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Writer's pictureKatherine Fortnum

What is a kiln?

Updated: Mar 6, 2022


The ceramics process is a long one when it goes through creation, from forming to decoration and then there’s the long drying out process, then they go into a kiln to get fired and turn from clay to ceramic... but what is a kiln?

 

A kiln is a piece of machinery that essentially cooks the clay and turns it from clay to ceramic.

The simple way to think of a kiln is that it is like an oven that gets REALLY HOT!

A kiln is a fairly simple structure on the outside that is usually square, rectangle or cylindrical in shape, there are lots of different kinds. There are lots of types; the most popular are gas, wood and electric kilns, which means they are powered by gas, wood or electric.

Here is are examples of the structure of an electric kiln -

The outside is made from a heavy steel frame and the inside is insulated with fire brick, this helps keep the heat inside the kiln.

There is a coiled wire all around the inside, these are called elements, they heat up with the power of electrical current and this is what creates the heat inside the kiln and fires (cooks) the clay.

They open from either a top door or a front door.

There is a controller on the outside where you put in the information for how you’d like to fire the kiln, you put in the settings and then the kiln heats up and goes through the firing process.

There are also other ways to fire ceramics that don’t use a gas or electric kiln, e.g. wood fired kiln, smoke and pit firings, all the different kinds do different things to the piece of ceramic.

 

Keep popping back each month for more information on different ceramic topics, look out for building techniques, decorating techniques, technical know how and more!

Is there anything you'd like to know? Get in touch with your suggestions. :)

If you'd like to learn more about ceramics and the processes involved book onto one of my workshops and explore the exciting world of clay!


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