Ceramic Arts Daily – An Introduction to Salt/Soda Firing – Kiln Considerations and Loading Techniques that Enhance Results

The vapor glazing techniques of salt and soda firing yield surfaces that are impossible to achieve in most other types of firing. And, the potter remains an active participant in the decorating process throughout the loading and the firing of the kiln. Plus, it is great for those who like to live on the edge because the results are never predictable! So it is not surprising that many potters get hooked on the technique.

In today’s video, Gordon Hutchens gives us a quick introduction to the salt/soda firing technique. He explains some of the considerations that go into building a salt/soda kiln (do not try this in an electric kiln or any other kiln that you wish to use for any other type of firing!). He also discusses some of the ways you can get great decorative results from the way the ware is placed in the kiln. If you wanted to know more about salt/soda firing, this video is a great place to start! – Jennifer Harnetty, editor.

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This clip was excerpted from Salt-Soda Firing with Gordon Hutchens,
which is available in the Ceramic Arts Daily Bookstore.

erick wiger November 27, 2012 at 7:28 am -

While I appreciate the information in the video, I also question posting a video with poor safety practices. Licking wads in itself may not be dangerous but the possibility for ingesting glaze material through cross contamination is too high. Mr Hitchins may not have any dangerous chemicals in his studio, but I would not show this video to anyone using my studio. Also, he talks about using a mask when cleaning his kln. What kind of mask? I know of nothing that would work with that beard except a fresh air supplied hood. Anything less and he is just fooling himself.
David April 23, 2010 at 12:06 pm -

Hi Gordon, well-done video! Thanks. I hope to come to one of your workships. Are plans / construction advice, etc. for this kiln or similar available? David, Great Falls, Virginia
Sandra April 23, 2010 at 10:24 am -

I enjoyed your video very much I will order it for our studio & students!. I spend alot of time soda firing in a downdraft kiln. So far the kiln has 199 firings and it is starting to show wear and some distortion.. Do you think with the residual on the interior I could grind it, apply a wash and have success with the wash staying in place? Currently I use it on the floor and bag wall interiors at a 3 to 1 ratio. Any ideas? We do use glue to adhear wads but with the tactile nature of clay I totally understand the desire to lick it!
michelle April 17, 2010 at 11:11 am -

Hi Gordon, thank you for sharing I will try this and let you know.
Michael April 17, 2010 at 2:54 am -

Oh, Gordon, what the heck…keep licking that clay. It’s the secret that makes your pots so true and honest and beautiful, whether they’re wood-fired, crystalline glazed, reduction earthenware, lustre glazed, raku, and all the rest of the styles you work in. Michael, Victoria.
Gordon April 17, 2010 at 2:45 am -

Michelle, I forgot to mention that this wad clay can be used at low temperature. I used it when I was doing some ^1 to ^2 soda firing.
Gordon April 17, 2010 at 2:29 am -

Hi Michelle, currently my wad clay for soda firing is about 50% Hydrate of alumina and 50% kaolin. If you add 0.01% clove oil it tastes better and helps tooth aches (just kidding!). Please use glue for the wadding, do as I say, not as I do. And to Aaron yesterday, I do clean up pretty good. When I’m teaching, or at shows (or videos) I clean up my act a bit, but working alone in my studio, I can be usually found in jeans with humungous holes in them, but I got rid of the last of my tie-died duds in around 1969. Kept the Hair and Beard. Best wishes, Gordon Hutchens
adi April 17, 2010 at 1:48 am -

great video in any respect.well filmed with clear sound. though i am not using soda firing, i loved to watch and listen to every bit of the clear instructions. if only you wouldn’t lick the wards, it could be 100% perfect…
michelle April 17, 2010 at 1:02 am -

great video thank you for sharing. Can you pls let me know what are the quantities for the alumina and the kaolin you use so the pots do not stick to one another or the shelf.I fire low fire can it be used? Michelle, Israel
Flora April 16, 2010 at 10:16 pm -

Gord, I really appreciated this video… you have so much to share, A visit to your studio is certainly on my bucket list. Flora Walton, Tozan Society. Nanaimo, BC Canada
Gordon April 16, 2010 at 10:15 pm -

Hi Jan, Thanks for your comments. For soda and salt firings I fire to around ^9, and the rest of the video (about 2 hours) goes into great detail about the firing process and nice images of soda actually bubbling and vaporizing. Good luck, Jan, with your wood firing next month. Next week I’ll be loading and firing my anagama with some potter friends. No workshops planned in Alberta, but I will be teaching a one week course at MISSA (the Metchosin International Summer School of the Arts) on Reduction Fired Earthenware (lustreware) and Crystalline Glazes this June 7th-11th. Gordon Hutchens. PS I have often gotten to using glue now, though I still have a hard time keeping clay out of my mouth.
Jan April 16, 2010 at 6:50 pm -

Hi Gordon, This video has left me breathless! What a fabulous instructor you must be; will you come to our guild one day? (I know that’s impossible!!) Three members of our guild are going on woodfiring on the long weekend in May & this has given me some good ideas for saggar firing some pieces. Well done. What cone do you reach in your kiln? Jan Dear at Thorsby, Alberta, CANADA.
Judy April 16, 2010 at 3:58 pm -

Fantasic video, very clear and detail…I don’t do soda firing for my work but it’s certainly an eye opener for me. Many thanks and congratulations!
Amy April 16, 2010 at 11:50 am -

Great video. Packed so full of information that you would have to watch it more than once to take it all in. Love the before and after. really helps to understand what you were going for. Thanks again!
Kim April 16, 2010 at 11:45 am -

That guy really knows his stuff! I’m glad we got to see the “afters”….things turned out just like he thought they would! Wish I could say the same for *my* pieces!! ;-)
Aaron April 16, 2010 at 11:18 am -

videos that show the before and after are great, wish i had a soda kiln… i wonder if gord usually dresses that nice? he looks more like a tye-dyed kind of guy… good vid!
Rich April 16, 2010 at 11:11 am -

A very well done video and it will be a great help in future planned soda firings. Tons of great information, congratulations.
Cathy April 16, 2010 at 10:42 am -

Excellent video Gord – thanks! You shouldn’t be licking those wads of clay though! You might have a great immune system, but too much bacteria in clay to be licking it! Great information about the lining of the kiln to help prolong the lifespan.
janet April 16, 2010 at 9:44 am -

Very nice i liked the video. you just have to play with your pots and see what you come up with. thanks
simone April 16, 2010 at 9:03 am -

This was a nice reminder of the days when I had access to a soda/salt kiln. The only thing that really bothered me was the artist licking the wads! A little health hazardous, don’t you think? We used elmers glue which kept the pads of wadding from slipping when loading. The glue burned off and did nothing to the surface. Much safer and easier to load when firing with other potters.
Marcelo April 16, 2010 at 9:00 am -

Very nice video with excellente and useful explanations regarding soda firing. Congratulations !!!
Richard April 16, 2010 at 8:55 am -

It’s helpful to understand the chemistry of the kiln and impact of kiln design on the outcome of soda firing. I also enjoyed hearing about the use of spacers and efforts to think the firing process through from loading to final outcome. Risks also provided rewards. Nice video. Thanks.

An Introduction to Salt-Soda Firing – Kiln Considerations and Loading Techniques that Enhance Results

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