Kristin Doner's Raku Kiln Design

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.