Michael W Greenfield on thu 23 jul 98
Part One: The Story
Part Two: The Question
Part One:
I need a little help from anyone who fires a Skutt automatic with an
envirovent. I just bought a new KM1027-3 with the envirovent and just
completed two bisque (04) fires using the "cone set" mode at slow speed..
(With all my years working with clay, I've never fired a kiln by myself
before) The first was a test fire, just shelves & posts. The witness
cones(04) only showed a slight bend. OK, I said, lets try adding a 10
min hold at the end & shut down the vent at about 1900 F when I do the
next one (with ware). This time, the top & bottom cones just showed a
slight bend, but the middle cone was 1/2 way down.
Now, since these are only bisque fires, I'm not that concerned if
I'm about a 1/2 to a whole cone off. My REAL worry is when I need to do
my ^6 glaze fire this weekend. Normally, I don't mind a little
experimentation, BUT, Our guild is having our annual pottery fair (my
first) in Cortland (NY) on August 15th & 16th. The only work I have so
far is the bisque I just unloaded, so I don't want to take too big of a
chance with what little I've made so far.
Part Two:
So here's my question. Does anyone have any advice on how to fire a
KM1027-3 with an envirovent to get a consistent ^6 throughout the kiln?
Please note I have no fear of programming the controller. Also note I
will not dance naked in front of the kiln to please the kiln gods,
however, throwing naked does seem to have a certain appeal to it.
Feel free to e-mail me directly
Thanks in advance
Mike Greenfield
M_Greenfield@juno.com ( please note the underscore (programmers habit
))
Helpful hint of the day: Have a greenware break? Try instant P'slip.
It's easy to make on the spot, just run to the bathroom and grab a few
sheets of toilet paper. It turns to mush real quick with a little water,
then just add some nice slip from your reconstitution bucket & viola...
Instant ( somewhat) P'slip. I've yet to try this with bisque ware, but I
hear Paper clay stuff is supposed to work on that too.
_____________________________________________________________________
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Rick Brady on fri 24 jul 98
Michael,
Try programming a 30 min HOLD at the end of your glaze firing. That
will even out the temperature inside the kiln at the end of your firing.
Also keep the Envirovent running all the way through your cool down. I
have a similar Scutt set up and this seems to work well for me. Good
Luck!!
Regards,
> ----------
> From: Michael W Greenfield[SMTP:m_greenfield@JUNO.COM]
> Reply To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
> Sent: Thursday, July 23, 1998 7:56 PM
> To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
> Subject: Help! - Automatic Skutt Kiln...
>
> Part One: The Story
> Part Two: The Question
>
> Part One:
>
> I need a little help from anyone who fires a Skutt automatic with an
> envirovent. I just bought a new KM1027-3 with the envirovent and just
> completed two bisque (04) fires using the "cone set" mode at slow
> speed..
> (With all my years working with clay, I've never fired a kiln by
> myself
> before) The first was a test fire, just shelves & posts. The witness
> cones(04) only showed a slight bend. OK, I said, lets try adding a 10
> min hold at the end & shut down the vent at about 1900 F when I do the
> next one (with ware). This time, the top & bottom cones just showed a
> slight bend, but the middle cone was 1/2 way down.
> Now, since these are only bisque fires, I'm not that concerned
> if
> I'm about a 1/2 to a whole cone off. My REAL worry is when I need to
> do
> my ^6 glaze fire this weekend. Normally, I don't mind a little
> experimentation, BUT, Our guild is having our annual pottery fair (my
> first) in Cortland (NY) on August 15th & 16th. The only work I have
> so
> far is the bisque I just unloaded, so I don't want to take too big of
> a
> chance with what little I've made so far.
>
> Part Two:
> So here's my question. Does anyone have any advice on how to fire a
> KM1027-3 with an envirovent to get a consistent ^6 throughout the
> kiln?
> Please note I have no fear of programming the controller. Also note I
> will not dance naked in front of the kiln to please the kiln gods,
> however, throwing naked does seem to have a certain appeal to it.
>
> Feel free to e-mail me directly
> Thanks in advance
> Mike Greenfield
> M_Greenfield@juno.com ( please note the underscore (programmers
> habit
> ))
>
> Helpful hint of the day: Have a greenware break? Try instant P'slip.
> It's easy to make on the spot, just run to the bathroom and grab a few
> sheets of toilet paper. It turns to mush real quick with a little
> water,
> then just add some nice slip from your reconstitution bucket &
> viola...
> Instant ( somewhat) P'slip. I've yet to try this with bisque ware,
> but I
> hear Paper clay stuff is supposed to work on that too.
>
> _____________________________________________________________________
> You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
> Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
> Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
>
Barney Adams on fri 24 jul 98
The important part of the kilnmaster is the thermocouple. I have the 1027
and my ^6 fires right on the money for the cone firing mode and self supporting
cones. The problem underfiring has always been when I try a ramp and hold and that
is corrected easily. I would visually check you thermocouple. Also I found out
from Skutt that if the thermocouple is connected backwards the temp reads backwards
I suspect a themocouple problem, Calling Skutt would be the next step.
Barney
> Part One: The Story
> Part Two: The Question
>
> Part One:
>
> I need a little help from anyone who fires a Skutt automatic with an
> envirovent. I just bought a new KM1027-3 with the envirovent and just
> completed two bisque (04) fires using the "cone set" mode at slow speed..
> (With all my years working with clay, I've never fired a kiln by myself
> before) The first was a test fire, just shelves & posts. The witness
> cones(04) only showed a slight bend. OK, I said, lets try adding a 10
> min hold at the end & shut down the vent at about 1900 F when I do the
> next one (with ware). This time, the top & bottom cones just showed a
> slight bend, but the middle cone was 1/2 way down.
> Now, since these are only bisque fires, I'm not that concerned if
> I'm about a 1/2 to a whole cone off. My REAL worry is when I need to do
> my ^6 glaze fire this weekend. Normally, I don't mind a little
> experimentation, BUT, Our guild is having our annual pottery fair (my
> first) in Cortland (NY) on August 15th & 16th. The only work I have so
> far is the bisque I just unloaded, so I don't want to take too big of a
> chance with what little I've made so far.
>
> Part Two:
> So here's my question. Does anyone have any advice on how to fire a
> KM1027-3 with an envirovent to get a consistent ^6 throughout the kiln?
> Please note I have no fear of programming the controller. Also note I
> will not dance naked in front of the kiln to please the kiln gods,
> however, throwing naked does seem to have a certain appeal to it.
>
> Feel free to e-mail me directly
> Thanks in advance
> Mike Greenfield
> M_Greenfield@juno.com ( please note the underscore (programmers habit
> ))
>
> Helpful hint of the day: Have a greenware break? Try instant P'slip.
> It's easy to make on the spot, just run to the bathroom and grab a few
> sheets of toilet paper. It turns to mush real quick with a little water,
> then just add some nice slip from your reconstitution bucket & viola...
> Instant ( somewhat) P'slip. I've yet to try this with bisque ware, but I
> hear Paper clay stuff is supposed to work on that too.
>
> _____________________________________________________________________
> You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
> Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
> Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
>
The Kiln Gods on fri 24 jul 98
Hi Michael,
Straight up.........the test firings you did at cone 04 are not a concrete
indication of how even your kiln will fire at cone 6. Test fire the kiln to
cone 6 to get results you can count on.
Not only are the peak temperatures different but also the preset program (&
its parameters) for a cone 6 is different than that of acone 04 preset
program.
Unfortunately, test firings are necessary. Keeping a log book is very good
idea.
Chris @
Euclid's Kilns and Elements
1-800-296-5456
Web Site: http://www.euclids.com
E-Mail: mail@euclids.com
Bobbi Bassett on sat 25 jul 98
I have a Skutt Controller and a Bailey vent system. I've never left it on
during cool down. Do you mean right up til you open it? Do you think it would
work with the Bailey? I've always been afraid to cool too quickly, but it
would be an advantage. I would sure appreciate comments from anyone who has
tried this.
Bobbi in Beautiful PA
Earl Brunner on sat 25 jul 98
They are so anal at the city art center where I teach classes that when they
got the new Skutts with the bottom venting system/fan, they left the old fan
powered exhaust hoods in place and insist that the kiln be fired with BOTH
systems running, firing up and cooling down. Heck, I've gone in there 4 days
later and the dumb things are still going. One of the other teachers, and I
use the term loosely, doesn't like the smell of the hot kilns and thinks she's
breathing toxic fumes.
David Cowdrill on thu 30 jul 98
......
>Keeping a log book is very good idea.
.....
I've worked up log pages which have proven helpful:
- record of firings
- temperature (Centigrade) vs time
- definition of user programs
If you'd like a copy send me privately:
- your snailmail address for paper copies
- your email address for Excel 4.0 attached files
I'm glad to help a little because I've received so much help from Clayart
folks!
Sheilah Bliss on fri 31 jul 98
In a message dated 7/24/98 9:19:25 PM, you wrote:
<during cool down. Do you mean right up til you open it? Do you think it would
work with the Bailey? I've always been afraid to cool too quickly, but it
would be an advantage. >>
Hi-
I have a Bailey (ConeArt) Kiln with an Envirovent. I leave the vent on
through most of the firing, turning it off only toward the very end since an
assortment of gases are still present. It doesn't seem to affect the cool-
down much at all since the airflow through the vent is conservative.
Sheilah
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