Reduction is a magical ingredient, capable of transforming a boring glaze into something very extraordinary. The colours you can achieve are almost impossible to beat, offering the possibility of the entire colour spectrum. From the most delicate pastels to the boldest blacks and dramatic copper reds, through to the almost incomprehensible colours and metallic mirrors of in-glaze lustres. Even simple washes, containing bismuth or silver, can become something incredibly fabulous in reduction.
This PDF is my complete step-by-step how-to guide, explaining how to safely create a clean reduction atmosphere in an electric kiln using alcohol. I’ve included everything you need to know to do it yourself.
It includes detailed information to build the alcohol administration set (including optional setups in case you can’t get what I can in your country), how to modify your kiln (if it is necessary), how to protect the kiln’s wiring, electronics and elements, when and how to safely reduce at high temperatures or low temperatures, in the cooling cycle or in a post-firing (a second firing, often called a post-fire reduction or PFR).
You will also get my safety procedures, my do’s and don’t list, as well as many tips on how to achieve excellent, consistent reduction for crystalline glazes, crystalline lustres, in-glaze lustres, lustre washes, and copper red glazes.
Special Note:
The focus of this PDF is about my reduction process, which I call Mel (short for Methanol Electric reduction). It is not intended to teach you how to create and fire crystalline glazes. I plan to create independent PDFs and videos specifically on crystalline glazing processes, my crystalline glaze recipes (oxidation and reduction), a selection of others’ crystalline glazes I have permission to share, and crystalline firing schedules.
Reduction is a magical ingredient, capable of transforming a boring glaze into something very extraordinary. The colours you can achieve are almost impossible to beat, offering the possibility of the entire colour spectrum. From the most delicate pastels to the boldest blacks and dramatic copper reds, through to the almost incomprehensible colours and metallic mirrors of in-glaze lustres. Even simple washes, containing bismuth or silver, can become something incredibly fabulous in reduction.
This PDF is my complete step-by-step how-to guide, explaining how to safely create a clean reduction atmosphere in an electric kiln using alcohol. I’ve included everything you need to know to do it yourself.
It includes detailed information to build the alcohol administration set (including optional setups in case you can’t get what I can in your country), how to modify your kiln (if it is necessary), how to protect the kiln’s wiring, electronics and elements, when and how to safely reduce at high temperatures or low temperatures, in the cooling cycle or in a post-firing (a second firing, often called a post-fire reduction or PFR).
You will also get my safety procedures, my do’s and don’t list, as well as many tips on how to achieve excellent, consistent reduction for crystalline glazes, crystalline lustres, in-glaze lustres, lustre washes, and copper red glazes.
Special Note:
The focus of this PDF is about my reduction process, which I call Mel (short for Methanol Electric reduction). It is not intended to teach you how to create and fire crystalline glazes. I plan to create independent PDFs and videos specifically on crystalline glazing processes, my crystalline glaze recipes (oxidation and reduction), a selection of others’ crystalline glazes I have permission to share, and crystalline firing schedules.
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