After a lot of planning and hard work we were finally ready to fire the kiln over Memorial Day weekend 2008. We began the first firing of the kiln at 10am on May 30, 2008, and completed the firing at about 7am on May 31, 2008. The temperature varied in the different parts of the kiln, but the final kiln temperature ranged from cone 10 (about 2350 degrees F) to cone 12 (about 2380 degrees F). We waited until the next weekend to open the kiln and we were very pleased with the results for the first firing. We had a few pots that we lost for a variety of reasons, but considering this was the first firing and a majority of the pots turned out - we were very relieved.

Based on our research, we estimated that the first firing would take about 36 hours. There were "castable" pieces used to build the kiln that required the first firing to go slower than normal to allow the castable to cure. Castable was used on the arch going from the fire box to the chamber of the kiln. There was also one cast lentil used above the stoke hole in the firebox, two cast lentils above each damper in the chimney, and lightweight castable used on both the roof of the firebox as well as the main lid for the kiln. After about 22 hours we had reached cone 10 and cone 12 and decided to end the firing. After opening the kiln and studying the results, we feel that we should have continuted to soak the kiln for another few hours to help the glazes flux and give the ash on some of the pots time to melt. Despite that we still had a majority of the pots turn out really well.

There are a lot of things we learned about this kiln during the first firing which will adjust how we fire the next time...it is definitely a work in progress. We had to fire the catenary arch kiln we built our senior year in High School at least 2 to 3 times before we had a successful firing.

We estimate that we used about a cord and a half of wood for the firing. Casey's dad, Leonard, has so many trees that blow down from the weather, that we currently have enough wood for at least 6 more firings. We bought a log splitter which has made splitting the wood a much easier, although still time consuming, task for Leonard. Most of the wood we used in the firing was pine with some oak as well.

We had a great time firing the kiln - lack of sleep and all. Despite the heat and continual monitoring required, there is something very relaxing about firing the kiln. It is amazing to see the kiln fire start out as a small pile of burning brush and grow to such an intense yellow-orange glow that actually has a low pitched hum as it moves through the kiln and out the chimney. For those who have never been around a kiln at the peak of the firing, they are certainly missing out on a very unique experience.

The first firing took place on May 30-31, 2008

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