Raku taster – 19th May 2025
After a busy weekend of kiln building, Monday saw a new group of students coming to learn all about Raku and have a go at producing some lovely pots. Our…
Oh yes, the sun was shining on day 1 of our latest courses – Raku Kiln Building weekend. This was a collaboration between the RakuMania team (Adrian & Karen )and John Scott from Sourdust pottery. All the seven students had been on one of our precious classes but now ready to take the next step and build their own kiln. Everyone was keen and eager, and drinking tea by 9am with some fresh Danish pastries….spoilt or what !!
Paired up, everyone headed out to the court yard where we were set up for the production process. Day 1 started with cutting and rolling the mesh into shape. It was great to see people who had never used an angle grinder or bolt cutters, cutting away. I think we had a few converts who were heading to B&Q to get their own after the course. John was keeping a careful eye on the process clearly showing the steps (albeit with a broken hand!!). We had decided to make mesh ones instead of steel bin ones, as lighter and easier to carry and the type both John, Adrian & Karen use all the time. With the mesh rolled into shape, the kilns were bolted into place and ready for making the base. More cutting and joining and soon they had the frame ready for the ceramic fibre.
Whilst foil was being stuck to the ceramic fibre to protect it, Adrian got out the BBQ and made lunch for those that bought along meat for cooking. We ended the day having secured the fibre in place on the base and inside of the kilns with homemade ceramic buttons.
Day 2 was another fabulous day with the sun shining and students rearing to go (after tea and croissants). Today, the focus was on cutting the mesh for the lids, attaching the fibre, and cutting the hole for the burner. There was also a small production line batt washing the kiln shelves. Having finished off their masterpieces, all the students were given the rest of their equipment – Raku tongs, leather gloves, kiln props, pyrometer, and thermometer. Karen helped some of the students with glazing some of their pots to test fire and Jules was kind enough to loan her new kiln so that Adrian could run through with all the students how to set up and operate their new kiln. After the first firing, it was over to them to manage the next 3 firings under the careful eye of Adrian, Karen and John.
We had 4 great firings, and everyone went home with their new Raku kiln to start the next phase of their Raku pottery.
Comments
TR – Fantastic weekend. I can’t wait to get home and use my own kiln! I learn so much every time visit. Thank you, I’ll be back
CG – Made a kiln and learned how to use it safely. Excellent weekend with excellent teachers. Thanks to John, Adrian and Karen x
CS – Fabulous weekend. Well organised and run. Lots of wonderful knowledge freely given – thank you
JL – Awesome weekend and a bonus to come away with a kiln we’ve fired and the knowledge to go on to achieve more. Thank you
HH – Had a great time, learned lots, had a BBQ and weather was fab
SH – Very very happy with my kiln, thank you Adrian, Karen & John for a fantastic weekend. Learnt so much, brilliant hosting too
MR -Fabulous weekend, great tuition & support creating a raku kiln and learning, gaining confidence to fire it safely. Great group of fellow potters. Thanks to Adrian, Karen, and John was “handy too”!!
