Kiln Log

Cone Pack

<11	<10	<9	<5
>3	>04	>07	>09

Hours into Firing	Notes
Prep	Candle over night with propane. All main firebox air holes closed except for space for propane nozzle. Active damper 1/2 open, passive dampers open.
Start	04:00 AM Clear, dry, mid-40's - propane running. Build fire in one air intake main firebox. Turn off propane. Build fire across firebox bed using cedar.
3/4	Two loud "pops" from inside kiln. 15 minutes later another loud "pop"
1	Continue building bed of coals across main firebox floor with cedar. Flame glow visible on first chamber bag wall. Flames even with main firebox side stoke hole.
1-1/2	After a stoke into main firebox air intake flame kissing first chamber grate/inlet. Sparks visible in top peep first chamber (1FT). Hand in second chamber top (2FT) peep nice and warm.
2	Start to "mud" the doors. Constant fluffing of coals in main firebox.
3	Finish mud doors (and eat donuts that Beth brought). No color in first chamber.
3-1/4	Start few pieces cedar into main firebox side stoke hole. No color in first chamber.
4	Alternating stock 2' oak 2x4's onto main firebox grate thru side stoke hole. Good ash existing first chamber peeps when opened just after stoke. Dull red 1FT peep.
4-3/4	1BB peep bright red. 1FB dull red. Stoking only both sides of main firebox now. Close back side air intake to try to even up heat across first chamber side-to-side.
5-1/2	Close passive dampers leaving only one brick open to create more draw across the floor of the kiln. Top pack in loose and flame path tends up not across floor.
6	Second chamber stoke hole dull red. Closed last opening in passive damper. Agree next time to start with passive totally closed as we end up there anyway.
7-1/4	Start to stoke first chamber stoke hole with cedar.
7-1/2	1FT=09 down, 1BB=09 softening, 1FB=09 standing
7-3/4	1FT=07 down, 1BB=09 down, All standing 1FB. Close both outside air intakes in front of main firebox.
8-1/2	1FT=04 down, 1FB=07 down, 1BB=04 softening.
9-3/4	Change stoke pattern to 2 in first chamber firebox, 1 in main firebox
10-1/2	1FT=9 soft, 1FB=5 down, 1BB=9 soft, 2BB+ 2FT+2BT=09 down, 2FB=07 down
11	Push damper in 2". 1FT=10 down, 1FB=9 soft, 1BB=9 standing. Close all main firebox air intakes. Start stoking second chamber firebox. Stoke pattern 1 into first chamber, 2 into second chamber, occasional piece into main firebox to keep preheat air.
11-1/2	2BB=04 soft, 2BT=04 down, 2FT=04 soft, 2FB= 04 soft
12	All peeps second chamber cone 3 is standing
13-1/2	2FT=3 soft, 2FB=3 down, 2BT=3 @ 3 o'clock, 2BB=3 down,1FT= 11 soft, 1FB+1BB=9 soft.
14	2FT=3 down, 2FB=5 down, 2BT=5 down, 2BB=3 down, 1BB=9 soft, 1FB=9 standing
14-1/2	2FT=5 down, 2FB=9 soft, 2BT=5 down, 2BB=5 down. Start spraying second chamber stoke hole with a mixture of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) and water. We used about three pounds of baking soda mixed into a large pressurized sprayer.
15	2FT= 5 down, 2FB= 9 soft, 2BT= 5 down, 2BB= 5 down. No change last 1/2 hour.
15-1/2	2FT= 5 down, 2FB= 9 down, 2BT= 9 soft, 2BB= 9 soft. Adding cedar and fir to stoking pattern in second chamber.
16	2FT= 9 soft, 2FB= 9 down, 2BT= 9 soft, 2BB= 9 soft. Not much movement.
16-1/2	2FT= 9 soft, 2FB= 10 softening, 2BT= 9 soft, 2BB= 9 soft. Not much movement.
17	2FT= 9 soft, 2FB= 10 soft, 2BT= 9 soft, 2BB= 9 down.
17-1/2	2FT= 9 @ 3 o'clock, 2FB=11 @ 3 o'clock, 2BT=10 soft, 2BB= 10 soft. 1FB=9 soft, 1BB= 9 soft, 1FT=11 soft.
Shut Down	Stop stoking. Let fire burn down for 15 minutes or so. Dip rags into slip bucket and wrap/seal all stoke holes, peeps, air intakes. Say good night ...
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