Bill Merrill on mon 28 jun 10
I bisque in a large gas kiln. I set bowls in bows and try to get the
feet to be over one another in cross section. I do the same with large
platters and always sprinkle Virginia Kyanite on the shelf so the piece
shrinks during bisque easier. Most production , full time potters don't
lose pots in the bisque fire. =3D20
=3D20
If I fire large platters in an electric kiln. I only put the 2 platters
on the top shelf. I only fire the bottom kiln ring during pre heating ,
then go to the middle elements and I don't turn on the top elements by
the platters. I have found that if large platters or bowls are too
close to the kiln wall and especially the elements, it is more likely a
crack will develop on the lip. When the piece is too close to the
element, the rim heats first and the center is cooler, therefore a
problem can occur by splitting the rim. Another thing that causes rims
to split in firing is that during drying if the lip is dry and the foot
not dry, a hairline crack may be invisible until the pot is bisque fire
because of moving the pot . It flexed slightly and the lip developed
the crack.
=3D20
Some of the platters with torn edges are on Flickr. There are also
pictures of pots, kilns etc at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25594880@N04/=3D20
Bill Merrill
=3D20
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