Updraft Pottery

Kiln projects

The projects I have worked on, mostly kilns.

The updraft kiln shed

A small project to house the propane updraft kiln at my studio in Tacoma.

First firing in the shed. The updraft kiln firing under its new vent hood.
First firing in the shed
Vent hood. The kiln under the vent hood.
Vent hood
The updraft kiln. The propane kiln, banded with steel straps.
The updraft kiln
Controls. Temperature controllers mounted on the wall.
Controls
Loaded. A load of white ware in the kiln.
Loaded
Foundation. The firebrick floor and burner port set into the ground.
Foundation
On its pad. The kiln set on its foundation.
On its pad
Burner. The propane burner connected at the base.
Burner
Night firing. Firing the updraft kiln after dark.
Night firing

The soda kiln

The project to build and operate a soda kiln at Elinor Maroney's studio in Covington. We have salted the kiln, which means it will forever be a salt/soda kiln. A wide range of results have been delivered into my hands from this project. Expensive failures, dull and bland surfaces, falling flaming doors, and ruined pieces have mostly changed over to exciting textures and dramatic flashes of color. It continues to suffer from being too tall.

The soda kiln. Elinor’s soda kiln, loaded with ware behind its arch.
The soda kiln
Steel for the door. Steel channel laid out for the new door frame.
Steel for the door
The workshop. The garage workshop where the frame was built.
The workshop
Elinor Maroney standing in front of the soda kiln
Elinor Maroney
The old door. The door bricked up by hand before every firing.
The old door
Soda-fired ware. Bowls and pots from a soda firing.
Soda-fired ware
The plan. Sketching the swing door and frame on graph paper.
The plan
Steel delivered. Channel and angle iron, ready to cut.
Steel delivered
Cutting the frame. The first pieces of the frame laid out in the garage.
Cutting the frame
Welding. Welding gear and frame members on the shop floor.
Welding
Frame takes shape. The base of the frame, tacked together.
Frame takes shape
Frame base. The full base of the frame squared up.
Frame base
Squaring up. Checking the frame for square.
Squaring up
Pivot detail. Welded pivot brackets on the frame.
Pivot detail
Test fit. The upright frame assembled outdoors.
Test fit
Test fit, side view. Checking the frame height in the yard.
Test fit, side view
Frame at the kiln. The frame bolted up beside the kiln.
Frame at the kiln
Door frame in place. The swing arm in position at the kiln door.
Door frame in place
Door tray. Welding the tray that holds the door bricks.
Door tray
Door tray, assembled. The tray and arms assembled on the shop floor.
Door tray, assembled
Night work. Working under the kiln shed after dark.
Night work
The swing arm. The swing arm hung from the frame.
The swing arm
Arch form. A wooden form for the door’s arch.
Arch form
Aaron Filson standing beside the soda kiln and its new steel door frame
Aaron and the frame
Arch form at the kiln. Matching the form to the kiln’s arch.
Arch form at the kiln
Building the door. Laying the first courses of brick in the door tray.
Building the door
Door rising. The brick door taking shape in the frame.
Door rising
Door swung open. The door swung clear of the kiln.
Door swung open
Door on its pivot. The door hanging from the frame, side view.
Door on its pivot
Finished door. The arched door completed in firebrick.
Finished door
Finished door, wide. The door open beside the kiln arch.
Finished door, wide
Door at night. The finished door under the shed lights.
Door at night
Door detail. Firebrick and insulation in the finished door.
Door detail
Inside the kiln. The kiln floor and walls, glazed by years of soda.
Inside the kiln
Closing up. The door ready to swing shut.
Closing up
Loaded. A full kiln, ready to fire.
Loaded
Burners lit. The burner ports glowing at the start of a firing.
Burners lit
Firing. Flame at the door during a firing.
Firing
Draw rings. Test rings pulled during the firing to check the soda.
Draw rings
Unloading. Fresh soda-fired pots on the shelves.
Unloading
After the firing. Bottles and jars waiting to be unloaded.
After the firing

First look at new work

An occasional email when new pieces come out of the kiln. No spam, and you can unsubscribe anytime.