Founded in 1935 by Friedrich Schleich in Schwäbische Gmünd.
Schleich is one of the biggest toy manufacturers in Germany today and the leading international provider of realistic animal figures.
The design of the figures and play worlds, the manufacturing of the production tools and also the quality and safety tests are performed in Germany to this day.
Production is carried out at the company’s headquarters in Schwäbische Gmünd as well as other production sites abroad.
My kiln has 3 shelves. you can see on the left, there is only one, gas inlet area, at the bottom of the kiln.
Some Kiln shelving has been put on the side, so the gas fire goes up and around.
Turn the gas burner on to KPA5.
We put the bung in at the front of kiln, when temp reaches 500. (1hour)
Turn up to KPA10. It takes a while for the temp to go to 900. (2 hour +).
Start reduction. Turn up gas to 15kpa, start to close off chimney. ( I have a piece of kiln shelf that can be pushed across), black fire will flow high up chimney, let it settle, So only do a little at a time.
You can not close the chimney completely. You will end up with black pottery if you do.
When you reach your temp we do 1280.put every thing back and turn down to 10KPA and let sit (soak) for two hours before turning off.
I did not do it, my husband opened it after turning the gas off, he wanted to see inside. All he seen was red hot. Only opened kiln up about 6 inches. Results were not good the top shelf was pieces of clay every where. All my pottery I had done was broken or had pieces of pottery embedded in them, You could say the pottery had a smashing time.
Do not open your kiln until it cool down.
What is perfect combustion?
Perfect combustion exists when one carbon atom is combined with two atoms of oxygen to form one carbon dioxide molecule, plus heat. But when you are firing a kiln to achieve a certain consistent atmosphere, it becomes a little more complicated.
To achieve complete combustion, the exact proportions of fuel and oxygen are required with nothing remaining. In a gas kiln firing, this is often difficult to attain because of the many variables in fuel and oxygen (which is derived from the air) and the equipment used to mix the two.
The most common fuels used today are natural gas and propane. These are hydrocarbons and when they are properly mixed and ignited, they produce heat, carbon dioxide and water vapor.
Air is a combination of approximately 75% nitrogen and 25% oxygen by weight. Unlike oxygen, the nitrogen does not react (combust) but it still absorbs a portion of the heat and therefore creates a cooler flame.
During the firing of a gas kiln there are a trio of atmospheres that have to be controlled to achieve both a rise in temperature and the desired glaze results. The first, and most important, atmosphere is neutral. It is only in a neutral atmosphere that perfect combustion can be attained. A neutral atmosphere is the most fuel-efficient firing possible.
If the amount of air is increased, or the amount of fuel is decreased, from a neutral firing, the mixture becomes fuel-lean and the flame is shorter and clearer. The gas kiln has now entered an oxidizing atmosphere and the rate of temperature rise will decrease.
If the fuel supply is increased or the air supply is decreased the atmosphere becomes fuel-rich and reduction begins. The flame becomes long and smoky and incomplete combustion occurs. The result is an excess of carbon, which combines with the remaining oxygen and creates carbon monoxide. To convert back to its natural state of carbon dioxide, the carbon takes oxygen from the metal oxides in the glaze, thus altering the finished colour of the glaze. The rate of temperature rise will also diminish under these conditions.
Regardless of the atmosphere necessary for the results you desire for your work, a higher level of efficiency and fuel savings may be attained by firing to a neutral atmosphere whenever possible . With the enormous increases we have seen and will continue to see in fuel costs, it might become highly desirable to buy an oxygen probe and maintain a neutral atmosphere for at least part of your firings.
Oxidation/Reduction- is the result of the colour in your glaze.
Oxidation Atmosphere: A mixture of fuel and air where there is a significant excess of oxygen from the air relative to the fuel; defined (somewhat arbitrarily) as more than 3% excess oxygen.
Neutral Atmosphere: A theoretical mixture of fuel and air where there is a perfect balance between the amount of fuel and the amount of oxygen from air necessary to burn that fuel.
Reduction Atmosphere: A mixture of fuel and air where there is more fuel present than there is oxygen from the air to burn the fuel. For complete combustion to occur in a reducing atmosphere, the fuel must react with all the oxygen from the incoming air and with oxygen from other sources. For a ceramics artist, the important “other” sources of oxygen are oxides of iron and/or copper in the ware being fired, as those oxides are reduced.
When an excess of carbon (fuel) or a shortage of oxygen (air) is introduced, incomplete combustion takes place. Carbon monoxide (as opposed to carbon dioxide) is produced along with heat, though not as much as would be produced during complete combustion. The carbon monoxide then looks for more oxygen, which it takes from oxides in the clay and glaze in the kiln. This is also the reason yellow flames shoot out through spy holes when a kiln is in reduction—the carbon-rich fuel is following the oxygen supply.
Gas Kiln Firing – Defining the Terms
Oxidation Atmosphere: A mixture of fuel and air where there is a significant excess of oxygen from the air relative to the fuel; defined (somewhat arbitrarily) as more than 3% excess oxygen.
Neutral Atmosphere: A theoretical mixture of fuel and air where there is a perfect balance between the amount of fuel and the amount of oxygen from air necessary to burn that fuel.
Reduction Atmosphere: A mixture of fuel and air where there is more fuel present
Firing a gas Kiln.
Cone 10. Glazers.
I glazed all my pots, high firing glazers.
What happens in the kiln is different on each shelf, different at the front, back and middle of each shelf. The temperature is different all over the inside of the kiln.
Firing at high firing gas kiln is a lot of luck. When I get great results from a firing, I end up doing the same glaze in a different part of the kiln.
Using red glazers, at the bottom of the kiln you get red. At the top you get, a beautiful green. That the different between Oxidation and reduction. If only we let the kiln sock longer. We might of got red on top to.
Every firing is different, great fun to open the kiln, and see the results.
Puppies for sale, 5 are black with different white markings,
White on chest, white on back feet, mark on bottom of lip.
Only one has black, brown, Tan and white Markings. A boy that was the last born, and smallest pup.
They are all so beautiful. The Pups are so lovable, and Gorgeous.
They have been wormed at 2 weeks and 4 weeks so far.
At two weeks old they opened there eyes, by 3-4 week they we moving about more. At 4 weeks they can get around fast. Introduce them to milk and food at 3-4 weeks. Boy what a mess they make.
Mum and dad with the pups.
The pups are a Poodle Cross.
Has Schnauzer, Cavalier King Charles and Poodle;
Mother and Father.
Mums is a Schnoodle, she has the face and hair of a Schnauzer. And brains. Smart Dog.
Chantelle
She is very friendly, Lovable, Adorable, Intelligent beautiful pet dog to own, that is why we breed her.
I do have a Breeders Licence.
The dogs have thick curly hair, Are so soft. As they get older, they will need trimming.
They do not lose hair, unless you combed it.
Here is buster. the dad. He is a Cavoodle. Black and White. He holds that tail up all the time.
You have to Trim his thick soft coat in the hotter months. It goes curly like a poodle.
He is very lovable dog, loves being near you all the time. Sitting on your lap to get pats. Yes he sleep with me, lays across my legs. He lets me know it is time to get up.
Yes he is Adorable, Intelligent beautiful pet dog to own. Weight around 10kg. High around foot.
My two dogs come every where with us. When we go on holiday we put them in doggy day care, so we can do things where dogs are not allowed.
Pictures of the pups 4 weeks old.
Second worming. We have numbered the pups for identification.
No 1. A Boy
He is a big boy Weight at 4 weeks. 1378g.
No 2 A girl.
Iam black, White Mark on chest , White back feet. 1010g at 4 weeks.
No 3 A boy.
Black, Brown, tan and white. Smallest Pup. 848g at 4 weeks.
No 4. I am a Girl.
White mark on chest. white back feet. mark on bottom lip. 910g at 4 weeks
No 5. I am a girl.
White mark on chest, mark on bottom lip. 959g at 4 weeks.
No 6. I am a Boy.
I am black, Small white mark on chest. 4 weeks 1050.
All the pups look the same, they will be wormed, microchipped and vaccinated at 8 weeks old.
Ready for there for ever home around 14 th december.
What a beautiful Christmas present, These dogs are great companion dogs, they give out a lot of love.
Find out the different colours you get when you dip your clay in your glaze mix, and when you brush in onto your pottery piece.
I am only new to pottery making and glazers. A lady who has retired from making pottery, sold me all of her pottery stuff. Gas kiln, equipment, mixed glazers, lots of minerals and more.
This is the result of one of the glazers that was already mixed, with the recipe on the lid.
Colour was Orange/Brown.
Recipe.
Feldspar 650
Dolomite 40
Whiting 130.
Ball Clay 80
Silica 100
Red Iron Oxide 60
Rutile 60.
The mix the colour looks like a dark brown.
I was using two different glazers. I wanted to see there colours together.
First I brushed on the glaze, I did two coats of the brush on. Just love the colour after firing. It did run a little bit.
This tells me next firing watch the bottom of the pot, not to thick of glaze at the bottom.
brushed on glaze.
Next I had two pots I wanted the same. First I dipped the bottom of the clay pots in a pinky glaze. The i dipped them in the brown glaze, I dipped them in the glaze slowly, and pulled it straight out. This is the results.
The glaze ran to the bottom of the potThe pink colour that was dipped about a inch from the bottom of the pot.The brown glaze only ran a little.Two pots.
The brown glaze is a nice colour. I going to add more water to the mix, and only use the brown glaze a little on the top, so it can run down a little and have more of the pink glaze on the bottom.
Well that is my story about my orange/brown glaze.
It will take a while to find out, but it would be interesting to know what colour I would get if I sprayed the glaze on.
Chantelle is a Schnoodle dog. Very Intelligent , and a great companion.
My baby girl Chantelle is due to have puppies middle of October 2021. This will be her second litter.
She was a very good mummy to her first litter, of four pups.
Chantelle did all the work. I watched her, just incase she needed my help.
Chantelle with her 4 babies. about four weeks.
I Love my dog.
Chantelle is always around me, she is very protective of me , Chantelle lets me know when someone comes over.
No one comes in my yard, with out her telling me.
She is very intelligent, comes and hits me, when the postman comes. Always tries to talk to me, She is very delightful dog, to have as a companion. She is a all round beautiful dog. Put a smile on your face.
Loves her baths. She only eats certain foods. Loves to go in the car for drives.
When we go on holidays, we put her into doggy day care for the day, so we can go places were dogs are not allowed.
Her hair is light and thin, needs cutting a little bit in the summer months.
Chantelle hates me cutting the hair around her feet, most dogs do any way.
Her hair does not fall out every. Chantelle loves the attention you give her, love a brush and cuddle.
My baby girl is a really beautiful girl. Well behaved.
Chantelle her babies first day.
Chantelle on a camping trip with us.
Father of the puppies name is Buster, he is a Cavoodle.
He has the hair like a poodle, curly. Black and white. He is a beautiful dog. Smart.
