Wood firing is a fascinating alternative way of firing pottery during which a community of potters collaborate for days of intense, round the clock labor. It creates an incredible range of surface effects depending on the type of wood, length of firing, placement of pottery in the kiln, type of clay and glazes used. Opening a wood fired kiln is filled with tremendous excitement and anticipation because you never can fully predict the results, and they often surpass your expectations. Each piece of wood fired pottery is a unique surprise.
The average wood firing starts with the group of potters getting together to split about 4 cords of wood. A fire is lit and brought to about 2300 degrees Fahrenheit over several days, as quick as 24 hours and up to weeks. The potters attend to the fire 24 hours a day, stoking the kiln every 5 to 10 minutes to keep the temperate stable and/ or rising. The burning of wood as fuel creates the byproduct of ash, which is carried throughout the kiln by the flame. This ash is caught on the pottery in the kiln and the intense heat turns the ash into a glass-like glaze.
The average wood firing starts with the group of potters getting together to split about 4 cords of wood. A fire is lit and brought to about 2300 degrees Fahrenheit over several days, as quick as 24 hours and up to weeks. The potters attend to the fire 24 hours a day, stoking the kiln every 5 to 10 minutes to keep the temperate stable and/ or rising. The burning of wood as fuel creates the byproduct of ash, which is carried throughout the kiln by the flame. This ash is caught on the pottery in the kiln and the intense heat turns the ash into a glass-like glaze.