
First firing of the January 2016 Kazegama rebuild
All workshops are now at Bombay Beach Arts and Culture
2157 Second St. Bombay Beach CA 92257
January 21-22, February 18-19, March 18-19, April 22-23, May 20-21, June 24-25
It’s a drive from Orange County or Los Angeles of 2.5 – 3 hours one way. It’s 150 miles from Orange County. So feel free to stay overnight. Housing is cheap at $30 a night or you can stay for free in one of the bunk beds or camp on the grounds. Food is included.
A schedule of future events and workshops is coming soon…..
For information, e mail me at steve@kazegamas.com.
Workshop Preparation
You need to prepare around twelve pieces for the firing. All cone 10 clay bodies, glazes, and slips used in wood firing are excellent for the Kazegama. I like using Aardvark Clay’s Woodfire and Nara Porcelain. Flashing slips greatly enhance this firing process and are highly recommended. Glazing should be limited to the inside of vessels since the outside surface of the vessels need to interact with wood ash.
The whole point of atmospheric firings of any kind, (salt, soda, and wood), is the interaction with the clay surface; in this case the interaction with blown wood ash. Wadding is used to support the pieces in the kiln, so design feet and lids to accommodate the wadding. Most pieces should be 8 inches in height or less. Please do not bring large pieces or plates for they take up too much shelf space. All pieces must be bisque fired and glazed prior to Saturday’s firing.
Workshop Activities
The kiln is loaded from 9:00 am – noon. As the kiln is candling, we brake for lunch. Following lunch while the kiln is firing, Steve will be demonstrating his approach to clay and students will be involved in some hands-on activities such as hand building, demos, constructing metal ribs, firing the Raku kiln, etc. It all depends on the weekend and what I feel will be a productive use of our time.
If you have any questions, you can reach Steve Davis by e-mail at steve@kazegamas.com.
Flashing Slips – Mix with water to a thin pancake batter consistency and apply by brush or dipping as soon as possible on greenware. A thin coat can be sprayed onto bisque ware.
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Helmer Kaolin Slip Helmer Kaolin – 80, Nepheline Syenite – 20
Flashing Slip Hawthorn Bond – 80, Nepheline Syenite – 20
3-3-3-1 Orange Flash EPK – 30, Grolleg – 30, Nepheline Syenite – 30, Carbondale Red – 10
Long / Rosselow Butter Yellow Grolleg – 80, Borax – 10, Zircopax – 10, Titanium Dioxide – 8
Stuart Gair’s Flashing Slip Nepheline Syenite – 20, Grolleg Kaolin – 20, Helmer Kaolin – 20, OM4 Ball Clay – 20, Tile 6 Kaolin – 20
50/50 Wadding Mix Alumina Hydrate – 50, Tile 6 Kaolin – 50
Steve’s Wadding mix: Equal weights of Alumina Hydrate, Hawthorn Bond/Lincoln 60 and Grog 10×18.
Stuart Gair’s Wadding Mix 1 Barnard Clay – 24, EPK Kaolin – 24, Hawthorne Bond Clay – 24, Newman Red – 24, Alumina Hydrate – 4, add: Coarse Sand – 5, Sawdust – 5
Stuart Gair’s Wadding Mix 2 Helmer Kaolin – 15, Hawthorne Bond Clay – 40, Newman Red – 40, Alumina Hydrate – 5, add: Coarse Sand – 5, Sawdust – 5

Steve Davis teapots with 3-3-3-1 flashing slip on Aardvark Clay’s Wood Fire clay body.

1/3 Copper Carb, 1/3 Soda Ash, 1/3 Wood Ash blown onto the surface of this jar at cone 8, then fired for 10 minutes before terminating the firing.
