Glazes

• Raku pottery can be made from any pottery clay, though there is special raku clay that is available on the market. This special clay can withstand high temperatures and thermal shock. You place the completed piece in the kiln and fire it. Then you apply a special raku glaze to the fired pottery. You can apply these glazes like any glaze by spraying on, brushing on or sponging on the glaze. Some of the raku glazes will crack and leave spider webbing, which is a desirable effect. Another popular raku glaze will have copper in it. You can use one or more glazes on the pottery. Or, the pottery can be free of glaze and just have the smoked effect on the pottery. A combination of these techniques, glazing and leaving parts unglazed will also work.
  
  

Raku Process

• Raku firing
  
  A metal can with a cover, such as a trash can, is used for the fire and smoke portion of raku firing. The combustible materials that are used in the metal can may be newspapers, small pieces of wood, sawdust or pine needles because they easily catch on fire. A combination of these materials can be used or used separately. Each combustible material will produce a different effect on the raku pottery.
  
  The prepared piece of pottery is fired in the kiln to a high temperature of 1,800 degrees F. While the piece of pottery is glowing hot, it is removed from the kiln with tongs and placed in the metal can, which is sealed.
  
  

Finishing

• The raku pottery remains sealed in the metal can until the fire uses all the oxygen and is extinguished and cooled. This can be up to a few hours, depending on how large the piece of pottery is. The piece is then removed from the metal can and placed in water to be cleaned or to finish cooling down. The piece is then cleaned with a stiff brush to remove excess ash. Raku pottery is not waterproof and is used as a decoration only.