Raku: A Practical Approach

A complete resource for raku firing. Specific technical information for kiln construction, as well as photos, glaze recipes and much discussion about experimental materials for reduction. If you had only one book to learn about raku tecniques,this should be the one.

This is the second Raku Bible that I have used and referred to repeatedly over the years. There is a short section on what Raku is and the history of Raku, but then it quickly moves into the guts of technical information on Raku. Branfman includes clay recipes (for those who are interested in actually mixing clay) and several glaze recipes with some details on how they perform.The real meat of the book is on kilns, building kilns, and firing a Raku kiln. Branfman covers firing in both an electric and a gas kiln. He also details many plans and techniques for building your own Raku kiln. Branfman also details many variations of firing methods including reduction firing, piece removal, and post firing reduction methods. Sprinkled throughout the book are great examples of finished pieces using many different styles and techniques that I have used as a repeated source of inspiration. Overall, the book is a very excellent text that covers the practical aspect of the Raku art form.

Recently I got the idea of replacing my current electric kiln, and converting the old kiln to a gas-fired rake kiln. I posted a question on the ClayArt mailing list asking for advice on how to do this. Every single reply refered me to Steve Branfman's book! I quickly bought a copy, and found it to be every bit as good as advertised. In an readable, conversational style, Steve covers a wide range of topics, including some history, glaze formulations, types of kilns, firing advice, and health & safety. Where needed, he gives very detailed and specific technical information (the section on determining BTU requirements for burners was *exactly* what I needed). He also provides great recommendations on sources and suppliers. For anyone who wants to get started, or go further, with raku, this is a great book.

A very good resource for anyone who is interested in the Raku process. I would not recommend this book for novice Raku artists because of the technical terms used in the book. The author does expect you to know varios technical terms. I found this book very hepful to me as I have been a Raku artist for 2 years. This book is easy to read and the photos are great. There are also a few glaze recipes that I enjoyed experimenting with.

I have been a potter for many years and recently decided to build a studio with a kiln in my home. This book was of immense help. It gives detailed instructions and ideas for every aspect of raku from building a kiln (many choices) to mixing glazes and clays, designing a studio, teaching a workshop to health and safety concerns. It has much more practical information than any other book on raku that I have seen. As the author states in the beginning of the book, though, it is not for the novice. He assumes you already have a fundamental knowledge of the art of ceramics. I have recommended it many times to other potters. Margaret Gooding