Green Musings of an Eco Resort

Monday, May 2, 2011

Wood Fired Pottery

If you're ever around when we're firing our kiln then you're in for a treat. Our wood fired kiln is very much a group effort from start to finish: Since everything bulk on this island seems to be shipped on pallets we certainly have plenty of scrap pallet wood to choose from, that would otherwise be tossed in the trash. Picking up the pallets and bringing them here to disassemble is the first chore, and perhaps the most labor intensive. Once the kiln is loaded and fired it required continuous stoking until it reaches a final temperature of 2340 degrees F. After waiting for the last of the wood to burn the kiln stays sealed until its opening, about a day later.

The most interesting part? The ash from the fire becomes part of the glaze, creating a glassy sheen on raw clay surfaces, offering a completely unpredictable result. Unloading the kiln becomes a surprise to everyone, as seen below.



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