[Clayart] Getting Orange Peel texture using only soda

[Vince Pitelka]

We've gotten good orange peel on buff stoneware claybodies as long as we charge enough soda.  The only charging method I find satisfactory is with a garden sprayer. Our soda kiln is 20-cubic-feet cross-draft, with charging ports in the front and back of the firebox at a level just above the burner ports.  We fan the spray across the floor and firebox wall and get very good volatilization.  I personally go for a fairly light soda effect. I dissolve 3 pounds of soda in two gallons of hot water right before charging, and I usually charge about half of that by the time I am getting good surface on the draw rings.  I close the damper completely when I charge in order to get more even coverage. Opening the damper pulls the soda through the kiln directionally and gives asymmetrical results, which can be very nice, but I want a more even overall effect.  In my experience, you cannot achieve really even overall effects with soda, especially if you want orange peel.  Salt does a much better job of that.  In soda, my students have gotten decent orange peel charging three or four pounds of soda.  It is true that shutting down the kiln and letting it crash cool just a bit will preserve the orange peel, whereas firing longer after the last firing will smooth it out.

Also, as someone pointed out, orange peel is always better on stoneware bodies than on porcelain.

One of my students has been experimenting with different flashing slips in salt firing.  On his most recent firing, a high-neph sy flashing slip gave exquisite orange peel.  I am anxious to try it in soda.  As soon as he gives me the recipe I will post it to Clayart. 
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Tech University
vpitelka at dtccom.net  
sites.tntech.edu/wpitelka/