Wood Firing
Wood firing is similar to soda firing in the notion that unglazed pots can obtain a glazed appearance over the course of the firing. When wood firing the kiln's fuel source of gas is replaced with wood, thus the term "wood firing". Wood firing is a very labor intensive process where wood is continually stoked into the kiln to obtain heat to fire the kiln. I have been involved in wood firings where wood it stoked into the kiln for as long as seven days and as short as two days. As the wood is burned and ash is produced, ash is carried through the kiln by the flame. As ash and flames pass over the pots a glassy glazed surface can occur, thus giving the pot a certain glazed look. As in soda firing when wood firing certain areas of the kiln can be effected more than others in terms of the effect of ash and the path of the flame on the poys. Thus, the outcome of each wood firing is unique to each individual firing.
