RAKU Firing EXPERIENCE

Description

Choose your preferred date and book your place:

Select a date & book

RAKU is an exciting, fast firing method which produces unique, individual effects on the pots being fired.

You start with a pre-fired pot (ie: bisque), the pot is decorated with RAKU glazes then placed into a special RAKU kiln.

Once the piece is literally red hot and glowing, it is carefully lifted from the kiln and placed into a container with combustible materials where it will burst into flames. The lid is replaced on the container forcing out the oxygen and slowly putting out the fire but allowing the smoke effects to add to the process.

Having cooled the piece down it is then taken from the container and plunged into water. All that is left is to then scrub off the carbon and reveal your amazing finish… no two pieces are ever the same and there is absolutely no way of knowing exactly how your piece will look! IMPORTANT – please note that due to the nature of this type of firing, we cannot guarantee all pots will survive, occasionally pots may crack or break during firing! There are no refunds for any broken pots.

The Raku EXPERIENCE is exactly that, firstly you throw your own pot on an electric potters wheel, then you build by hand a second pot using coiling, pinching or slab building. These pots are dried and bisque fired for you, then you come to a RAKU firing session to glaze them, you join us while we fire them for you and as soon as they are cool, you take your beautiful, RAKU fired pots home with you.

Please note there may be an additional charge for your pot depending on the size, type and shape of the pot being fired. Extra pots will also incur an additional charge per pot.

If you wish you may also bring along your own glazes to try, or any additional combustibles that you wish to try to gain experimental, individual finishes to your piece, eg large feathers or horse hair etc

YOU WILL NEED TO ATTEND on TWO separate days. When you book this session YOU ARE BOOKING THE DATE FOR YOUR RAKU FIRING ONLY. Please contact us on 07747804487 to book your wheel throwing and hand-building sessions which must be at least THREE WEEKS before your firing date to allow time for drying and bisque firing. 

You will need to wear comfortable shoes and warm, old clothes suitable for working in a pottery studio. Raku firings take place outside so do please dress accordingly. IMPORTANT: RAKU IS WEATHER DEPENDENT, IF CONDITIONS ARE UNSUITABLE (ie high winds or extreme cold) WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIRE UP FOR BOTH SAFETY REASONS AND THE SUCCESS RATE USING THIS FIRING METHOD! If this happens you will get either a refund or transfer to the next available date. Please check our facebook page or call us for updates 07747804487.

Please bring:

• any refreshments you may need (there is a cafe on site but please check your workshop times against opening hours).
• your pre-made and bisque fired pot (if not using one of ours)