Linda Arbuckle on wed 16 jun 99
I generally don't prop the lid in firing electric kilns unless it's a
very small kiln and heavy work. Propping the lid is like trying to heat
your house with the door open... wasted BTU's. It's helpful if the kiln
is small, like a test kiln, and you're worried it will rise above the
212 degree water-to-steam temperature too quickly, or if you have very
heavy work that needs more time to heat through evenly before 212.
Otherwise, it's a waste. I've seen students prop the lid or crack the
door in a front-loader overnight, then shut the lid and do a turn-up in
the morning only to blow up their work because the draft in the kiln
caused some areas to heat less than others. If the lid has been propped,
first turn-up should be to lower the lid and wait an hour.
In terms of peeps, if I'm firing w/o a kilnvent, I leave the top peep
open until red heat, then plug (exception is china paint or luster
firings). Kilns are not air-tight. Leaving the peep out is just like
leaving the window open.
Linda
--
Linda Arbuckle
Graduate Coordinator, Assoc. Prof.
Univ of FL
School of Art and Art History
P.O. Box 115801, Gainesville, FL 32611-5801
(352) 392-0201 x 219
e-mail: arbuck@ufl.edu
Lori Pierce on thu 17 jun 99
Hello Linda! Your post started me wondering why I fired my electric kiln
with lid propped at first, etc.etc....found my old Skutt instruction book,
and sure enough, two pictures of propped lids and top peep out. but only the
top peep out for the entire firing. The lid is closed when all switches are
turned toHIGH, if the atmosphere has cleared. Also mentioned is jet draft
fracture of ware and cone chill, if the lower peep holes are unplugged for
more than a few seconds. Now I know! Lori in New Port Richey Fl.
-----Original Message-----
From: Linda Arbuckle
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Wednesday, June 16, 1999 9:23 AM
Subject: venting electric kilns
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I generally don't prop the lid in firing electric kilns unless it's a
>very small kiln and heavy work. Propping the lid is like trying to heat
>your house with the door open... wasted BTU's. It's helpful if the kiln
>is small, like a test kiln, and you're worried it will rise above the
>212 degree water-to-steam temperature too quickly, or if you have very
>heavy work that needs more time to heat through evenly before 212.
>Otherwise, it's a waste. I've seen students prop the lid or crack the
>door in a front-loader overnight, then shut the lid and do a turn-up in
>the morning only to blow up their work because the draft in the kiln
>caused some areas to heat less than others. If the lid has been propped,
>first turn-up should be to lower the lid and wait an hour.
>
>In terms of peeps, if I'm firing w/o a kilnvent, I leave the top peep
>open until red heat, then plug (exception is china paint or luster
>firings). Kilns are not air-tight. Leaving the peep out is just like
>leaving the window open.
>
>Linda
>--
>Linda Arbuckle
>Graduate Coordinator, Assoc. Prof.
>Univ of FL
>School of Art and Art History
> P.O. Box 115801, Gainesville, FL 32611-5801
>(352) 392-0201 x 219
>e-mail: arbuck@ufl.edu
>
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