Wood Firing

A firing technique used by necessity in many countries and by choice in others. A properly designed kiln wood is capable of delivering high temperatures and so it is possible to make stoneware and porcelain. The kiln chamber in a wood kiln subjects the ware to a lot of ash and smoke.This affects the appearance of ware in a way that is prized by many potters and users of their ware. It is even possible to fire pieces without glaze and the products of combustion of the wood will deliver enough fluxes to fuse the surface of the clay in a glaze-like manner.

Related Information

This picture has its own page with more detail, click here to see it.

Wood fired test samples. Made in the Medalta kiln in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada.

Example of flashing on ware from a Manabigama wood fired kiln

This picture has its own page with more detail, click here to see it.

From Robert Self. This firing went past cone 13. The body is Laguna Speckstone.

Redart-as-a-glaze wood-fired on Laguna B-Mix

This picture has its own page with more detail, click here to see it.

Fired to cone 13 in a Manabigama wood fired kiln.

Example of flashing from wood firing

This picture has its own page with more detail, click here to see it.

Made by Robert Self. This is Laguna White Stoneware body fired to cone 13 in a Manabigama wood fired kiln.

Inbound Photo Links

Large wood-fired slip-decorated vessels by Kate Johnston of NC

Links

Glossary	Kiln Firing All types of ceramic are fired in a kiln to cement particles together to produce a hard and water and temperature resistant product.
Glossary	Flashing A visual effect that occurs in wood and salt firing of ceramic ware. Many potters value the effect and use special materials and firing methods to enhance it.

By Tony Hansen
Follow me on

Got a Question?

Buy me a coffee and we can talk