chatolandia
Eat the Halloween Candy!
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I finally got the pictures from the Raku last fall. I was able to use the Horse Hairs that Circe so kindly donated to the cause.
This blog could be long, hopefully not too long.
But before I start describing the process of using the horse hair, I want to thank Circe for her donation
This is the pot, just after I threw it on the wheel. I had to burnish the surface so the piece could be waxed later
After that is was fired to bisque (first firing) and it was ready for Raku!
The pot is heated to 1800 F. Once the pot is ready, it is time to remove it from the kiln.
The pot is really hot, making it is necessary to use tongs to move it.
The pot has to rest in a hot surface, to prevent cracking from thermal shock. We used the top of the kiln
It still too hot to do the horsehair, so we wait...
The trick is to wait until the pot is cool enough to get marks on it and not completely burn everything away, but hot enough to leave marks.
The best way to test is with your tongue...
NOT!!!
We use one horse hair, and try until it starts working.
Here is the beginning
Once the hair is working, leaving the marks on the pot as it burns off, we have to move quickly, the get the design we want.
I like a random application, with a slightly heavy coverage.
We do that until we are happy with the results or the pot cools down
Unfortunately, this pot cracked, but it is expected. At least it did not fall apart, which means I was able to wax it and display it at home.
Here are the other Horsehair pieces I made. The bottle was donated to the Empty Bowls silent auction, where it sold for $60!
The horse is still waiting for a loving home
This blog could be long, hopefully not too long.
But before I start describing the process of using the horse hair, I want to thank Circe for her donation

This is the pot, just after I threw it on the wheel. I had to burnish the surface so the piece could be waxed later
After that is was fired to bisque (first firing) and it was ready for Raku!
The pot is heated to 1800 F. Once the pot is ready, it is time to remove it from the kiln.
The pot is really hot, making it is necessary to use tongs to move it.
The pot has to rest in a hot surface, to prevent cracking from thermal shock. We used the top of the kiln
It still too hot to do the horsehair, so we wait...
The trick is to wait until the pot is cool enough to get marks on it and not completely burn everything away, but hot enough to leave marks.
The best way to test is with your tongue...
NOT!!!
We use one horse hair, and try until it starts working.
Here is the beginning
Once the hair is working, leaving the marks on the pot as it burns off, we have to move quickly, the get the design we want.
I like a random application, with a slightly heavy coverage.
We do that until we are happy with the results or the pot cools down
Unfortunately, this pot cracked, but it is expected. At least it did not fall apart, which means I was able to wax it and display it at home.
Here are the other Horsehair pieces I made. The bottle was donated to the Empty Bowls silent auction, where it sold for $60!
The horse is still waiting for a loving home









