1. Soda Fire Artist: Tim Sherman

Anagama Soda Kiln

About Tim:
"I make functional, utilitarian pottery in an anagama style wood-burning kiln."

Why did you decide to build an anagama kiln?
"After firing many types of kilns and seeing a wide range of surfaces, I decided that an anagama produces the types of effects and colors that interested me most. I also wanted a kiln big enough to fire large pots and would also have room to fire work from other potters that would make up a firing crew."
 
Why do you put soda just in the back of your anagama kiln?
"While firing with Andrew Snyder in his groundhog kiln, he explained that he introduced soda into the back of his kiln to help liven up areas that usually yielded dry pots. Because the draught in an anagama is one directional with the flame always moving toward the chimney, I saw this practice as a way to get a wide verity of surfaces in just one firing. Pots in the front have very traditional ash covered surfaces while the pots near the stack often have very colorful, textured surfaces."
 
What is your favorite part about the mix of soda and wood firing?
"It’s like having two completely unique kilns that only require the labor and fuel of one."
 
How do you put soda into your kiln?
"I make a thick slurry and spread it on long, wide boards and stoke it in between cycles."
 
When do you put soda into your kiln?
"When cone 10 is touching the cone pack in the very back of the kiln."
 
What glazes, clays, and slips work best for your soda firing?
"Both porcelain and stoneware clays work very will in the back of the kiln. I put all types of slips and glazes in the soda section as well, but recipes that are high in silica seem to attract more soda and carbon trapping than ones than don’t."

A Favorite Cone 10 Glaze Recipe:
Val’s White:
(can be easily colored by adding 1-2% of most any oxide)
Cornwall Stone 46
Silica 20
Whiting 34

A Favorite Cone 10 Slip Recipe:
Bauer Flashing Slip:
(Must be applied very thin. I use a spray gun.)
EPK 41.9
Ball Clay 41.9
Borax 5.7
Zircopax 10.5

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Find Tim on: 
Instagram @shermanceramics
Shermanceramics.com

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