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Heavy or light soda?

6/10/2019

 
Heavy or light soda: it's an aesthetic choice.
See contrast of colors in the examples below.
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The conversation of whether to use heavy or light soda application goes hand in hand with whether to use heavy or light reduction.
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Light Soda + Light Reduction​
Characteristics:
  • Warmer colors (browns, peaches, oranges)
  • More precision on pieces with detailed surface decoration
​​Heavy Soda + Heavy Reduction
Characteristics:
  • Cooler colors (grays to blacks) 
  • More blurriness on pieces with detailed surface decoration  (or obliteration of detail)
  • Note: if you desire blacks you need a combination of heavy soda and heavy reduction.
One of the biggest advantages of light soda is that it has less wear and tear
​on the kiln and kiln furniture.

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Kiln Shelf Review: What Kiln Shelves are Best for Soda Firing?

6/6/2019

 
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​​Types of Kiln Shelves:
  1. High Alumina Clay 
  2. Silicon Carbide
  3. Advancer or Thermal-lite
High alumina clay kiln shelves are my favorite for soda firing.
  • No kiln shelf drips on your ceramic pieces​​​​
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​Caution:
  • High clay alumina kiln shelves have a shorter life span than silicon carbide kiln shelves.
  • Order extras and retire kiln shelves early. (Hood College has successfully fired some of their kiln shelves 30ish times.)
  • Shelves that are a darker orange have been fired more times (See image on left).
  • Order 1 inch thick shelves. While heavier they last longer.
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Disadvantage of Silicon Carbide Kiln Shelves:
  • Silicon Carbide drips (They can drip down and crawl up a pot, see image on left.)
  • ​Cause: soda fluxes out the silicon carbide shelf.
  • Note: they vary in quality. nitrite bonded silicon carbide shelves are usually better.
Advancer Kiln Shelves:
  • Drip as well (granted I have not had first hand experience with them.)
  •  Are cost prohibitive. 
  • Can be disastrous when stored in wet areas.
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What kilns can I soda fire in?

5/28/2019

 
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What kilns can I soda fire in?
  • Any kiln that uses carbon fuels (propane, gas, wood...)
  • Soda is corrosive, and will destroy elements in an electric kiln quickly.
  • Any kiln design that fires well (catenary or sprung arch, top loading, up draft, down draft, cross draft, etc...)
What kilns are most ideal for soda?
  • Has multiple openings. (openings  big enough to add solid soda in firebox and the option of multiple ports throughout the kiln to spray soda inside) 
  • Corrosion resistant building materials
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​Best building material for Soda firing:
Hard Brick
  • Advantage: Super duty hard bricks are the most resistant to soda, and can with stand going to hotter temperatures.
  • Disadvantage: not as good of an insulator and requires more fuel to fire kiln.
Non-ideal materials:
Soft brick, fiber blanket, castable...
  • Advantage: great insulator (use less fuel) and light weight
  • Disadvantage: not corrosive resistant (kiln will have a shorter life span)​
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What is Soda Firing?

5/21/2019

 
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What is soda firing?
  • A specific category of atmospheric firing.
  • A firing that introduces soda into kiln to create a soda glaze.
What is atmospheric firing?
  • Type of firing that uses carbon fuels (wood, propane or gas)
What is a Soda glaze?
  • Flux + Silica + Alumina or put simply:
              Sodium + Clay Surface= Soda Glaze
What are common sources of soda?
  • Baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
  • Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate)
  • Or combination of baking soda and soda ash
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Open Enrollment for Soda Firing Workshop

5/17/2019

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​Soda Firing Theory: Altered & Carved Forms

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I will be teaching a firing and making workshop at Community Arts Center in Wallingford, PA.

Date: 8/19/2019-8/23/2019
Time: 10:00 AM-4:00 PM EDT on Mon Tue Wed Th Fri

Course Description:
This workshop is an introduction to soda firing theory. Students will explore a variety of soda-fired surfaces on their own work. In addition to hands on thrown, altered and carved workshop making with the soda kiln in mind! 

Day 1: Glazing demonstration and presentation on soda fired surfaces. Students glaze and wad their work
Day 2: Loading kiln and discussion
Day 3: Fire kiln and throwing demonstration
Day 4: Carving demonstration and unloading discussion
Day 5: Unloading the kiln and demonstrations on cleaning work


Sign Up for Class
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    Hi, I'm Lisa the artist and creator of this content. 
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