Cheryl Thiruvathukal on wed 8 aug 12
Hi,
I have some information and a plan for finishing my ware. I was very upse=
=3D
t
after the kiln stopped apparently in the middle of the night, likely 30
minutes of so prior to firing or more. I was working, very ill, and I sh=
=3D
ut
the door to my kiln shed. This caused it to be too hot in the room just =
=3D
as
the kiln was finishing up. The code, E-BD indicates improper ventilation=
=3D
and the computer shuts off due to overheating. I talked to the Skutt tech=
=3D
and he was so nice. Just said--it happens. You will have to assess afte=
=3D
r
the door opens based on the self-supporting cones and by sight.
I opened it hoping that the cone # 6 would be at 90 degrees or within nor=
=3D
mal
range. Well...that wasn't the case. The top shelf (cone 6) was 23 degre=
=3D
es.
The center shelf-7,6,5-were 19 degrees,25 degrees, and 90 degrees
respectively. The bottom values (7,6,5)-17-18 degrees, 24 degrees, 90
degrees respectively. I talked to a few people locally and got a consens=
=3D
us
with one exception. I know Georgie's may not be perfect, but Bob was rea=
=3D
lly
nice with me on this. He told me what he was trying to do with the ramp
hold (small at the end--5 to 10 minutes). It is hard to explain, but I
believe he had thought that through. For assessing, I will be doing a sma=
=3D
ll
ramp hold of 5 minutes at the end of a medium speed glazing to assess the=
=3D
kiln unless I hear a reason this would be damaging.=3D20=3D20
I was initially concerned that I should finish firing to cone 6 because =
=3D
the
glaze didn't fully mature, without putting any additional glaze on any
piece. I have been told that I should just do touch up glazing preheatin=
=3D
g
the pieces to help glaze adhere. I know how to do that. I need to apply
glaze in a few areas before putting things back in. Then, like I said, I
planned to fire to cone 6 on medium speed with a slight hold of about 5
minutes. Any thoughts on what to do other than carefully re-glazing,
ventilation, and using cones to measure the kiln's firing? I am still a =
=3D
bit
stressed, so any positive uplifting information would be great. I am a
young potter so I need some mentoring and mostly morale support. :-) Let=
=3D
me
know if you have questions that I didn't answer.
Thanks again,
Cheryl
Steve Slatin on thu 9 aug 12
Cheryl --=3D0A=3DA0=3D0AIf you use the same cones (the ones used in the pre=
vious,=3D
not-quite-sufficient=3D0Afiring) then they will show a correct cone 6 firi=
ng=3D
for the pieces that were in=3D0Athat same firing.=3DA0 The clay, the exist=
ing =3D
glaze layer, etc. will all mature =3D0Asimultaneously.=3D0A=3DA0=3D0AI have=
tried a=3D
dditional glaze application before a re-fire with mixed results.=3D0AI can =
ne=3D
ither condemn it nor recommend it.=3DA0 However, if=3D0Ayou know the piece =
will=3D
not be acceptable if not touched=3D0Aup, you might as well try.=3D0A=3D0AA=
s for =3D
the firing itself, it sounds like you got just under ^5.=3DA0 (I'm=3D0Auncl=
ear =3D
about some of the results you report, but that's what I'd=3D0Aconclude.)=3D=
A0 A=3D
ctually making a cone involves getting the target=3D0Acone to a near-perfec=
t =3D
"U" shape.=3DA0 Nothing substitutes for being=3D0Apresent near the end of t=
he f=3D
iring, and checking the progress of=3D0Athe cones -- using eye-protection s=
o =3D
you don't get a cornea-full=3D0Aof super-heated air or dangerous light radi=
at=3D
ion.=3D0A=3D0ASteve Slatin -- =3D0A=3D0A=3D0AN48.0886450=3D0AW123.1420482=
=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A_____=3D
___________________________=3D0A=3DA0=3DA0=3D0A=3DA0 =3D0AHi,=3D0A=3D0AI h=
ave some informa=3D
tion and a plan for finishing my ware. I was very upset=3D0Aafter the kiln =
st=3D
opped apparently in the middle of the night, likely 30=3D0Aminutes of so pr=
io=3D
r to firing or more.=3DA0 I was working, very ill, and I shut=3D0Athe door =
to m=3D
y kiln shed.=3DA0 This caused it to be too hot in the room just as=3D0Athe =
kiln=3D
was finishing up.=3DA0 The code, E-BD indicates improper ventilation=3D0Aa=
nd t=3D
he computer shuts off due to overheating. I talked to the Skutt tech=3D0Aan=
d =3D
he was so nice.=3DA0 Just said--it happens.=3DA0 You will have to assess af=
ter=3D
=3D0Athe door opens based on the self-supporting cones and by sight.
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