Wufar at IUS

This past week the IUS crew fired off first wood kiln since 2019!

Not only was it a blast, it was also one of the easiest wood firings I ever participated in. The likely culprit was the bag wall we placed about halfway through the kiln. This addition eliminated the need for side stoking, allowing a smaller crew to take each shift.

The kiln was firing off so smoothly that some of the post-baccs ran a raku marathon! Along with the resident artist, Lalana, they packed the baby raku tight with tons of pots…maybe too many. Once temperature was reached, the team went to work, performing a beautifully chaotic dance with hot pots and one another. It was all accented with a giant plume of smoke, that may have led to some smoke poisonings down the line.

Even with that exciting interlude, the wood fired off around the 36 hour mark, with the last 12 hours mainly stalling with large stokes to build ash and allow for thorough soaking.

It was a frantic and exhilarating week to end the semester with.