Hi
In an effort to start the pottery "art"/"craft", I picked up 3 or 4 pieces of greenware from a local place. I was told it was a "low-fire" clay. I have very little artistic skill, so I wanted to work with the "fire" aspects of the art/craft of pottery. I got some old clay bricks and made a small wood burning kiln. The clay bricks was a good choice. They held up very well. I fired the kiln yesterday for the first time... I cooked the greenware for 7-8 hours (plus whatever time of "cooling off") which at least 5 hours (if not more) the greenware was "red" hot. I had fire coming out everwhere... Any way, the pieces are not very hard.... I would have expected then to be harder... Is this "typical" for wood fired kiln... Did I not cook it long enough? Also, I put some under glaze on one and it will come off with water (is this normal?)