Some of these soda fired pieces are still available I have included them here to show the type of work that I am doing. If you hover the cursor over the thumbnail, the image name will display.
If you contact me with the name, I can tell you if the piece is still availableor if I have something similar.
Some Information About Soda Firing
Soda firing is an exciting atmospheric firing technique that can produce distinctive and fascinating results. It is a relatively new technique that evolved from salt firing. Salt firing releases chlorine gas and thus is a toxic procedure. Soda firing does not release toxic gasses. Both types of firing convert sodium to a gaseous state that then flows through the kiln coating the pieces sodium (forming a glaze). However, soda firing has its own distinctive look.
Soda firing is done at a variety of different temperatures. These samples shown on this page were done at cone 10+. At a very high temperature, a mixture of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and other chemicals is introduced at the burner ports. This mixture volatilizes (turns into gas) and the movement of the atmosphere within the kiln distributes the soda. Positioning and orientation of the pieces (to the gas flow in the kiln) have a great effect on the final product. With so many significant variables effecting the firing, surprises abound.
This firing process coats everything inside the kiln with sodium. The kiln shelves, posts and walls over time accumulate deposits of glass-like sodium. Thus the life of this equipment is much more limited than traditional firing techniques. Because of this added expense and because the technique can be tricky, this type of ware is harder to find on the market. This also tends to make the pieces more expensive.
Soda fired pieces are food and liquid safe. They do not require any specific care.
FAQs
Soda-firing is the process in which sodium oxide (soda) is introduced into the hot kiln. Once inside, it will vaporize and interact with the red hot surfaces of the work leaving beautiful flashes of color and glaze.
What clay is best for soda firing? ›
Soda firing is experimental and unpredictable, but it's still fun to set a goal and see if it happens. What cone do you fire to? We fire to Cone 6, so a midrange clay body would likely be best. Some areas of the kiln get hotter than cone six, so we recommend a clay body that doesn't slump much at cone 5 or 6.
What does reduction firing mean? ›
Reduction is firing where the kiln atmosphere has insufficient oxygen for complete combustion (more fuel than air to burn it). At high temperatures, this produces carbon monoxide gas, which will steal loosely-bonded oxygen from other materials, in ceramics mainly iron and copper.
What is salt firing? ›
Salt firing is a vapor-glazing process where salt (sodium chloride) is introduced into kiln firebox at high temperature. The salt vaporizes, and sodium vapor combines with silica in clay surface, forming extremely hard sodium-silicate glaze.
Is soda fired pottery food safe? ›
Soda fired pieces are food and liquid safe. They do not require any specific care.
How much soda to use in a soda firing? ›
The consensus among those working most frequently with soda firing is to mix baking soda or soda ash with warm or hot water, and spray it into the kiln using a garden sprayer with a metal tip. A typical mixture is one pound of soda ash to one gallon of hot or boiling water.
What is the best clay that doesn't need to be fired? ›
The Best Air-Dry Clays for Fast and Easy Crafting
- DAS Air-Hardening Modeling Clay. DAS air-hardening modeling clay is a versatile, fibrous, paper-based product. ...
- Jovi Air-Dry Modeling Clay. ...
- Crayola Air-Dry Clay. ...
- AMACO STONEX Clay. ...
- Craftsmart Air-Dry Clay.
Glazes are a liquid suspension of finely ground minerals that are applied onto the surface of bisque-fired ceramic ware by brushing, pouring, or dipping. After the glaze dries, the ware is loaded into a kiln and fired to the temperature at which the glaze ingredients will melt together to form a glassy surface.
Is raku a reduction firing? ›
In reduction firing, oxygen is prevented from interacting with the glazes during glaze maturation. This is done by adjusting the fuel in a gas kiln, or by adding organic material such as in Raku. As the organic material burns it uses up oxygen, leaving an oxygen-less environment.
What are the two types of firing in ceramics? ›
Typical ceramics firing occurs in two stages: bisque firing and glaze firing. During the first firing - bisque - greenware transforms into a durable, semi-vitrified porous state where it can be handled safely while being glazed and decorated. Carbonaceous materials are also burned out in this phase.
Oxidation Firing: When the ratio of oxygen to fuel fed to the kiln is greater than required to burn the fuel completely. Reduction Firing: When the ratio of oxygen to fuel fed to the kiln is less than required to burn the fuel completely.
Can you glaze pottery without a kiln? ›
With so many glazes requiring a firing process, can you glaze pottery without a kiln? It may seem like a trick question, but the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, glazing pottery without a kiln is a much easier process!
What is soda glaze? ›
The soda that we use is: sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda, and sodium carbonate, which is also known as soda ash. The soda vaporizes and is carried on the flame throughout the kiln. The soda vapors create a glaze when it lands on a piece (or a kiln post, or the wall of the kiln).
What happens if you add salt to clay? ›
Sodium from the salt reacts with silica in the clay body to form a glassy coating of sodium silicate. The glaze may be colourless or may be coloured various shades of brown (from iron oxide), blue (from cobalt oxide), or purple (from manganese oxide).
What is the soda kiln effect? ›
The soda then evaporates and the flame carries the vapour within the kiln, landing on the hot pottery pieces. When the soda vapour comes in contact with these surfaces, it binds to the silica molecules to create a glaze over the surfaces.
What is the principle of soda fire? ›
In a soda acid fire extinguisher, when the knob is struck concentrated sulphuric acid present in the fire extinguisher comes in contact with sodium bicarbonate and produces carbon dioxide that puts out the fire.
Is soda firing reduction or oxidation? ›
The soda firing process is a gas reduction type of firing and is fairly labor intensive as compared to a regular reduction firing and definitely easier than an electric or oxidation type kiln firing.
