In late 2003 a group of ceramics students at the ANU School of Art in Canberra received a grant from their Student Association, enabling them to convert an old Woodrow electric kiln into a gas-fired soda kiln. Spurred on by one of their teachers, Gail Nichols, the students had wanted to learn about soda glazing, but they needed a suitable kiln. They wrote a grant proposal for a student-initiated kiln building project, and were successful in receiving the funding. The project proved to be a good hands-on lesson in kiln design and construction. In January 2005 the ANU soda kiln was used by students attending a three-day Soda Glazing Masterclass with Gail Nichols, assisted by Robyn Gough and Maryke Henderson. Two soda firings were completed within the three days, enabling students to compare the effects of different firing cycles.

In 2004 we began the conversion by removing the elements from the kiln. High alumina bricks were then laid to the floor, bedded in a mixture of 50/50 sand and kaolin. More high alumina bricks were cut to form two fire boxes, running across the kiln, one at the front, one at the back. A corrugated iron roof was attached to the outer metal framework to protect the kiln. (Plates 1, 2 and 11)

The metal cover on the right side of the kiln was removed, exposing soft firebricks which were cut with a hacksaw blade for the flue, two soda ports and two burner ports. The burner and soda ports were lined with pieces of kiln shelf cut to size from old shelves. Finished size of the burner ports was to be 3 x 3 1/2 inches, so a hole 4 1/2 x 5 inches was cut to set the shelf pieces into. The burner ports were at floor level as was the flue. (Plates 3 & 5)

We drilled anchor points on the back wall at a downwards angle to pack castable into for strength and stability as the back wall was being lined. Formwork was placed against the back wall to pack the castable into, then built up and supported as we worked our way up.

The channels in the two side walls which had contained the elements were packed with castable and the walls were lined. We found that it was simpler to mix the castable to a very wet mix, allow it to dry slightly on a brick,and plaster it with a paint scraper to the wall. If the mix was not wet enough, it dropped off the wall instantly. We found that if we sprayed the soft brick with water first the mix would adhere more easily.

Two courses of cement blocks were placed on the ground as the base for the flue and common bricks laid on top, nine bricks lengthways by four widthways. A metal casing was welded to enclose the brickwork of the burner/soda port wall prior to the chimney being built. The chimney was built to carry emissions above the roofline of the shed area. (Plates 7, 8)