Barrie Gross on fri 11 jul 08
Hello. My pottery studio is buying new kiln shelves. We've bought
advancers in the past as we've replaced the cordierite and they are great.
But because of the price of advancers, I've been researching the alternative
imported nitrite bonded silicon carbide shelves. I've read most of the
discussions on clayart about the use of the shelves in electric kilns and
appreciate the education about electrical shock, exposure to moisture,
thermal shock, etc. I also saw that Bailey has a warning on their website
that they do not recommend these shelves for use in electric oxidation
firings. But I haven't seen too much discussion about the imported nitride
bonded shelves in gas kilns.
We have two gas kilns: one updraft and one downdraft. We do mostly
reduction firings with a rare oxidation firing. I am curious if anyone has
any feedback about use of the imported nitrite bonded shelves in gas kilns.
Does anyone have any experience to share? Curious about overall
performance, cracking, total failure, ease of cleaning glaze, kiln wash (yes
or no), different experiences based on different sizes, length of shelf life
(no pun intended), etc.
Thanks very much.
Barrie
Ruby's Clay Studio & Gallery
San Francisco, CA
June on sat 12 jul 08
I have both advancers and the Nitrite bonded shelves and the advancers have performed very well, but I lost a few of the nitrite bonded. Three of them cracked in half, in the same place after a couple of firings.
Also, know that the Nitrite bonded shelves are only rated to cone 11 and I'm not sure they should even be fired that high from my experience.
When I buy more shelves, they'll be Advancers.
Regards,
June
http://www.shambhalapottery.com
http://shambhalapottery.blogspot.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sodasaltfiring/
----- Original Message ----
From: Barrie Gross
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2008 1:31:50 PM
Subject: Nitrite bonded shelves - gas kiln
Hello. My pottery studio is buying new kiln shelves. We've bought
advancers in the past as we've replaced the cordierite and they are great.
But because of the price of advancers, I've been researching the alternative
imported nitrite bonded silicon carbide shelves. I've read most of the
discussions on clayart about the use of the shelves in electric kilns and
appreciate the education about electrical shock, exposure to moisture,
thermal shock, etc. I also saw that Bailey has a warning on their website
that they do not recommend these shelves for use in electric oxidation
firings. But I haven't seen too much discussion about the imported nitride
bonded shelves in gas kilns.
We have two gas kilns: one updraft and one downdraft. We do mostly
reduction firings with a rare oxidation firing. I am curious if anyone has
any feedback about use of the imported nitrite bonded shelves in gas kilns.
Does anyone have any experience to share? Curious about overall
performance, cracking, total failure, ease of cleaning glaze, kiln wash (yes
or no), different experiences based on different sizes, length of shelf life
(no pun intended), etc.
Thanks very much.
Barrie
Ruby's Clay Studio & Gallery
San Francisco, CA
Bill Merrill on sat 12 jul 08
If the imported shelves are from China, I would steer away from buying.
I have heard nothing bur negative stories about them, from cracking to
breaking during firing. The Advancer shelves are costly, but now is the
time to save on fuel and if you are young your back will appreciate the
Advancers later in life. Life is too short to use crap equipment and
materials. Buy The American made Advancers. It may hurt your
pocketbook now, but you'll find that you made a good decision if you
do~!!
Bill
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Barrie
Gross
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2008 10:32 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Nitrite bonded shelves - gas kiln
Hello. My pottery studio is buying new kiln shelves. We've bought
advancers in the past as we've replaced the cordierite and they are
great.
But because of the price of advancers, I've been researching the
alternative
imported nitrite bonded silicon carbide shelves. I've read most of the
discussions on clayart about the use of the shelves in electric kilns
and
appreciate the education about electrical shock, exposure to moisture,
thermal shock, etc. I also saw that Bailey has a warning on their
website
that they do not recommend these shelves for use in electric oxidation
firings. But I haven't seen too much discussion about the imported
nitride
bonded shelves in gas kilns.
We have two gas kilns: one updraft and one downdraft. We do mostly
reduction firings with a rare oxidation firing. I am curious if anyone
has
any feedback about use of the imported nitrite bonded shelves in gas
kilns.
Does anyone have any experience to share? Curious about overall
performance, cracking, total failure, ease of cleaning glaze, kiln wash
(yes
or no), different experiences based on different sizes, length of shelf
life
(no pun intended), etc.
Thanks very much.
Barrie
Ruby's Clay Studio & Gallery
San Francisco, CA
Loren JOnes on sat 12 jul 08
We are using some of these here in Colorado at our guild. They are good shelves although not anywhere as nice as Advancers. Advancers are slick and repel glaze better. These are slightly more porous and glazes sticks to them more. You can still grind off any drips but not as easy as the others. Price counts a lot in this day and age! Mark the side A and B so you can keep track of what side you used last. They will warp if you keep firing on one side! Cheers, Loren
----- Original Message ----
From: Barrie Gross
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2008 11:31:50 AM
Subject: Nitrite bonded shelves - gas kiln
Hello. My pottery studio is buying new kiln shelves. We've bought
advancers in the past as we've replaced the cordierite and they are great.
But because of the price of advancers, I've been researching the alternative
imported nitrite bonded silicon carbide shelves. I've read most of the
discussions on clayart about the use of the shelves in electric kilns and
appreciate the education about electrical shock, exposure to moisture,
thermal shock, etc. I also saw that Bailey has a warning on their website
that they do not recommend these shelves for use in electric oxidation
firings. But I haven't seen too much discussion about the imported nitride
bonded shelves in gas kilns.
We have two gas kilns: one updraft and one downdraft. We do mostly
reduction firings with a rare oxidation firing. I am curious if anyone has
any feedback about use of the imported nitrite bonded shelves in gas kilns.
Does anyone have any experience to share? Curious about overall
performance, cracking, total failure, ease of cleaning glaze, kiln wash (yes
or no), different experiences based on different sizes, length of shelf life
(no pun intended), etc.
Thanks very much.
Barrie
Ruby's Clay Studio & Gallery
San Francisco, CA
Larry Kruzan on sun 13 jul 08
<<<<<<<<<<<used last. They will warp if you keep firing on one side! Cheers,
Loren>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Since most methods of marking shelves will not stick to these shelves, I use
a sharpie marker to mark the top of each shelf with a big X as I unload the
Kiln. When I restack the next load I make sure to put the X down.
I've been firing them for two years and they are as flat as new - the only
ones I have broken was because I dropped a brick on them.
Larry Kruzan
Lost Creek Pottery
www.lostcreekpottery.com
| |
|
