Understanding Pottery Chapter 16 Gas Fired Raku Kiln

Welcome to Understanding Pottery, Chapter 16: Gas Fired Raku Kiln.
Got an old electric kiln that doesn’t work anymore? How about turning it into a raku kiln? Gas-fired raku kilns are generally simple in design and small in size. As such, they are easy to construct using metal barrels or old electric kiln bodies. This discussion is about methods, materials, and equipment used to construct gas fired raku kilns, and also about tips for successful firings.
The next topic in the series is Kiln Performance Problems.
Understanding Pottery is a series in production by Washington Street Studios. The video series is a digital textbook that will take you through the entire ceramic process from the raw material through the finished ceramic pieces. There are five sections and twenty-six chapters planned in the series and they are:
Section I: The Pottery Making Sequence
Chapter 1: What is Clay?
Chapter 2: Clay Properties and Drying
Chapter 3: Bisque Firing
Chapter 4: Tips for Successful Glazing
Chapter 5: Pyrometric Cones
Chapter 6: Glaze Firing
Section II: Use of Raw Materials
Chapter 7: Chemistry for Potters
Chapter 8: Glaze Chemistry
Chapter 9: Oxides, Washes, Underglazes and Stains
Chapter 10: Geology for Potters
Chapter 11: Use of Local Materials
Section III: Kilns and Firings
Chapter 12: Atmospheric Firings
Chapter 13: Wood-Fired Kilns
Chapter 14: Gas-Fired Kilns
Chapter 15: Electric Kilns
Chapter 16: Raku Kilns
Section IV: Solving Problems
Chapter 17: Kiln Performance Problems
Chapter 18: Clay Body Defects
Chapter 19: Glaze Defects
Section V: Practical Applications
Chapter 20: Pottery Myths, Errors and Misconceptions
Chapter 21: Thixotropy, Quartz Inversions and Other Pottery Mysteries
Chapter 22: Pottery and Physics
Chapter 23: Pottery Figurin’ (Math)
Chapter 24: Personal Safety with Pottery
Chapter 25: Critiquing Your Own Pottery: Design Principles You Can Use
Chapter 26: Tips for Buying Used Pottery Equipment
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 podcast 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.

[@annpes3143]

This video is pure gold.. The whole series is amazing.. Thank you so much!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thank you for your encouragement, this is Phil’s legacy and we all appreciate the videos.

[@abbygirl1327]

This lesson (video) was fantastic. Thank you for making this available to everyone.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thanks Abby girl, teaching ceramics was one of Phil‘s strongest passions! Please share this channel with your friends and fellow potters to help us grow our community. And thank you for watching!

[@debbiecote3993]

@@WashingtonStreetStudios Was?

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Phil passed away last July. This series of videos and Washington Street Studios are part of his legacy that we hope will continue for a very long time.

[@ruthmartin3718]

@@WashingtonStreetStudios Sorry for your and our(s) loss. He shared good knowledge and in his side notes! Blessings sent.

[@katanaashby6068]

I'm new to pottery and planning to make a gas fired Raku kiln and this video has been incredibly helpful! Thank you so much for sharing your advice and knowledge.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Katana, If you haven't already you should check out the entire Understanding Pottery series, it was designed to be all the ceramics courses taught in ceramics focused BFA course. We wish you much success and don't hesitate to ask if you have questions.

[@bandwilkalviwilk8437]

What an amazing tutor I wish I had had such a good tutor in my life time

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Phil is awesome, I am fortunate to have him as a business partner! I learn from him every day!

[@carloskyng6455]

I guess it's kinda off topic but does anyone know of a good site to watch new series online ?

[@kevinh5024]

Thanks for the video. The layer of 1/2” insulation brick is really good idea. Never heard that idea anywhere else. Brilliant!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thanks Kevin, We're glad the video was beneficial for you! Please share the video and channel with you friends and fellow potters, we're really trying to get the videos out to the entire ceramic community!

[@jackieaherne6370]

@@WashingtonStreetStudios Hi I have a question, could you use scraps of ceramic blanket instead of slices of fire brick to insulate cold pots against hot shelf

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

@@jackieaherne6370 yes, however the base won’t be as stable and pots may tip or fall over in the firing.

[@incilakay2303]

We adore your videoes. Thanks a lot🙏🌹🤗🇹🇷

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thank you for your encouragement, keep watching and share this channel with your friends and fellow potters to help us grow our community!

[@lutrueson9000]

WoW amazing for me, it has helped me so much, thank you.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thank you for the encouragement, I hope you enjoy all the videos!

[@L34Z]

Hey, thanks for the videos. Phil mentioned only needing a torch and a regulator, is a flashback arrestor not needed when using propane?

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Unfortunately Phil has passed away. He could have answered with more authority than I have. I believe a flashback arrestor is used with a torch, and Phil talked about a raku burner. Burners do not need a flashback arrestor.

[@danilo7784]

Muchas gracias por su enseñanza, sería interesante que tradujera al español .Un abrazo grande

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Danilo, gracias, pero no hablo espaniol.

[@GanduQ]

Thanks for the video! When is coming raku glaze recipe special?

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Niko, Thank you for your question. We, at Washington Street Studios, even with a glaze chemistry expert like Phil, use commercial Raku glazes! Many will disagree and you probably can get better or more specific results if you formulate your own glaze for Raku. We use commercial glazes because we have found they produce good and predictable results, or at least as predictable as you can get in a Raku firing! There are so many variables in Raku and the firing process that simply working with a small variety of commercial glazes you can create a multitude of results. We have five Raku glazes at our studio and they provide enough variety to keep us all happy. The short answer would be shop for commercial glazes. If you have a specific question on Raku glazes, we will be glad to provide an answer. Feel free to post a comment with any question you may have.

[@WhiskeyLuke]

I am looking to build my own Raku kiln and I have a question about the cast iron propane nozzle. I am having trouble locating the exact one in the video. Do you have more description or a part number to help. Most of the ones I find for sale dont look like they would hold up to constant use.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

WhiskeyLuke, try this website: www.wardburner.com/burners/venturiburners.html

[@debbiecote3993]

Is there a problem caused by the galvanized steel getting hot and giving off fumes? I Love all your videos.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Sorry, I can't answer this question. Phil may have been able to answer, but he passed away last July.

[@debbiecote3993]

@@WashingtonStreetStudios I'm so sorry. He was wonderful!

[@patriciaabuxapqui9976]

Thank you for all your explanations, they are very helpful. I just made my first kiln for Raku and I pretend to use it as regular gas kiln; can I use it for bisque firing?

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

It's theoretically possible to use it for bisque firing, but you must be very careful and certainly not recommended. Raku kilns heat up very fast and you need a very slow ramp up of heat for the bisque firing.

[@dejangaletic7884]

Can you use this type of kiln for cone 6?

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

It would be very difficult to get the kiln to cone 6 temperatures. It is also difficult to control the speed of temperature rise, if you could get to cone 6, you would probably lose pots during quartz inversion.

[@samanthanicholson9015]

Am I supposed to dry clay greeenware then add color dry and fire it altogether? Or do I fire clay first then add color and fire again?

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Samantha, I'm not sure I totally understand your question, but I can explain our Raku process. I assume your question relates to raku since it is on the raku video, if it's not, you might want to watch this video (kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIGQlZqcotyleKc). For Raku we throw the pot and you can add washes, stains, slips or engobes as explained in the referenced video above, then we bisque. We use a Raku glaze to decorate then we fire as explained in the video. I hope that helps.

[@samanthanicholson9015]

@@WashingtonStreetStudios ok I think that answers if I needed to fire first to bisque then later add color glaze I wasn't sure if I was to dry clay first fire it then add color or raku items and fire again, I suppose I need a way to bisque my clay but I don't have a way to do so I have a microwave kiln for jewelry peices but not for small pots and phone holders, I have tried 5 in a small hibachi using sawdust but it doesn't work well. Thanks I'm hoping to buy something soon, so we can just use torch etc. Thank you for the information and link I will watch Incase I missed something

[@user-ki3et7nr7p]

Hi.first of all tnx for the great work you're doing. Second is there any way that I can have the handouts(I presume I is a printed instructions or sth) for free? I live in Iran and because of the sanctions I can't pay for everything that I should pay.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Sorry.

[@user-ki3et7nr7p]

@@WashingtonStreetStudios 👍

[@sybillestahl8646]

Is that wire the Kemper high temp wire 17 gauge 10 feet that comes up when I search ‘high temp wire’?

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Great question Sybille Stahl, You can use the Kemper high temp 17 guage wire, and it will work for quite a while. The nickel chrome high temp wire withstands higher temperatures and will hold up a bit longer, although it could be overkill for a raku kiln.