starting the kiln

Last week we started building the train kiln the process seems to be simple so far and I think I'm going to really enjoy doing the construction of a kiln. I picked to do the train kiln component because I'm not sure when the next time I'll have a chance to build a kiln, maybe never again so I couldn't pass it up.
Last week we started building the train kiln the process seems to be simple so far and I think I'm going to really enjoy doing the construction of a kiln. I picked to do the train kiln component because I'm not sure when the next time I'll have a chance to build a kiln, maybe never again so I couldn't pass it up.

Dan started the process over christmas break by leveling off most of ground where the kiln was going to sit by using sand and rock. He also put the layer of center blocks down. We gathered the bricks, rock, and sand as a class. Then we added the first layer of regular house brick. Then Brian made a mixture of sand, clay, and water to use as a morter so the high tempature bricks don't move. Weather promitting we will do more tomorrow.

We also turned in the ten cylinders last week all in all I think I did a good job there's just a few techniques I need to practice so I can be a more effective thrower.

This week we are throwing bowls and trimming them. Also I belive we are working on the kiln if the weather is nice

Progress

I started throwing this week. I've thrown before, but I had trouble after I got the cone centered compressing it back down and keeping it centered. So everything I did at first was getting off-centered and collapsing.

So I ask Brian what I could do different and he gave me some suggestions that seemed to help. I'm starting to get the hang of it now, but the one thing I'm having trouble with is pulling the cylinders upward, my fingers seem to get snagged on the side of the pot creating a wobble in the pot. Over the past few days my progress is getting better and I'm actually throwing decent cylinders.

As of right now I have four of the ten cylinders that Brian wants done by Thursday so I'm going to be in the studio a lot over the next couple days. I'm hoping to get to the point where I can throw cylinders with hardly any effort, but I know it's going to take a lot of practice

Getting Started

On the first day we went over the syllabus and looked over the components that we can choose from to focus on this semester. For the first half of the second day of class we discussed what components we were interested in and  everyone choice the train kiln and the throwing components. We also got started on the glaze calculation component by making test tiles. The second half of the of day two we had an intresting artist named Shawn Skabelund come in and give a lecture.

Im excited about the rest of the semester, building a train kiln will be a great experience.Im also excited about throwing, I've done it a few times and have been trying to get back into it for some time now.  I would have liked to do the multiplicity component because I did a mold project last semester in Ian's class and I enjoyed it. But im sure ill have plenty of things to do. Im ready to start working.