Ellen Currans on mon 18 apr 11
Thanks for your good advice about the first firing of my friend's
part castable kiln (the arch and the door). She used the old
burners and did the slow firing. Here is an email I received tonight.
"I did a very slow curing firing over the weekend. To my sorrow,
the door cracked. My brother is coming over to estimate metal on
Wednesday and to fabricate and repair on Thursday. I will load
Saturday, fire Sunday. Let's hope the work is decent. I took 28 hours=3D20
to
get to 1600 degrees. I heard some sounds that I didn't like but
nothing really scary. The crack in the door appeared at about 900
degrees. There was much steaming, accompanied by an odor that
must have been a component of the refractory burning out. I think
that we will build a 2" channel iron box around the face of the door,
and bring the two parts into compression. I can make a new door
(about $350) plus labor but couldn't do it in time for Showcase. I=3D20
could
lay a dry door up but don't have the brick. If the door is a total=3D20
loss I
will go to the brickyard on Friday and buy enough brick to lay up a
door. So much for my vast profits from Showcase, eh? The kiln is
cooling down, and I won't be able to see inside until we weld the frame
onto the door. I have lots of nice work all ready to load."
Showcase is the Oregon Potters Show and Sale and starts on the 29th
through May lst. You can read more about it at www.ceramicshowcase.com
I tell Ginger she should sign on to Clayart and ask her own questions,=3D20
but
she is a very busy lady who also owns and manages an 80 greenhouse
bedding plant nursery.
Ellen Currans
Dundee, Oregon
Where it has been wet for months but we are grateful for no
tornados, tsunamis, earthquakes or forest fires.
=3D20
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