Raku Firing!

Bring up to 8 pieces, to be fired. All work must also be bisque fired before the workshop. If you want to bisque fire or terra sig them at the studio, select the Bisque fire option. Work needing to be bisque fired for the workshop need to be dropped off the Wednesday before the workshop.

Because of kiln spacing, plates, wide bowls, and overly large pieces should be avoided for this firing. All pots should be no larger than 10in tall and 8in wide.Your pieces must be bisque fired to either cone 06 or 04. Glazes for raku firing will be provided but you are free to bring your own raku glazes as well.

All raku pieces should be created with a white cone 6 groggy clay. Raku clay is the best option for this type of firing. A darker groggy clay body will work but it will mute the glazes.

In the morning you will receive instruction on how to glaze and prep for 3 different types of Raku firing. Each firing has it own beauty and you will get to chose which firing and glaze is right for each piece.
As the kilns are firing we will prep the sawdust, combustible materials and reduction chamber pots for each piece, and repeat after each kiln is unloaded. After all the pieces are pulled from the kiln they will sit in reduction for 20 mins. It is here that the magic happens, and the red hot pots cool and allow the smoke to alter their appearance. After, they will be placed in water to be scrubbed cleaned.
In this workshop we will take each piece from start to finish in under 2 hrs.
Talk about instant gratification!!

1) Western Raku Firing –
Pots are fired to 1850F. This process involves glazes, sawdust and other combustible materials. The glazes will craze when we pull them from the kiln. This happens as they adjust to the extreme temperature drop. The smoke from the reduction chambers will create black lines in the crazing.

2) Naked Raku Firing –
Fired to 1450F the. Bone Dry Pots should be coated with 2-3 layers of terra sigillata before bisque firing to create a smooth background. This firing involves no glaze but a thick slip applied right before the piece is placed in the kiln. The slip will start to dry, crack, and slightly separate from the pot. Once it is pulled from the kiln and placed in its reduction chamber the smoke will penetrate the open cracks and leave striking lines similar to cracked desert ground.

3 ) Horse Hair Raku –
Fired to 1450F. Bone Dry Pots should be coated with 2-3 layers of terra sigillata before bisque firing to create a smooth background. This firing also involves no glaze. Each piece, once it has been pulled from the kiln, will get horse hair or bird feathers placed on it. As the hair or feathers burn they will leave a shadow behind, creating beautiful smokey images.

Safety!
Since we are working around very high temps, cotton clothing, long sleeves, jeans and closed toe shoes are a must.
After the first “pull” I will demonstrate, on a cooling kiln to any student who is willing to pull pieces from the kiln with me. Any student who wishes to do so must wear a face heat shield and gloves to the elbow. Theses items will be provided.

Make sure to bring water and to wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty or smelling like a camp fire.

Tools!
If you have welding gloves and would like to bring them, feel free. Oven gloves, fireplace gloves, Welding gloves can be purchased for $10- $20 at a local hardware store or Amazon.
If you want to Support Local, Arc3 Gases at 715 E Geer St unit c-1, Durham, NC 27701 have extended welding gloves.

Lunch!
We will break for lunch around 1. The exact time for lunch will be dependent on how fast the kilns fire. Bring your own lunch.

This workshop must have 4 attendees to run. If the minimum number of participants is not met we will reschedule or move students to other firing dates. The workshop may run in light rain. If there is heavy rain or high winds the Workshop will be rescheduled.

Raku Workshop