Oh you evil doer's. . . . just as I bought a new electric kiln, You had to bring back the old haunts and wishes of having a gas kiln in my garage. Oh how bad you are, not even thinking of the 1K for the gas line to the garage, or the variances I would need on zoning even though I live in a dual zone Commercial/Residential zoned area. I don't think downtown Tyrone would want a gas kiln on main street even if it is closer to the paper mill! That said, the ghosts have vanished, and reality of being over 70 comes to the forefront as I really don't need to get into this at this date.
I will admit on some level that I really would like to do ^10 again, and have those surprises from the kiln that I used to get years ago in grad school or before in undergrad. I miss the grainy clays with enough tooth to allow you to feel the pull easily, the rich reds and browns with iron spots and matt surfaces that begged to be touched. It was the introduction to clay, to glaze, and seemed to be the holy grail. Yet over the years, I have found that even though it is not as exciting as combustible reduction, electric can be surprising also. Atmospheres in all kilns exist, and crazy things happen in electric as much as in reduction, when you have fugitive oxides settling and mixing with other surfaces for a blush of pink or orange red. When layers of sprayed glaze become pools of water with the feeling of a deep pool waiting to be explored. Granted some colors, textures and surfaces are really tough to get in electric firing. However, my electric kiln takes up little space in the shop, can be fired overnight or during the day. I don't have to feed it fuel by hand or watch for the perfect time to introduce salt or make certain the damper is closed or open. It is easy.
Is electric without its faults? No, I remember when I first started to go ^6 at the HS. There was not internet, Ceramics Monthly covered very little in the way of ^4-8, and even less in the way of oxidation. Occasionally we would find an article with some glaze recipes, and some discussion of new trends, but not often. I would find glazes from A.R.T. , Minnesota Clay, and Amaco. As with any glaze, it would take a lot of testing to become proficient with them, and over the years when students would combine different glazes on their pots I took not of what happened, as I required that when they glaze they took notes. Then the internet appeared, and various ceramics forums began discussing Cone 6 as the new Cone 10. Then Mastering Cone 6 Glazes came out, and other books, and suddenly there was much more information.
Yes, if it weren't for so many factors I might have taken the other route and fired cone 10-12 reduction. However, I took the one that made sense for me firing electric both at home and at work. Constantly learning, and always looking to make better pots both in design and surface. It has been fun, and someday maybe I'll take a summer workshop to refresh my memory of HF stoneware clay in my hands and the feel of the pull and even the touch of the fire.
best,
Pres