We'll have a kiln with a view

Hazard of a wet weekend

The anagama kiln project was the brainchild of Richard Stratton (a WPA member) and his friend Andy Hope both of whom have worked as full-time potters. Richard had also fired anagama kilns. Over a period of some 10 years and several kiln demolitions later, Richard and Andrew had hoarded a large quantity of kiln bricks with a view to building an anagama kiln. That opportunity arose through the generous offer of land on which to build the kiln by June and Graeme Houston.

Fine day Mal Sole and Shige

Early this year a number of potential sites for the kiln were identified by Richard and Andy in consultation with Graeme. The site eventually selected is on a terrace conveniently located next to a road and near a workshop, a source of electricity and equipment used in the preliminary phases of the project. The site is reasonably protected from the wind.

Shige Ohashi, our Japanese member and tutor, designed the kiln in consultation with Richard. A talented potter, Shige who has a Master of Engineering degree in Applied Physics, worked for IBM in Japan before emigrating to New Zealand nearly 4 years ago. He has extensive experience in operating anagama kilns. The kiln will comprise two chambers, the first in which the wood will be burnt and the pots fired and

Trusses go up

the second a "sutema"(pronounced "stema"), which will act a buffer. In Shige's words, "The wall that divides this kiln into the substantial first stage large chamber and the second small chamber has several small openings (five or six by one brick size hole) at the base. A small wall like a firewall is laid in front of the flame outlet of the wall between the small chamber and the flue. These make the flames run with the flow well-balanced and broadened out in the chamber."

The start of earthworks

The kiln is 3.76m long, 1.94m at its highest point and tapers from a width of 1.68m at the front to 1.32m at the back. The capacity of the first chamber of the kiln is approximately 2.1 cubic metres. The construction of the kiln will require approximately 2200 bricks.

Work on the project has been undertaken at weekends and during the week by a small but enthusiastic team of people. The work involved is greater than first envisaged but interest has not flagged.

Graeme Houston gets the purlins in place

The first construction phase of the project started in March with the excavation of the clay site both by hand and mechanical digger. Initially the pit for the kiln was relatively shallow but was later deepened to approximately 1.25m in the fire box and stoker's pit area. This was done to minimise the kiln's exposure to avoidable water seepage and also to buttress it. A sump and drain were installed in the stoker's pit to ensure that any unwelcome water draining from beneath the kiln itself or surface water could be disposed of. The drain is also connected to a gutter on the western side of the shelter built to house the kiln. Several cubic metres of drainage shingle underpin the drainage system. Prior to installing the drain it was necessary on at least two occasions to siphon water out of the pit following deluges before work could recommence. Those who undertook the digging over a prolonged period became lean and fit as a consequence!

John Corsham - non potter helper

The next phase was the construction of an 81m sq shelter to house the kiln, provide storage space for drying timber for firing the kiln and chores such as cleaning bricks. The open-sided shelter was built using metal beams and uprights, the latter having originally been purchased by the Houstons for the construction of glasshouses, joined by a latticework of wooden purlins. The structure was secured to substantial 600mm square concrete foundations. Mixing the concrete was not without its moments. While mixing concrete for the final two foundations the belt on the mixer broke. As a replacement could not be readily found, the problem was remedied by plaiting three lengths of nylon cord into a belt, which served the purpose admirably. The shelter with a roof area of about 100 sq metres was clad in a mixture of demolition and new corrugated iron. Barring some finishing touches the shelter is substantially complete.

The cost of the project to date is approximately $1000. However, were it not for the unstinting generosity of the Houstons who provided timber from their timber mill and demolition corrugated iron as well as other materials, labour, building advice and tools, the cost would have been beyond the reach of the WPA without recourse to major fund raising. The project has also been greatly assisted by donations of materials by a number of other members. An application to Pub Charity for a donation towards the construction of the kiln itself and kiln equipment has been made but at the time of writing the outcome is not known

The construction phase of the kiln has started with the bricks being moved onto the site and the delightful chore of cleaning them now upon us.

When completed potters from around the region will be welcome to take part in our firings.

Read Alan's story Part 1   Part 2   Part 3   Part 4   Part 5     Part 6
Ready for the iron	Site foreman Alan_Ross	The_Keen Team - some_of - Shige, Wayne and Richard