Kristin Doner's Raku Kiln Design

Kristin Doner's Raku Kiln design for stationary reduction, with two fire boxes allowing for continual firing.

The raku firing process involves removing the hot ceramic work from the red-hot kiln and subjecting it to an oxygen-starved environment (reduction). Typically this is done with tongs to remove the work, which is then placed in a newspaper-lined trash can. Kristin Doner's raku kiln design featured two fireboxes built in a sandpit. The removable kiln was lightweight, made from heavy wire mesh lined with Fiberfrax. Although a trash can was still used as the reduction chamber, the piece remained stationary after the kiln was removed. Quickly a small log of newsprint replaced the burner in the firebox, and was immediately covered with the reduction chamber, sealing it with the sand. 

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