Its been 2 years since I fied my anagama and boy did it feel good to pack and fire her.
The firing went for 120 hours which included a 9 hour burn down under reduction.
I was fortunate to have a group of ladies participate in this firing for which I am grateful for their assistance. I guess in a way its passing on the knowledge that I have gained over 45 years of wood firing.
I am exploring this technique more in my anagama. I have the opportunity to do this as I have two kilns which I fire with wood, one being the downdraft catenary arch and the other a cross draft anagama.
After firing to top temperature and holding the kiln there for a minimum of 24 hous I close the kiln up. This involves a final stoke. Nothing too extrodionary and performance based but I then go about closing the kiln down by sealing the side stoke ports, sealing the front door, dropping the damper and capping the flue. After the kiln has returned to an oxidised atmosphere I commence the burn down.
This involves stoking one piece of thin hardwood into one side stoke port and one in the opposite side stoke hole at the back of the firebox. This is enough to put the kiln back into reduction. Relying on my oxyprobe when the atmosphere returns t o oxidation I repeat the process. It pays to have a pyrometer that is accurate otherwise you are winging it - this is what happens in my case. Im aiming to fire below 900 to around 800 degrees. This can take many hours and my last firing took 9 hours which can be tiring especially after 96 hours or more of already building surface. Unfortunately I feel I could have fired it lower but that will have to wait until the next firing. There are many variables and I am still relatively new to this process however enjoying exploring the matted down surfaces that it has to offer.
Minkie packed
Small tea pot fireside
Small Teapot lee side
Beaker dark clay, white slip, fired down
Mudjie thrown & altered fired down
