Fire Up The Bailey...in 2011

Okay, so my first estimate was that I'd fire this "new" kiln in October. Here it is late December and it still is not hooked up! However, I have been making progress. Inch by inch I have made some changes- reworked things to deal with the low ceiling clearance and upgraded the combustion system. A Big thank you to Bailey Ceramics. The more I learn about the downdraft Bailey kilns, the more I am SO glad to have adopted one!

When I started it looked like this:

 This is the back of the kiln before it was shipped to my house.











                          
  Now the kiln looks like this:

 Cool, huh? I have to say, I am pretty impressed myself!


What still waits is: hook up the gas and make enough pots to fire it...in between there I study to learn HOW to load and fire it!

I have never fired a gas kiln in my life. My Electric Skutt (1227) has a programmer and all I have to do is plug in a few things and walk away from it. The ease of this kiln did not encourage (force) me to learn about firing schedules, etc. So- now I need to hit the books.

Of course, any advice out there would be greatly appreciated~
      no, really, I mean it: I Need Advice!
How to stack this kiln, how to light it...umm and other things that I don't even know what to ask about.

Thanks, I look forward to the adventure!