Hi folks! We are back with some updates on last fall's kiln building class at the University of Kansas!
In the first few weeks of the class, we sat down and did some serious R&D. We decided on some general things we wanted from it: two chambers, a large firebox with steps (similar to a train kiln), and ideally the catenary chamber in the back could be used for soda or salt. This way, various parts of the kiln could have different effects — an activated ladder firebox for heavy ash deposition, and a fairly clean back chamber with the option to side stoke. We even included a secret chamber between the first and second chambers in the original plans (seen below) but decided against this later on in the build.
Andrew Tran (the current ceramics grad student at KU) and Ian (an aerospace engineering student at KU) took the liberty to make some 3D renderings of our general kiln plans. Rad! This kiln ended up being a strange hybrid noborigama-type kiln.
KU students and Marshall Maude building reusable arch forms for the new kiln.
After this, we attached multiple 2x4 slats into the plywood frame in order to hold down the flexible board that we draped over the top of each form, and then we were pretty much good to go!
Now onto preparing the kiln's new home....
Zeynep Uner is the current kiln and wheel repair apprentice at Bracker’s, working directly with David Sturm (the head tech) on repairs large and small. She has been repairing kilns for approximately 3 years now, and has been absorbing everything she possibly can from David’s 30+ years in the field.
Zeynep enjoys atmospheric firing, taking film photos, and throwing on her old Brent kick wheel.
