In May I spent a week with Marcus O’Mahony making pots and firing a wood fired salt glaze kiln. Marcus and Jim Behan built the kiln during the last year and this was its first firing. I brought some pots I had made in my workshop with me but also made several at Marcus’s to go in the kiln. Jim help us pack the kiln and we just about got all the pots in due to his skillful packing. The firing turned into rather a momentous event taking 24 hours altogether! The firing stalled just below cone 8 (1263ÂşC) for 4 hours and eventually we managed to fire it up to cone 9 (1280ÂşC) but didn’t quite make cone 10 (1305ÂşC). We used a fire door method to feed wood into the firebox. Putting salt in the kiln was fascinating as we watched the salt melt and turn to liquid before vapourizing. We waited expectantly for a day following the firing to open the kiln. To our delight most of the pots came out really well with a good salt glaze orange peel effect and with reduction. Came home very happy.
David Mason Pottery 
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