Robert Klander on thu 6 sep 07
Just about ready to buy shelves for the new propane kiln, and
wondering about the Imported Nitride bonded shelves that are being
offered by several suppliers here in the U.S.
I would, of course, love to be able to afford the Advancers, but I
just don't have the budget. (Many thanks to Bill Schran for his
extensive report on the manufacture of these.)
I read all the posts in the archives once again, and just wondering
if there are happy users of these shelves (or unhappy?). The last
round of discussion on these various shelves seemed to be in February.
Any comments by current users would be greatly appreciated.. I've
used cordierite and silicon carbide shelves in my electric kiln for
several years without complaint. Although neither seem to survive
impact very well,;-)..the silicon carbide don't seem to warp as
easily as the cordierite, but they are heavy!
the new kiln will use 14 x 28 inch shelves, so any possible reduction
in weight is a desirable consideration.
Thanks in advance,
Robert
William & Susan Schran User on thu 6 sep 07
On 9/6/07 10:03 AM, "Robert Klander" wrote:
> Any comments by current users would be greatly appreciated.. I've
> used cordierite and silicon carbide shelves in my electric kiln for
> several years without complaint. Although neither seem to survive
> impact very well,;-)..the silicon carbide don't seem to warp as
> easily as the cordierite, but they are heavy!
>=20
> the new kiln will use 14 x 28 inch shelves, so any possible reduction
> in weight is a desirable consideration.
Robert,
I certainly understand your cost issue with the Advancers, so you may want
to slowly build a set by asking for an Advancer each birthday, anniversary,
etc. - you get the idea.
I do plan on buying some of the other brands of nitride bonded silicon
carbide shelves to conduct some side by side comparisons in our ^10 firings
at school.
Given the size you're dealing with, I certainly think the less expensive
nitride bonded shelves are probably the way to go. Cordierite would require
1" thick shelves and silicon carbides would need to be 3/4" and even then
you'd probably get some warping after a time. Treat the nitride bonded
shelves like regular silicon carbide, they both have about the same
absorption rate, so you'll need to use kiln wash. I'd recommend a wash of
alumina & kaolin - no silica.
Well, that's my 2=A2
--=20
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com
Victoria E. Hamilton on thu 6 sep 07
I'm also interested in the manufacturers of the nitride bonded shelves that
Robert talks about - do they make kiln posts?
Thanks.
Vicki Hamilton
Millennia Antica Pottery
Seattle, WA
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Robert Klander
Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2007 7:03 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: [CLAYART] Imported Nitride Bonded Shelves
Just about ready to buy shelves for the new propane kiln, and wondering
about the Imported Nitride bonded shelves that are being offered by several
suppliers here in the U.S.
I would, of course, love to be able to afford the Advancers, but I just
don't have the budget. (Many thanks to Bill Schran for his extensive report
on the manufacture of these.)
I read all the posts in the archives once again, and just wondering if there
are happy users of these shelves (or unhappy?). The last round of
discussion on these various shelves seemed to be in February.
Any comments by current users would be greatly appreciated.. I've used
cordierite and silicon carbide shelves in my electric kiln for several years
without complaint. Although neither seem to survive impact very
well,;-)..the silicon carbide don't seem to warp as easily as the
cordierite, but they are heavy!
the new kiln will use 14 x 28 inch shelves, so any possible reduction in
weight is a desirable consideration.
Thanks in advance,
Robert
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Larry Kruzan on thu 6 sep 07
Hi Robert,
If you saw my post in the archives you know that I stated that I have only had great experience so far. Since that post I have bought 12 more 12x24 and 6 more 24x24x1/2 shelves to add to my collection of 30 12x24. I have also increased my kiln size to 100cf which made the added shelves a requirement. this time there was no hesitation about which shelves to buy.
I totally agree with you about advancers - they are great but are just not in my budget - I can fill the propane tank for what two advancer 24x24 costs..
I make a point to keep these dry as you should with any shelf. And I do not glaze pots and put them onto the shelves right away. My normal practice is to clean pots and wax bottoms one day, glaze for one to two days, allow the pots to airdry one full day, load the kiln the next day and fire on Friday or Saturday, start making again on Monday, unload on Tuesday morning, spend the rest of the day pricing. :-|( Back to to wheel and start making on Wednesday - best part of the month 5 to 6 straight days on the wheel. Or the wheel and telephone.......
Best Wishes with the new Kiln!!!
Larry Kruzan
Lost Creek Pottery
www.lostcreekpottery.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Klander
Date: Thursday, September 6, 2007 12:28
Subject: [CLAYART] Imported Nitride Bonded Shelves
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Just about ready to buy shelves for the new propane kiln, and
> wondering about the Imported Nitride bonded shelves that are being
> offered by several suppliers here in the U.S.
>
> I would, of course, love to be able to afford the Advancers, but I
> just don't have the budget. (Many thanks to Bill Schran
> for his
> extensive report on the manufacture of these.)
>
> I read all the posts in the archives once again, and just wondering
> if there are happy users of these shelves (or unhappy?).
> The last
> round of discussion on these various shelves seemed to be in February.
>
> Any comments by current users would be greatly
> appreciated.. I've
> used cordierite and silicon carbide shelves in my electric kiln for
> several years without complaint. Although neither seem to
> surviveimpact very well,;-)..the silicon carbide don't seem to
> warp as
> easily as the cordierite, but they are heavy!
>
> the new kiln will use 14 x 28 inch shelves, so any possible reduction
> in weight is a desirable consideration.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Robert
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots2@visi.com
Brandon Phillips on thu 6 sep 07
i have about 14 of these 12x24 shelves. i got them from larkin furnace(www.larkinrefractory.com) for about 40 bucks each. i've been using them in a salt kiln and they have been great. i've logged over 50 firings, a few of the firings got to cone 12-13 on the bottom, they are flat as a pancake and i have never flipped them, and have yet to break a shelf or have one crack. salt and glaze drips just rub right off with a silicon carbide rub brick. my kiln is outdoors and i've never had moisture problems that people have reported with advancers(i single fire which may make a difference, and i'm wise enough not to put shelves that are visibly wet into the kiln.) i'm a supporter of "american made" but oh man i just can't afford those advancers. and my back can't afford anything else. there is a pic of the shelves sitting in my kiln on my website. i am extremely pleased with them.
brandon phillips
http://www.supportyourlocalpotter.com
Peter Coates on thu 6 sep 07
Hello
At the art center we have bought some the last two years, we like
them very much. They are lighter, don't warp like other types, and
glaze runs come off easer. For the price they can't be beat.
There has been some discussion about them getting wet. The first year
i purchased some they came with this white powder all over, so i took
the shelves to the car wash, then kiln washed, then i fired the kiln.
I didn't know i wasn't supposed to do that. Every thing fired normal,
no problems.
Peter
Oklahoma City
WWW.cityartscenter.org
On Sep 6, 2007, at 9:03 AM, Robert Klander wrote:
> Just about ready to buy shelves for the new propane kiln, and
> wondering about the Imported Nitride bonded shelves that are being
> offered by several suppliers here in the U.S.
>
> I would, of course, love to be able to afford the Advancers, but I
> just don't have the budget. (Many thanks to Bill Schran for his
> extensive report on the manufacture of these.)
>
> I read all the posts in the archives once again, and just wondering
> if there are happy users of these shelves (or unhappy?). The last
> round of discussion on these various shelves seemed to be in February.
>
> Any comments by current users would be greatly appreciated.. I've
> used cordierite and silicon carbide shelves in my electric kiln for
> several years without complaint. Although neither seem to survive
> impact very well,;-)..the silicon carbide don't seem to warp as
> easily as the cordierite, but they are heavy!
>
> the new kiln will use 14 x 28 inch shelves, so any possible reduction
> in weight is a desirable consideration.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Robert
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> ________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots2@visi.com
Robert Klander on fri 7 sep 07
Many thanks for everyone who took the time to respond to my question
about these shelves. Clayart continues to prove itself to be an
awesome resource!
For those who might be interested in the reports, all responses were positive!
Those that own the imports are quite happy with their performance.
Those that own advancers are quite happy with their performance, as well.
So, thanks again to all!
Robert
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