awesome, have fun with your gas kiln and please, let us know if you have any questions, we are happy to help! Please share the channel with your friends and fellow potters to help us grow our community.

[@martinscase3904]

This is such a wonderful explanation of the theory and practice of reduction firing... Thank you. I'm in the process of converting an electric to gas after some experience of a mini test kiln a few years ago. This brought back so much that I gleaned through painful trial and error. Brilliant timing to find this now!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Martin Scase, Best of luck with your conversion and please keep us posted on your results! I converted two kilns myself without much success. Simon Leach has videos of his kiln conversion, you should check out his channel (kzbin.info).

[@tunievanwyk8595]

I want to thank you.. I tried reducing.my kiln for the first time yesterday doing what you shared here. It worked

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Tunie, this is high praise indeed and we have fulfilled our main mission, sharing information to support the ceramic arts and artists! Please share the channel with your friends and fellow potters to help us grow our community.

[@jezanderson9921]

Great video! Very informative and helpful - really looking forward to getting the gas kiln fired up in the next few weeks. This has been very useful in preparation for it. thanks!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

We are happy you found the video useful! Please share the channel with your friends and fellow potters and help us grow our community! Best of luck with your firing!!

[@jeffvanderhorst6163]

Great video, thanks for sharing! Very informative and in depth. Went a long way towards demystifying the whole gas kiln process. Will definitely share with my fellow Toledo Potters Guild members:)

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Awesome, thank you Jeff, you read my mind! Thanks for your support and encouragement.

[@andrebraha]

Thanks for the great content!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thanks for watching!

[@justintrapp6271]

Really great video. I would love to hear more detail about forced air burners.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

There is a ton of information on the internet if you search for 'forced air gas burner'. This link has much of the information Phil covered plus more details on both types of burners: www.wardburner.com/technicalinfo/forcedairvsventuri.html I hope this helps, and if you have specific questions just ask!

[@justintrapp6271]

@@WashingtonStreetStudios This is where we actually purchased our new burners from. I have been using them since about May of last year. I do have some questions but want to make sure that I ask the right ones first. Thanks for these videos. They really do help.

[@CreekRoadPotteryLLC]

Hey great job! I fire all gas here for everything even bisque and this was real helpful in learning new things and refreshing others! I had a bad time with carbon coring once. Will you ever do a video on the topic? Thanks so much for these!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thanks for the encouragement, I've forwarded this to Phil for consideration.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thanks for your comments Creek Road, As you are probably aware, black (carbon) coring is generally due to inadequate bisque and/or excessively heavy reduction early in a fuel-fired kiln. Phil

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

We did a video on Defects in Fired Clay (kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZoS3YmOCq9Cjd5I) as part of our Understanding Pottery series and carbon coring was one of the defects covered. I hope this helps!

[@CreekRoadPotteryLLC]

@@WashingtonStreetStudios Thanks so much Phil! I had clay with high in iron content and from what you say here I was going into reduction far to early. Thanks for your response.

[@michaelhyland7166]

Can’t thank you enough

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

You are most welcome!

[@user-cw2qc5qe6z]

Hello Phil, It's possible I skipped some videos, but I think I watched them all. I am building a gas stove and would like to buy a dryer burner. Which should I get natural gas or propane? In short, will natural gas be able to reach 1400 degrees C and which is more economical? Best Regards, V. Nikolić

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

I am sorry but Phil passed away. Natural gas is more economical in most areas, and uses a different burner. The temperature reached is more dependent on the kiln design, although you will need sufficient BTUs to heat the space.