David & Diane Chen on wed 19 may 99
I have a Skutt 1218 and I think I have fired it between 30 - 40 times, it's
about 1 year old. I usually just leave the tile sitter in the kiln on a =
bottom
shelf and individually load the tiles in and out of the sitter. Today I =
noticed
the shelf has begun to crack (about 2 inches long) and I started inspecting =
the
firebrick. To my surprise there seems to be maybe 4 or 5 hairline cracks. =
At
what point do I need to replace the bricks? Is a judgment call, or should I
call the dealer today and arrange for replacement bricks. Also, isn't this =
a
little soon to be replacing bricks?
Incidentally, anyone considering kiln sizes should get a larger one than =
they
think they will need. I know I was told to get a Skutt 1227, but thought I
would never utilize the 1218. Wrong=21
Thanks in advance for firebrick help.
Diane in finally cloudy Massachusetts
Dale A. Neese on thu 20 may 99
Hello Diane,
Don't be afraid to stilt your shelves with a few more posts in the middle
or around the edges if possible. Shelves are bound to warp and crack from
the stress during the firing. Don't kiln wash them so you can turn them over
in the next firing. I would'nt worry about small cracks in the bricks of the
kiln, they close up during the firing. Just don't fire too fast or cool to
quickly and your furniture will last a long time.
Yes, I wish I had built a larger kiln now too.
Dale Tex
-----Original Message-----
From: David & Diane Chen
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Wednesday, May 19, 1999 4:19 PM
Subject: Kiln Stress Questions
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I have a Skutt 1218 and I think I have fired it between 30 - 40 times, it's
about 1 year old. I usually just leave the tile sitter in the kiln on a
bottom
shelf and individually load the tiles in and out of the sitter. Today I
noticed
the shelf has begun to crack (about 2 inches long) and I started inspecting
the
firebrick. To my surprise there seems to be maybe 4 or 5 hairline cracks.
At
what point do I need to replace the bricks? Is a judgment call, or should I
call the dealer today and arrange for replacement bricks. Also, isn't this
a
little soon to be replacing bricks?
Incidentally, anyone considering kiln sizes should get a larger one than
they
think they will need. I know I was told to get a Skutt 1227, but thought I
would never utilize the 1218. Wrong!
Thanks in advance for firebrick help.
Diane in finally cloudy Massachusetts
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