Cone 6 Soda Firing Workshop

Carrboro ArtsCenter August 2025

Contact Information

Doug Dotson
(919) 444-9678 (call or text)
DougDotsonPottery@gmail.com
305 Mockernut Rd, Pittsboro, NC 27312

Class Schedule

Class Details

Slips – Cone 6

Glazes – Cone 6

Underglazes – Cone 6

Resources

Class Schedule

  • Thursday August 21, 9:30am-12pm. ArtsCenter
  • Thursday September 4, 9:30am-12pm. ArtsCenter
  • Thursday September 18, 9:30am-12pm. ArtsCenter
  • September 18, half of all pots due on the bisque shelf
  • September 25, the last day to get pots on the bisque shelf
  • Thursday October 2, 9:30am-3;30pm. Load the kiln. Wad pottery, load, break for potluck, then finish loading. Doug Dotson Pottery
  • Saturday October 4, Fire the kiln. Starts early, spray soda at about 12noon, finish at about 3:30pm. Doug Dotson Pottery
  • Thursday October 9, 9:30am-12pm. Unload. Doug Dotson Pottery.

Class Details

Each student is allotted kiln space the size of about 25 mugs. Students are welcome to make larger and smaller pieces in most any shape. Taller pieces of 7-10″ are welcome. Large platters are not so welcome. Really small pieces pretty much always get in. Extra pots are encouraged – I promise to work hard to get them in!

  • August 21
  • Introductions
  • Process Overview
  • Clay that works well
  • What pots work well
  • Surfaces for soda atmosphere
  • Wheel/Attachment Demo
  • Slip Demo
  • Student work time
  • September 4
  • Wheel/Attachment Demo. I’m going to make a squarish teapot!
  • Glaze discussion and demo
  • Student work time
  • September 18
  • Wheel/Attachment Demo
  • Student Requested Topics
  • Moving bisqued pots
  • Student work time
  • October 2
  • Start at 9:30am
  • Wad Pottery and organize
  • Load the kiln
  • Potluck! Bring food to share if you like.
  • This will probably take about 6 hours.
  • October 4
  • Fire the kiln.
  • Students can arrive at about noon.
  • Students are welcome to come for as much or as little of the firing as they like.
  • Soda spraying will probably be in the early afternoon and students can participate
  • October 9
  • Unload the kiln starting at 9:30am
  • What clay bodies worked well?
  • What slips and glazes worked well?
  • Demo: Finishing pots after the firing
  • Document successes and failures

Slips for Cone 6 Soda

Helmer Kaolin Slip

  • Helmer Kaolin %70
  • Neph Sy 30%
  • Bentonite 2%
  • Helmer Slip on KMW Big Turtle
  • Helmar Slip on Zellastone clay

    • Tile 6 Slip

    • Tile 6 Clay 70%
    • EPK 15%
    • Flint 5%
    • Neph Sy 10%
    • Bentonite 2%
  • Tile 6 Slip on KMW Big Turtle
  • Tile 6 Slip on Highwater Raku
  • Tile 6 Slip on Redstone
  • Tile 6 Slip on Shenendoa White
  • Tile 6 Slip on Little Loafers
  • Tile 6 Slip on P5

    • Avery Kaolin Slip

    Avery Kaolin Slip is similar to Helmer Kaolin slip – it is made with Avery Kaolin instead of Helmer Kaolin.

    • Avery Kaolin %70
    • Neph Sy 30%
    • Bentonite 2%
  • Avery Slip on Speckled Brownstone
  • Avery Slip on Shenendoah White
  • Avery Slip on P5

    • RedArt Terra Sigillatta

    • RedArt
  • Red Terra Sigillata on LIttle Loafers
  • Red Terra Sigillata on P5
  • Red Terra Sigillata on Raku

    • White Terra Sigillatta

    • Recipe

    • EPK Slip

    • EPK clay 70%
    • Neph Sy 30%
    • Bentonite 2%
  • EPK Slip on Zellastone

    • Linda’s Titanium Slip

    • Recipe
  • Linda’s Titanium on Big Turtle
  • Titanium Yellow on KMW Ice Man
  • Linda’s Titanium Yellow on Zellastone

    • Fish Sauce Slip

    • Recipe
  • Fish Sauce White on Zellastone
  • Fish Sauce White on Ice Man
  • Fish Sauce on KMW Big Turtle

    • Red Fish Sauce Slip

    • Recipe
  • Red Fish Sauce on KMW Ice Man
  • Red Fish Sauce on KMW Big Turtle
  • Fish Sauce Red on Zellastone

    • Gail Nichols Blue Slip

    • Recipe

    • Oestrich White Slip

    • Recipe
  • Oestrich on KMW Big Turtle
  • Oestrich White on ZellaStone

    • Oestrich Blue Slip

    • Recipe
  • Oestrich Blue on KMW Ice Man

    • Claymakers Black Slip

    • Recipe
  • Black Slip on KMW Ice Man

    • Glazes for Cone 6 Soda

    Amber Celedon

    • Recipe
  • Amber Celedon on P5
  • Amber Celedon on
  • Amber Celedon on
  • Amber Celedon on Shendoa White

    • Chun

    • Recipe
  • Chun on P5

    • Cornflower

    • Recipe

    • Falls Creek Shino

    • Recipe

    • Hamada Rust

    • Recipe

    • Jade Green

    • Recipe
  • Shanendoah White
  • Little Loafers
  • Raku

    • Licorice

    • Recipe

    • MC Clear

    • Recipe

    • Nutmeg

    • Recipe

    • Panama Red

    • Recipe

    • Petes Weathered Bronze

    • Recipe

    • Randy’s Red

    • Recipe

    • Rusty Gloss

    • Recipe

    • Scott’s Celedon

    • Recipe

    • Tenmoku

    • Recipe

    • Toasty Matte

    • Recipe

    • White

    • Recipe

    • Woo Yellow

    • Recipe

    • Baily’s Blue Green

    • Recipe
  • on ZellaStone

    • Blue Grey Chun

    • Recipe
  • on ZellaStone

    • Dresang Shino

    • Recipe
  • on ZellaStone

    • Cream

    • Recipe
  • on ZellaStone

    • Floating Blue

    • Recipe
  • on ZellaStone

    • Grumpy Green

    • Recipe
  • on ZellaStone

    • Panama Red

    • Recipe
  • on ZellaStone

    • Pinel Blue

    • Recipe
  • on ZellaStone

    • Shaner’s Red

    • Recipe
  • on Zella Stone

    • Speckled Toad

    • Recipe
  • on ZellaStone

    • Titanium Yellow

    • Recipe
  • on ZellaStone

    • Underglazes for Cone 6 Soda

    Underglazes at Claymakers

  • Pink
  • Black
  • Orange
  • Blue
  • Coral Red

    • Some Clay Body examples

    Clay Bodies

  • KMW Ice Man, White Slip, Black Slip brushed
  • KMW Ice Man, Iron wash on bisque
  • KMW Brown Bear