July 2006    Issue #40
Published by
Gary R. Ferguson – Raku Artist
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In This Issue  
* While the Smoke Clears
* Crackle, Crackle, where art thou Crackle
* Raku After Burners
* Blogging Raku
* Iron "Chef" Raku
* Raku Links  
* Workshops 
* Pottery Business Available

* Raku After Burner

Sue writes:

I have recently discovered your web site

www.garyrferguson.com and am very excited about your

newsletters www.justraku.com.

I attended a Raku workshop yesterday (have been to

several) and have decided to finally build my own kiln. I

have several books and articles with different varieties,

and have decided on one using the bricks for sides with

slab top and front-loading door.

Now though I am trying to purchase the blowtorch and am not

sure exactly what I am asking for. I am getting a lot of

blank looks from any local welders etc. that I have

approached.

Would appreciate any help. Thanks in advance.

I live in Canada, so please understand shipping things here

from the US is costly.

- - -

I'm glad you have decided to jump into the Raku kiln "pool"

The burner for your kiln is very important and I have a

pretty strong opinion of what you should do, but I will

present some options.

I understand some Rakuist use a weed burner for their kiln

burner.  You can probably find these at farm supply store

in your area.  This will probably be ok, for a small kiln

but nothing too large.

You can also build your own. Several Raku books include

plans to build a burner out of various pipefittings,

connectors etc.

The piece that is often over looked in the homemade burner

is the regulator. This is the knobby metal thing that sits

right next to the valve on your tank that controls how much

propane is released and how fast. If this is not set at the

right rate you won't be able to fire hot enough.

So my ultimate recommendation is not to skimp in this area. 

If you don't have the right burner, regulator, etc. you

won't be able to reach temperature to melt your glazes.

So I would head to Ward Burner systems at:

http://www.wardburner.com/burnersparts/rakuburners.html

and buy one of their burner kits.  They come with a

variable regulator with gas gauge, hose, and burner with

variable valve. It may be slightly more than building your

own, but it "will work" and removes one element of trouble

shooting a problem kiln setup.

I've used one for 5 years and have zero complaints. From

what I hear their support is wonderful as well. So you

can't go wrong with this route.

[Note: I have absolutely no vested interest in the Ward

Burner company – I'm just a happy satisfied customer]

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After reading Sue's book I discovered dozens of tips,

techniques, and methods of creating Raku beads and jewelry

that I never would have thought of.  The hundreds of color

photos are not only instructional but inspiring as well.  

There is a new idea to try on almost every page. This book

is a gold mine!" http://www.rakubeadjewelry.com

~-~-~

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Gary R. Ferguson - Raku Artist

(c) Copyright 2006, Gary R. Ferguson