Michele Hoskin on sun 29 nov 98
Hi everyone!
Just a quick question to see whether many of you stack items in the bisque
firing or not. I have done so with bowls and plates although I've noticed
that the plates on the bottom of the pile (of 2 or 3) often crack in the
center. It's hard for me to know if this is due to an unseen s-crack or
the actual stacking. Any ideas???
Thanks,
Michele Hoskin
Toronto
Canada
Schapansky on mon 30 nov 98
Hi Michele;
When I worked as an assistant potter in a production pottery studio in
Kamloops; I was told it was okay to stack rim to rim; or small items in a
larger bowl or platter; but the item placed inside of another had to be
smaller so that during heating the inside item would not be pushing up
against the sides of the bottom pot. Does this make sense or do I need a
lesson in explaining? Write me if you need clarification.
You can also place things on end in a bisque kiln. Oh, and we never
stacked more than one on top of another.....like not stacks of three or four
unless it was something like tiles or small items.
Hope this helps.
Elizabeth Schapansky
Clay Vision Pottery
Swan Hills, Alta.
-----Original Message-----
From: Michele Hoskin
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Sunday, November 29, 1998 5:50 PM
Subject: Stacking bisque during firing
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Hi everyone!
>
>Just a quick question to see whether many of you stack items in the bisque
>firing or not. I have done so with bowls and plates although I've noticed
>that the plates on the bottom of the pile (of 2 or 3) often crack in the
>center. It's hard for me to know if this is due to an unseen s-crack or
>the actual stacking. Any ideas???
>
>Thanks,
>Michele Hoskin
>Toronto
>Canada
>
Assumption Abbey on mon 30 nov 98
At 19:48 11/29/98 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Hi everyone!
>
>Just a quick question to see whether many of you stack items in the bisque
>firing or not. I have done so with bowls and plates although I've noticed
>that the plates on the bottom of the pile (of 2 or 3) often crack in the
>center. It's hard for me to know if this is due to an unseen s-crack or
>the actual stacking. Any ideas???
>
>Thanks,
>Michele Hoskin
>Toronto
>Canada
>--------
Dear Michele,
I would tend to guess if you don't normally have S cracking in your wares
and it shows up in this kind of stacking then it would not be advisable to
stack your kiln in this manner. I don'g stack my wares in the bisque that
high. I will sometimes put some things inside of bowls etc but usually
leave plates alone because of the larger bottom surface and for the very
reaon that I feel they might crack or warp. I don't know if this helps.
Llewellyn
Jan Cartron on mon 30 nov 98
"...bowls and plates although I've noticed that the plates on the bottom of
the pile (of 2 or 3) often crack in the
center. It's hard for me to know if this is due to an unseen s-crack or the
actual stacking. Any ideas???"
The culprit is probably uneven distribution of weight. Try stacking rim to
rim.
Jan
Caryl W. on mon 30 nov 98
Michele:
I stack to a certain extent for a bisque, but there's a few things I
don't do...just in case.For plates, I generally stack them rim to
rim,then another layer, rim to rim( two layers for sandwich plate
size,one layer for dinner plate size...I've even had one layer of big
plates, then one layer of smaller plates also rim to rim on top of
this).For bowls, I'll nestle them together, as long as the sides don't
touch...so a smaller inside a larger...or I'll do a rim to rim on the
same size bowl, with a tall piece inside.Really flat pieces, I'll bisque
on edge.I also put other things inside lidded vessels,making sure again
that the sides don't touch, which might create unwanted pressure during
the bisque...so you could nestle a bowl inside a bowl etc.etc. inside a
casserole.I would think that by just stacking plates,particularly large
plates, you'd be creating too much pressure on the bottom
plates,especially during quartz inversion.Just a thought.Hope this
helps.
Caryl
>Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 19:48:59 EST
>Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
>From: Michele Hoskin
>Subject: Stacking bisque during firing
>To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
>
>----------------------------Original
message----------------------------
>Hi everyone!
>
>Just a quick question to see whether many of you stack items in the
bisque
>firing or not. I have done so with bowls and plates although I've
noticed
>that the plates on the bottom of the pile (of 2 or 3) often crack in
the
>center. It's hard for me to know if this is due to an unseen s-crack
or
>the actual stacking. Any ideas???
>
>Thanks,
>Michele Hoskin
>Toronto
>Canada
>
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Dai Scott on mon 30 nov 98
Hi, Michelle - yes, I stack my bisque firings, but not as stacked as some
potters I know. I like to make sure that when pots are stacked, one isn't
putting any pressure on another; in other words, a loose fit. Sometimes I
stack one plate inside another, sometimes rim to rim---if stacking one
inside the other, I like to ensure that the foot rings are one above the
other, rather than having a smaller plate with a smaller footring placed on
a much wider plate. I only stack smaller bowls inside bigger ones, so no
part of the curved body or the rim is stressing out the other bowl(s).
Rarely will I stack more than 3, usually 2, pots together; the exception
would be some little flat (or almost flat) items that were very light in
weight. Anything that is dead flat (tiles, plaques, etc.) I bisque on edge,
propped against a kiln brick (NOT one of the kilns bricks that are part of
the kiln), four or five deep. This has eliminated losses due to cracks. I
also try to fire any piddly little items (beads, etc) inside a bowl or
plate, to cut down on the loading and unloading hassle. Hope this is info
you were looking for---I rarely get any cracks during bisque firings.
Dai Scott, doing marathon firings for the final show of the year next weekend.
Bobbi Bassett on mon 30 nov 98
I bisque to a ^08 and if I stack bowls I use vermiculite (from the garden
shop) between the pieces. I do sculptural work and this appears to take the
strain off the lower pieces. I've been using this method for over 10 years (
can't remember, either time flies or I've got old timers disease) with no
negative reactions. I read about it in a clay book somewhere. The vermiculite
can be used over and over again........I just dump it back into a container
and use it again the next time. It shrinks a little and powders and from time
to time you have to buy more to add to it.
Hope this helps..
Bobbi in PA
Kathi LeSueur on mon 30 nov 98
I stack lots of things in the bisque. Mugs, bowls. But never plates or trays.
These I always fire on the rim leaning against other tall pieces. Since doing
that I don't have cracking.
Kathi LeSueur
Dan / Joanne Taylor on tue 1 dec 98
Stacking ware in a bisque fire is not a problem as long as you are always
aware of allowing the pieces to move during firing. We stack plates rim to
rim, and not so many high as to create a weight problem for the ones on the
bottom. Heavier flat pieces are stacked with small bits of fire brick
separating each piece to minimize contact and allow movement.
Dan Taylor in still brown Medicine Hat, Alberta.
Michele Hoskin wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hi everyone!
>
> Just a quick question to see whether many of you stack items in the bisque
> firing or not. I have done so with bowls and plates although I've noticed
> that the plates on the bottom of the pile (of 2 or 3) often crack in the
> center. It's hard for me to know if this is due to an unseen s-crack or
> the actual stacking. Any ideas???
>
> Thanks,
> Michele Hoskin
> Toronto
> Canada
Debby Grant on tue 1 dec 98
Michelle,
For a bisque kiln I stack plates rim to rim as many as 4 or 5 plates
high, often with smaller plates inside. Small bowls and mugs can
be stacked rim to rim and foot to foot almost as high as you want.
Larger bowls can also be stacked that way with smaller bowls inside.
I stack a very tight bisque kiln and fire very slowly and rarely have
any damaged pots.
I really think the trick is stacking rim to rim and fairly uniform pots.
Good luck, Debby Grant in NH
The Brinks on tue 1 dec 98
At 07:48 PM 11/29/98 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Hi everyone!
>
>Just a quick question to see whether many of you stack items in the bisque
>firing or not. I have done so with bowls and plates although I've noticed
>that the plates on the bottom of the pile (of 2 or 3) often crack in the
>center. It's hard for me to know if this is due to an unseen s-crack or
>the actual stacking. Any ideas???
>
>Thanks,
>Michele Hoskin
>Toronto
>Canada
>
Hi Michelle,
I stack up to 3 smaller bowls (cereal size) and never well hardly ever have
a problem. With plates or larger bowls (more at risk) I only stack 2, or
will put a lighter weight object on a more heavily thrown one. It's
generally ok, but I do fire quite slowly (elec). If you've had the bottom
plate crack several times, I think it is the weight of the top ones causing
the problem. Sometimes I put a little grog between pieces to aid in
shifting while shrinking. I also use grog instead of sand under slabs and
reuse the grog.
The above is about my earthenware bisque. The stoneware pieces I have in
the same firing can be stacked in more imaginative ways and positions- they
don't shrink as much in bisque. I've laid vases on their sides, etc., or
stood small dishes on edge around a larger bowl. I bisque at ^.06.
Ann Brink
>
e-mail billann@impulse.net
JP on tue 1 dec 98
With plates, does anyone have any problems with warping when they are
bisqued standing on the rim? It sounds like this is how most of you fire
your plates during bisque firing, but I would think you might get some
warping?
Thanks,
JP
-----Original Message-----
From: Caryl W.
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Monday, November 30, 1998 7:25 AM
Subject: Re: Stacking bisque during firing
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Michele:
I stack to a certain extent for a bisque, but there's a few things I
don't do...just in case.For plates, I generally stack them rim to
rim,then another layer, rim to rim( two layers for sandwich plate
size,one layer for dinner plate size...I've even had one layer of big
plates, then one layer of smaller plates also rim to rim on top of
this).For bowls, I'll nestle them together, as long as the sides don't
touch...so a smaller inside a larger...or I'll do a rim to rim on the
same size bowl, with a tall piece inside.Really flat pieces, I'll bisque
on edge.I also put other things inside lidded vessels,making sure again
that the sides don't touch, which might create unwanted pressure during
the bisque...so you could nestle a bowl inside a bowl etc.etc. inside a
casserole.I would think that by just stacking plates,particularly large
plates, you'd be creating too much pressure on the bottom
plates,especially during quartz inversion.Just a thought.Hope this
helps.
Caryl
>Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 19:48:59 EST
>Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
>From: Michele Hoskin
>Subject: Stacking bisque during firing
>To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
>
>----------------------------Original
message----------------------------
>Hi everyone!
>
>Just a quick question to see whether many of you stack items in the
bisque
>firing or not. I have done so with bowls and plates although I've
noticed
>that the plates on the bottom of the pile (of 2 or 3) often crack in
the
>center. It's hard for me to know if this is due to an unseen s-crack
or
>the actual stacking. Any ideas???
>
>Thanks,
>Michele Hoskin
>Toronto
>Canada
>
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Dale A. Neese on tue 1 dec 98
Seems to me that there was a tip in Ceramics Monthly a while back about
stacking plates in the bisque with small pieces of Kaowool placed in a
triangular fashion on the lower rims of the plates, above the foot ring,
making sure that the Kaowool "stilts" are directly over one another in the
stack between the plates. Trying this tip, I have had as many as four small
salad plates and three dinner plates bisque fired this way with no problem.
Usually I add more Kaowool "stilts" equally around the rim of larger plates.
The plates are not stacked rim to rim with this method. Also have
bisque-fired handbuilt square and oval trays this way. Bowls I stack rim to
rim, foot to foot. The Kaowool is always reused.
Glazing in warm and wonderful San Antonio
Dale
-----Original Message-----
From: Michele Hoskin
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Sunday, November 29, 1998 6:49 PM
Subject: Stacking bisque during firing
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Hi everyone!
>
>Just a quick question to see whether many of you stack items in the bisque
>firing or not. I have done so with bowls and plates although I've noticed
>that the plates on the bottom of the pile (of 2 or 3) often crack in the
>center. It's hard for me to know if this is due to an unseen s-crack or
>the actual stacking. Any ideas???
>
>Thanks,
>Michele Hoskin
>Toronto
>Canada
>
Vince Pitelka on tue 1 dec 98
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>bowls and plates although I've noticed that the plates on the bottom of
>the pile (of 2 or 3) often crack in the
>center. It's hard for me to know if this is due to an unseen s-crack or the
>actual stacking. Any ideas???"
This has been discussed at some length before, so briefly, the problem is
that plates and flat-bottom bowls (and all flat-plane pieces) are extremely
vulnerable to cracking from uneven heating and cooling, and if you stack one
directly on top of another, you insulate the center of the lower piece from
heating and cooling, while the rim is fully exposed. If you stack plates or
flat-bottom bowls this way in the bisque you can expect large numbers of
cracked pieces. For many years I have used a method which works extremely
well. Get a single softbrick, and a hacksaw with a supply of coarse blades.
Cut the softbrick into 1/4" slices, and break those slices into pieces
approximately one inch across. Place the first plate right on the kiln
shelf. Place three of the softbrick shims spaced evenly at the outer edge
of the "well" of the plate or bowl (the point at which the flat bottom
begins to curve upwards). Place another plate on top of the shims, and
place three more shims EXACTLY above the first three, and place another
plate. I stack as many as four plates or bowls this way, with never a crack
at all. This system allows the heat to circulate between all the pieces, so
that they expand and contract evenly.
An advantage of the above system is that it works for very thin plates which
could not be stacked on edge. If, however, your plates are fairly thick,
then stacking them on edge is a very viable option.
Good luck -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Sam Wild on wed 2 dec 98
----------
I've evolved a method of stacking bisque that uses small pieces of clay
cut from coils. I stack all of my bowls and plates right side up with the
foot of one bowl resting on the inside of the lower bowl. But before I load
them into the kiln I put the small pieces of clay on the bottom of the foot
about an inch apart. To keep the pieces of clay from falling off, I brush a
little water soluble wax where I'm going to but the clay. To make it easy
brushing on the wax, attaching the clay pieces, and to protect the rims
from cracking, I invert the pot onto a piece of foam rubber. I can stack
bowls quite high this way, plates less so. This works with other shapes
,rim to rim, or bottom to rim if the tops are uneven. This leaves all
surfaces exposed to the air so water vapor can more readily leave the pots.
At one time my clay body had sulfur in it and any pot not exposed to the
air such as a pot inside two rim to rim pots would come out of the bisque
looking like it had been reduced. That s when I first started to use this
method.
Dwiggins, Sandra (NCI) on wed 2 dec 98
Vince--When you write "stacking plates on edge"---do you mean standing them on
their edges--somehow leaning up against another piece?
Sandy D.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vince Pitelka [SMTP:vpitelka@Dekalb.Net]
Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 1998 2:06 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Subject: Re: Stacking bisque during firing
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>bowls and plates although I've noticed that the plates on the bottom of
>the pile (of 2 or 3) often crack in the
>center. It's hard for me to know if this is due to an unseen s-crack or the
>actual stacking. Any ideas???"
This has been discussed at some length before, so briefly, the problem is
that plates and flat-bottom bowls (and all flat-plane pieces) are extremely
vulnerable to cracking from uneven heating and cooling, and if you stack one
directly on top of another, you insulate the center of the lower piece from
heating and cooling, while the rim is fully exposed. If you stack plates or
flat-bottom bowls this way in the bisque you can expect large numbers of
cracked pieces. For many years I have used a method which works extremely
well. Get a single softbrick, and a hacksaw with a supply of coarse blades.
Cut the softbrick into 1/4" slices, and break those slices into pieces
approximately one inch across. Place the first plate right on the kiln
shelf. Place three of the softbrick shims spaced evenly at the outer edge
of the "well" of the plate or bowl (the point at which the flat bottom
begins to curve upwards). Place another plate on top of the shims, and
place three more shims EXACTLY above the first three, and place another
plate. I stack as many as four plates or bowls this way, with never a crack
at all. This system allows the heat to circulate between all the pieces, so
that they expand and contract evenly.
An advantage of the above system is that it works for very thin plates which
could not be stacked on edge. If, however, your plates are fairly thick,
then stacking them on edge is a very viable option.
Good luck -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Joy Holdread on wed 2 dec 98
In a message dated 11/29/98 5:49:45 PM US Mountain Standard Time,
mhoskin@home.com writes:
>
> Just a quick question to see whether many of you stack items in the bisque
> firing or not. I have done so with bowls and plates although I've noticed
> that the plates on the bottom of the pile (of 2 or 3) often crack in the
> center. It's hard for me to know if this is due to an unseen s-crack or
> the actual stacking. Any ideas???
>
> Thanks,
> Michele Hoskin
> Toronto
> Canada
>
Keeping notes helps. Is it always the bottom plate that cracks? Could be the
weight of the stacked plates prevents the bottom from moving as it shrinks in
the firing, could be the thermal mass of the stacked plates causes the bottom
to hold heat much longer that the rims. Could be just the curse of the s
crack. Only good record keeping & trial & error will tell you what's
happening in your kiln with your thrown works. I wish I could give you a
"sure fire" (g) solution.
Joy in Tucson
Caryl W. on thu 3 dec 98
JP:
I've never bisqued plates on the rim,just rim to rim(one plate upside
down on top of another plate right side up) .The only things I do on the
edge are flat pieces eg. wall placks.I don't know if plates bisqued on
the edge would work or not.
Caryl
>Date: Tue, 1 Dec 1998 14:01:19 EST
>Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
>From: JP
>Subject: Re: Stacking bisque during firing
>To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
>
>----------------------------Original
message----------------------------
>With plates, does anyone have any problems with warping when they are
>bisqued standing on the rim? It sounds like this is how most of you
fire
>your plates during bisque firing, but I would think you might get some
>warping?
>
>Thanks,
>JP
>
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Stephen Mills on thu 3 dec 98
I always stack 8" & 10" plates on their sides in threes, seperated by a
lid or similar to allow heat into the middles. Smaller ones, still on
their sides but no seperators. Bowls large and small in vertical stacks,
each one seperated from its fellows by three small squares of ceramic
fibre (which I re-use again & again & again, the current batch are more
than 10 years old), including betwwen the bottom one and the shelf. I've
gone 20 high, I don't loose any. In fact I use few if any shelves in a
bisc, too mean!
Steve
Bath
UK
>> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>> Hi everyone!
>>
>> Just a quick question to see whether many of you stack items in the bisque
>> firing or not. I have done so with bowls and plates although I've noticed
>> that the plates on the bottom of the pile (of 2 or 3) often crack in the
>> center. It's hard for me to know if this is due to an unseen s-crack or
>> the actual stacking. Any ideas???
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Michele Hoskin
>> Toronto
>> Canada
>
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
home e-mail: stevemills@mudslinger.demon.co.uk
work e-mail: stevemills@bathpotters.demon.co.uk
own website: http://www.mudslinger.demon.co.uk
BPS website: http://www.bathpotters.demon.co.uk
Donna L. Fenner on thu 3 dec 98
JP with a plate stand the warping is very rare. I stack both ways but find
that un conserving space, a plate stacker that is flate as opposed to one
the rim that does not set the plates one on top of another but leaves space
inbetween to breathe is the absolute best. - Donna -
At 02:01 PM 12/1/98 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>With plates, does anyone have any problems with warping when they are
>bisqued standing on the rim? It sounds like this is how most of you fire
>your plates during bisque firing, but I would think you might get some
>warping?
>
>Thanks,
>JP
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Caryl W.
>To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
>Date: Monday, November 30, 1998 7:25 AM
>Subject: Re: Stacking bisque during firing
>
>
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Michele:
>
>I stack to a certain extent for a bisque, but there's a few things I
>don't do...just in case.For plates, I generally stack them rim to
>rim,then another layer, rim to rim( two layers for sandwich plate
>size,one layer for dinner plate size...I've even had one layer of big
>plates, then one layer of smaller plates also rim to rim on top of
>this).For bowls, I'll nestle them together, as long as the sides don't
>touch...so a smaller inside a larger...or I'll do a rim to rim on the
>same size bowl, with a tall piece inside.Really flat pieces, I'll bisque
>on edge.I also put other things inside lidded vessels,making sure again
>that the sides don't touch, which might create unwanted pressure during
>the bisque...so you could nestle a bowl inside a bowl etc.etc. inside a
>casserole.I would think that by just stacking plates,particularly large
>plates, you'd be creating too much pressure on the bottom
>plates,especially during quartz inversion.Just a thought.Hope this
>helps.
>
>Caryl
>
>>Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 19:48:59 EST
>>Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
>>From: Michele Hoskin
>>Subject: Stacking bisque during firing
>>To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
>>
>>----------------------------Original
>message----------------------------
>>Hi everyone!
>>
>>Just a quick question to see whether many of you stack items in the
>bisque
>>firing or not. I have done so with bowls and plates although I've
>noticed
>>that the plates on the bottom of the pile (of 2 or 3) often crack in
>the
>>center. It's hard for me to know if this is due to an unseen s-crack
>or
>>the actual stacking. Any ideas???
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Michele Hoskin
>>Toronto
>>Canada
>>
>
>
>______________________________________________________
>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>
Donna
Creative Ceramics
Greensboro, NC
Email: dlfenner@mindspring.com
Dwiggins, Sandra (NCI) on thu 3 dec 98
Vince--When you write "stacking plates on edge"---do you mean standing them on
their edges--somehow leaning up against another piece?
Sandy D.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vince Pitelka [SMTP:vpitelka@Dekalb.Net]
Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 1998 2:06 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Subject: Re: Stacking bisque during firing
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>bowls and plates although I've noticed that the plates on the bottom of
>the pile (of 2 or 3) often crack in the
>center. It's hard for me to know if this is due to an unseen s-crack or the
>actual stacking. Any ideas???"
This has been discussed at some length before, so briefly, the problem is
that plates and flat-bottom bowls (and all flat-plane pieces) are extremely
vulnerable to cracking from uneven heating and cooling, and if you stack one
directly on top of another, you insulate the center of the lower piece from
heating and cooling, while the rim is fully exposed. If you stack plates or
flat-bottom bowls this way in the bisque you can expect large numbers of
cracked pieces. For many years I have used a method which works extremely
well. Get a single softbrick, and a hacksaw with a supply of coarse blades.
Cut the softbrick into 1/4" slices, and break those slices into pieces
approximately one inch across. Place the first plate right on the kiln
shelf. Place three of the softbrick shims spaced evenly at the outer edge
of the "well" of the plate or bowl (the point at which the flat bottom
begins to curve upwards). Place another plate on top of the shims, and
place three more shims EXACTLY above the first three, and place another
plate. I stack as many as four plates or bowls this way, with never a crack
at all. This system allows the heat to circulate between all the pieces, so
that they expand and contract evenly.
An advantage of the above system is that it works for very thin plates which
could not be stacked on edge. If, however, your plates are fairly thick,
then stacking them on edge is a very viable option.
Good luck -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Vince Pitelka on thu 3 dec 98
>Vince--When you write "stacking plates on edge"---do you mean standing them
>on their edges--somehow leaning up against another piece?
Sandy -
When I included that in my post, I knew I had not provided enough
information. My own plates do not do well stacked on edge, because the
curved rim tends to warp even in the bisque. However, if plates are fairly
flat, with a shallow, even curvature across the entire width of the plate,
then they will stack on edge just fine. There are several ways to go about
this. If your elements are recessed into the kiln wall, you can simply lean
the first plate against the kiln wall, lean the next one against the first
but spaced out just a bit at the base, etc., so that air passes between each
plate. In the normal 23" I.D. toploader electric, you can lean a plate
against the wall in perhaps four equally-spaced places opn each level, and
build them out until the "stacks" come close to touching, and then fill in
the space in the middle and the spaces between the "stacks" with other pots.
Another option is to stand a brick in the center of the shelf, and lean the
first plates vertically against each side of this brick, and then add more
plates, each spaced out slightly at the base. Once these "stacks" are in
place on either side of the brick, you can lean more plates against either
side of the "stacks." Be inventive and you will figure out other ways to do
this. In general, you want to keep the plates as vertical as possible, to
help avoid warping.
Good luck -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Dwiggins, Sandra (NCI) on sat 5 dec 98
I think I like your other idea with fire brick better for stacking----or Marv
Bartels which is the same idea but different material. My plates are never
consistently flat and they usually have unusual rims. Thanks.
Sandy
-----Original Message-----
From: Vince Pitelka [SMTP:vpitelka@Dekalb.Net]
Sent: Thursday, December 03, 1998 4:45 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Subject: Re: Stacking bisque during firing
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Vince--When you write "stacking plates on edge"---do you mean standing them
>on their edges--somehow leaning up against another piece?
Sandy -
When I included that in my post, I knew I had not provided enough
information. My own plates do not do well stacked on edge, because the
curved rim tends to warp even in the bisque. However, if plates are fairly
flat, with a shallow, even curvature across the entire width of the plate,
then they will stack on edge just fine. There are several ways to go about
this. If your elements are recessed into the kiln wall, you can simply lean
the first plate against the kiln wall, lean the next one against the first
but spaced out just a bit at the base, etc., so that air passes between each
plate. In the normal 23" I.D. toploader electric, you can lean a plate
against the wall in perhaps four equally-spaced places opn each level, and
build them out until the "stacks" come close to touching, and then fill in
the space in the middle and the spaces between the "stacks" with other pots.
Another option is to stand a brick in the center of the shelf, and lean the
first plates vertically against each side of this brick, and then add more
plates, each spaced out slightly at the base. Once these "stacks" are in
place on either side of the brick, you can lean more plates against either
side of the "stacks." Be inventive and you will figure out other ways to do
this. In general, you want to keep the plates as vertical as possible, to
help avoid warping.
Good luck -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
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