Kiln Firing #2

Well, it fired beautifully! Pots were glazed, slipped, etcetera with all home made glazes and loaded up on Saturday night in time for the sunset!

The roof was finished the day before courtesy of my hubby. Loaded the pots and closed up the wicket. 

The two tanks were joined with a manifold in hopes that they wouldn't freeze up.

Had a successful firing where cone 10 was reached and very little issues!!! Woohoo!!! Thanks to some help from my hubby and a good friend who chose today to come for a visit, it was a stress free and exciting day of kiln sitting, soda spraying, and adjusting of psi (and perhaps a little beer drinking thrown in). No issues with the new build and more importantly NO MELTED BRICK!!!

Now the nail biting and waiting for cool down... Will post once I open. 

:)

Repairs Complete!!!

Well, it took a while but the repairs are done! REALLY hope it fires up well as another big setback would be painful! Sigh...

But, it's done! Woohoo! I still have to have my hubby put on the metal roof and paint the ironwork to slow rusting but that can wait. Had the original arch support rescued out of our burn pile. Set it up and hard firebrick arch went in. All numbered and you'd think it would be a piece of cake...well I'm blonde...forgot whether the numbering started in front, or back, or zig zagged! Luckily I have all my pictures for this blog. ;)

 

The brick arch fitted pretty well. Not as tight as the original but not too shabby. Just a couple brick had fused together and showed signs of bloating so those were recut and replaced just in case.

Next came the layer of ceramic fiber blanket and IFB arch. Wasn't as luck with this arch so it had to be redone. Not bad but a bummer non the less.

Done!!! All up and ready to fire!! Not as tight as before and a few odd patches but should be functional.

So excited to fire it up!!! Please keep your fingers crossed...and toes...give a sacrifice to the kiln gods...anything that may help is appreciated!