Reduction Firing Ceramics

Reduction firing cannot be done safely in an electric kiln.

Reduction firing ceramics. I have been doing a lot of raku and have had to learn alot about reduction. It is a very old ceramic ware making process where the pots are burnt similar to how it was done several thousand years ago b c. It is the lack of oxygen in the last part of the process that is critical for the desired effects. Reduction firing is a science in it self.

I tried doing cone ten reduction glazes in a gas kiln and that became to difficult to get a good reduction. Electric kilns are naturally in an oxidation or neutral atmosphere. Nowadays the burning process is done in special kilns. This is so called black or reduced ceramics.

Particles of iron pyrite that occur naturally in the clay melt and blossom up. With fuel burning kilns however care must be taken to ensure that the kiln does not go into reduction until the latter part of the firing usually the last half hour to the last hour and a half. When the ceramics was burnt in a hole made in the ground. In oxidation excess oxygen attaches itself to the surface of the glaze and clay.

Reduction firing is the exact opposite of oxidation firing. Mid range reduction has a completely different look as does mid range oxidation soda firing or mid range reduction soda firing. As with most things pottery the exception is if you are an experienced potter understand the in and outs and are ready for advanced techniques such as using saggers. Reduction speckle a sought after visual effect that occurs in reduction fired stoneware.

Combustions with pure oxygen are used in ceramics for the firing of special materials such as certain. In ceramics reduction is the result of the extraction of oxygen contained in some compounds of the glaze the clay or the colourants colouring oxides by the gaseous atmosphere produced in which this element oxygen is missing. In ceramics this term is most often used to refer to kilns firing with an atmosphere having available oxygen to react with glaze and body surfaces during firing. It can also give pottery a speckled appearance as flecks of iron in the clay peep through the glaze.

It then interacts with the materials to create the resulting pottery surface. I have been having better success with raku. Oxidation and reduction in terms of firing schedules. Reduction firing should only be done in a fuel fired kiln.

Fuel burning kilns give the artist control of how much or how little oxygen enters the firing chamber and when.