7 Top Tips for Successful Raku Firing
One of the things I love about Raku is how fast you can do a firing. You can do several Raku firings in one day so it’s important to be organised and always be safe and make sure you have the right equipment on hand. You can read more about what equipment you need for Raku here.
If you have time, glaze your pots the day before to allow them to thoroughly dry before Raku firing. This gives you more time to focus on the Raku kiln and means you won't have to rush the glazing of your pots.
When loading the Raku kiln make sure there is extra space around the pots to enable you to easily take hold of the pot with your tongs and safely remove the hot pot from the kiln.
Be aware that Raku glazes tend to run more easily than some other types of glazes. Make sure you leave enough room at the base of your pot to allow for glaze drips. Always double-check that the bottoms of pots are clean. If in doubt have a collection of kiln props handy so you can place these under the pot to avoid the glaze running and sticking to the kiln shelf.
If you are Raku firing flat pieces such as tiles always raise them up on props so you can easily grab hold of them with your tongs.
Whilst the Raku kiln is firing you can place glazed pots, waiting to be fired, around the kiln to warm up ready to load into the hot kiln.
After the first firing be very careful placing the next lot of pots in the kiln as it is very hot and you may need to wear your heatproof gloves to load the kiln.
To achieve a good crackle, which is the hallmark of a great Raku pot, once the firing is complete and you have turned off the fuel and removed the kiln lid, allow the Raku kiln to cool down a little before removing your pots from the kiln. You could even take the pot out of the kiln with the tongs and listen for the crackling/pinging of the glaze before placing it in the sawdust.