Alisa and Claus Clausen on tue 27 jul 99
------------------
Hello Mel from Minnetonka,
I read with interest your comment about 3 point posts always the best when
stacking shelves in a kiln.
I have begun stacking a lot a kilns lately at the workshop where I volunteer=
and
also now, happily look forward to many stackings in my very own, new (old)
KILN=21=21=21=21 Just to be perfectly clear on what you mean - is it that =
you stack a
shelf with 2 posts in front and one in back (or two in back and one in =
front)?
Do you continue the same pattern up to the last layer of shelves, matching =
up
the posts under each layer of stacked shelves? Is that what gives the best
stability? I wanted to be clear that 3 point post is not a type of post.
Thank you,
Alisa in Denmark
CNW on thu 29 jul 99
Alisa-I was told when i bought my first shelves to only use three posts per
shelf. This was because three points are more stable than four. With three
there are always three points touching. With four you could have two high
posts and then the shelf could rock back and forth. So if you had a piece
that shifted or something it could cause a wreck.
And I try to keep my posts one on top of the other so that there is complete
support. If I am not firing very high and/or the work is light I'm not so
picky.
Celia in NC
cwike@conninc.com
Richard Aerni on fri 30 jul 99
OK, I'm coming out of the closet on this issue...
A four poster here...tried three years ago and when I discovered the
immense pleasure four posts gave, I never went back. You can make large
pieces that overhand both sides of the shelf and not worry...you can
knock one post over while loading the kiln and the shelf still
stands...I'm sure there are more delightful reasons, but for me, it just
works better.
About warping...I've got shelves I've been using with four posts for
better than fifteen years that are straight as can be (over 500 firings
to cone 10). Conversely, I've got shelves that I've used with four posts
for just a few firings that have a distinct sag in them. I attribute
this to shelf quality more than whether or not I use three or four posts.
I say, do whatever works best for you. If a shelf warps, try it the
other way...it's not the end of the world either way.
As to whether the shelves rock and roll with three or four posts...why
not just take little balls of wet clay rolled in alumina, place them atop
the posts while loading, and then put the kiln shelf on top of them.
Stops rocking and can work as a leveler if you put your mind to it.
Heading off to the Vermont State Clay Center for the sale...
Richard Aerni
Bloomfield, NY
CNW wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Alisa-I was told when i bought my first shelves to only use three posts per
> shelf. This was because three points are more stable than four. With three
> there are always three points touching. With four you could have two high
> posts and then the shelf could rock back and forth. So if you had a piece
> that shifted or something it could cause a wreck.
>
Christopher J. Anton on sun 1 aug 99
A technique my instructor taught me is to make small marbles of wet clay
(about 1/4 inch or half cm in diamater) roll them lightly in silica, and
place them on top of the posts before placing the shelves. The pieces
compress to the size needed to eliminate the post size variance, and they
are small enough to fire from wet without problems. We were firing a
downdraft ^10 kiln, using about an eight hour rise pattern.
- Chris
----- Original Message -----
From: CNW
To:
Sent: Thursday, July 29, 1999 3:47 PM
Subject: Re: Sv: 3 and 4 point posts under shelves
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Alisa-I was told when i bought my first shelves to only use three posts
per
> shelf. This was because three points are more stable than four. With three
> there are always three points touching. With four you could have two high
> posts and then the shelf could rock back and forth. So if you had a piece
> that shifted or something it could cause a wreck.
>
> And I try to keep my posts one on top of the other so that there is
complete
> support. If I am not firing very high and/or the work is light I'm not so
> picky.
>
> Celia in NC
> cwike@conninc.com
>
| |
|
