The Mahna-Mahna-Magamma will generally fire for two days, and exceed temperatures greater than cone 10. Although every firing is unique, my firing philosophy is to generate as much ash, and surface variation as possible. The kiln was designed to consume large volumes of wood, producing results more commonly seen through longer term firings. Loading the kiln is a communal effort, in which every participant will help wad their works, and carry them down to the kiln site. 

Loading the kiln will take 6-10 hours depending on the volume and amount of help. We tend to start Friday morning, and have a fire started early evening. The firing will continue another 24-48 hours, according to the predetermined schedule. The Studio is open for workshop participants between 10 am- 4 pm during the firing. During this time, participants will be working closely with Mike and or his guest artists to learn about the firing process, as well as take part in discussions around the making and history ceramics. 

Glazing:

I highly encourage that you let the kiln do the work, and keep your glazes minimal. If you are glazing the exteriors, please be cautious of dripping or running, and be prepared to clean any shelves or surface if it occurs. In extreme cases you would be asked to replace a shelf if it were deemed unsalvageable. The studio maintains a small variety of glazes that perform incredibly well in the kiln. 

Unloading:

The kiln will take a minimum of 4 days to cool, however we schedule our unload date for the Following Friday. Pieces will be removed from the kiln promptly at 10 am, and will be laid out for display until noon. Any grinding or finishing work must be done at your main studio, however Mike is happy to provide any advice on removing wadding or ash.