Ted & Terry Meier on wed 5 may 99
Maybe I am missing something reading all the posts lately about electric
kiln firing. I am new to the pottery thing, but have been firing my
electric kiln with a kiln sitter twice a month for about a year. Seems
really simple to me. What am I doing wrong.
Step 1. - put stuff in kiln...
Step 2. - fire on low with lid cracked open until the heated air coming out
feels dry..
Step 3. - fire on medium for 1 hour...
Step 4. - kick it up to high until the kiln sitter turns it off...
Step 5. - wait about 12 hours until I can stick my finger in the vent whole
to open it.
The first feww times I put cones on all the shelves to see if they were
firing evenly. Pretty close so I don't worry about that anymore. I use the
same procedure for bisque and glazed stuff. Never have had a problem.
Thinking about adding a reduction kiln someday. I am expecting a few more
steps, but am hoping to be able to work the procedure down to a nice
routine...
Ted Meier
TnT Creations....
elizabet on thu 6 may 99
Ted said:
electric kiln firing. I am new to the pottery thing, but have been
firing my electric kiln with a kiln sitter twice a month for about a
year. Seems really simple to me. >
This would probably be okay if sitters and kilns never failed. Sounds
like you've been pretty lucky so far. Also, I don't think
one really gets to know their kiln well without using cones. There are
times when I want a piece to be in the hottest, or coolest, part of the
kiln for a particular glaze or effect. I can only do that if
I know the personality of my kiln. I spent the first year firing as you
have described but if the firing didn't turn out good, I had no idea
what was wrong. This is not even to mention that there is more to
maturing mud than temperature. I use my Select Fire only as a guide in
the event I got busy and forgot to check the cones. I always go by the
cones and feel that I have way better control of the firing and my kiln
for doing so.
Elizabeth, stilling learning, learning, learning.
Frank Simons on sun 9 may 99
hi Ted-- I didnt think there was any such thing as a simple electric firing.
Too many variables-- Different glazes on same shelf, arrangement of thick or
thin pieces, length of time on low, med and which elements, length of water
vapor emission ( I use a mirror held close to top vent hole) rate of heat
increase (pyrometer is essential) and very important length and rate of
final soak. Finally controlled cooling especially for those RIO reds. I used
to fire pretty well as you have stated but realized there was lots more to
be learned when I compared my results to some of the more experienced kiln
people. I gradually picked up a few trade secrets and read everything I
could find on electric kiln firing. I found the Clayart people and posts
most encouraging and have
dicovered a gradual improvement and less shock when opening the
kiln------Happy firing
Frank Simons, Penticton, B.C.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ted & Terry Meier
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: May 5, 1999 10:56 AM
Subject: Simple Electric Firing ???????
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Maybe I am missing something reading all the posts lately about electric
>kiln firing. I am new to the pottery thing, but have been firing my
>electric kiln with a kiln sitter twice a month for about a year. Seems
>really simple to me. What am I doing wrong.
>
>Step 1. - put stuff in kiln...
>Step 2. - fire on low with lid cracked open until the heated air coming out
>feels dry..
>Step 3. - fire on medium for 1 hour...
>Step 4. - kick it up to high until the kiln sitter turns it off...
>Step 5. - wait about 12 hours until I can stick my finger in the vent whole
>to open it.
>
>
>The first feww times I put cones on all the shelves to see if they were
>firing evenly. Pretty close so I don't worry about that anymore. I use
the
>same procedure for bisque and glazed stuff. Never have had a problem.
>Thinking about adding a reduction kiln someday. I am expecting a few more
>steps, but am hoping to be able to work the procedure down to a nice
>routine...
>
>Ted Meier
>TnT Creations
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