Cross-draft Soda Kiln
The Goal:
- Produce beautiful soda fired pots with minimum labor
- Eco-friendly
- Highly fuel efficient
The Challenge
- Suburban/urban location
- Limited space/neighbors
- Control of soda distribution throughout the kiln
The Results
- Small footprint
- 8 hour firings
- Ergonomically friendly
- 12-14 gallon propane use max. per firing
- Smokeless/quiet
- Beautiful surfaces on the pots using slips and glazes
- Cross draft distributes the soda vapor throughout the kiln, creating a directional tone on the surface of the pots
Process
I work in either porcelain or stoneware clays which react with rich color surfaces in a soda kiln. Once my forms are complete and are leather-hard, I dip or spray them with flashing slips that will flash red, peach or yellow-orange tones from the soda vapors in the kiln. Once the pots are bone dry, I bisque, glaze, then wad them and load into the kiln to fire.
During the end of the firing I introduce soda through a port in the firebox. I mix a soda paste that is applied on wood sticks which keeps the temperature up and assists in distributing the soda vapor throughout the kiln. The soda acts like a glaze creating variable directional tones within the clay surfaces.
After the firing, I clear the kiln and close it up to cool overnight and unload the next day.
