KILN FINISHED!!!

So, after a journey of 6 years... The Ramsey Anagama is finished!

To celebrate, let's fire it next week!

One more week till Firing!!!

Only one more week to go till my first firing of the Ramsey Anagama!
This last week I was able to put in a front firing door, Mortared down the base of the chimney, and pulled off a successful Pit Firing.
Really close now, I believe I can pull it off!!!!!

Two more weeks till firing!!!

Two more weeks to go! This week I need to finish the chimney, brick up the front with a stoaking door, and do a Pit Fire....

Pictures are from my work last week. I finished building and filling in the retaining walls and included a space for a side stoaker to stand and access the side ports.
Then the big test of burning out the wooden kiln support form! Success!!!
I am so close now!!

Three weeks till Firing!!!!

So I have three weeks to pull this off! I just finished trimming the last of my 200 pieces for the firing, so the work will be ready...
This week I am going to work on finishing the buttressing walls and filling them in with bricks and dirt. Hopefully I will also burn out the kiln wood support form at the end of the week!

Loading Door and Side Port Work!

I removed the wooden form that I built the loading door on..... and it didn't collapse!!!
Boost of confidence for removing the main Kiln form!
A picture of the inside of the loading door arch...
Also working on side port areas. Getting them ready for putting in a metal framed door...
More to come!

Kiln Arch Work!!

The brickwork for the arch is COMPLETE!!
The main arch is pictured using a high temperature Castable to fill any holes and empty gaps from the bricks. On top of that is a layer of foil (to reflect the heat back towards the kiln), then a layer of Kaowool (a high temperature insulating fabric), Then topped with a layer of Softbrick for insulative value!
I will also cover the whole Kiln in a 4" layer of clay for insulation! But first I have to put in metal frames and doors for my two side ports...
Right on track for a firing at the end of the month!