Jean Lutz on wed 29 sep 99
Well, I took several peoples advice and got some self supporting cones.
Now here's my new dilema with them.
1. I did a load (electric oxy) to cone 04. I put ss cones (04 05 & 06) on
top and bottom shelves. On the top shelf cone 06 was slumped completely
and the 05 had barely started to bend and the 04 cone had not bent at all.
On the bottom shelf the 06 cone bent to about 7 o'clock while the 04 and 05
did nothing. The 04 witness cone used in the sitter was one I got with the
kiln when I purchased it (used)so I don't know how old it is. Sooo, here's
my question. It's obvious that the kiln did not go to 04 or even to 05. Is
the problem the possible old witness cone or is it possible that I did
something else wrong? Or do I just need to use a higher cone in the sitter
to get the right temp?
2. The ss cone that slumped completely is stuck to the kiln shelf. All the
rest came off with no problem. Are you supposed to place the ss cones on
something?
3. One more question not related to cones. I've noticed that there doesn't
seem to be a relationship between the progression of the thumb wheel
setting and the amount of time it takes to get there even though the speed
has not been changed. Is that something to be concerned about? Why does it
get to temp and shut off at 6 on the thumbwheel in less time than for
another firing when it shut off at 4.5 on the thumbwheel? I hope I've said
this correctly.Anyway I hope all you brains out there will know what I mean
and read my mind.
Is there a book that talks about the process of firing. Orton publications
talk about what the kiln will do but doesn't say why or when you should do
them.
Jean Lutz
jlutz@azlink.com
Scottsdale, AZ
"Despite the cost of living, it remains popular"
Frederich, Tim on thu 30 sep 99
Jean,
Most electric kilns are somewhat uneven from the top to the bottom
as your cones have shown you. If you want to fire higher then you can put
one cone higher in the kiln-sitter. It is a good practice to put the cones
on a tile if your shelves are not kilnwashed. If you have questions, please
contact me.
Sincerely,
Tim Frederich, Orton Ceramic Foundation
> ----------
> From: Jean Lutz[SMTP:jlutz@azlink.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 1999 10:36 AM
> To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
> Subject: firing cones plus
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Well, I took several peoples advice and got some self supporting cones.
> Now here's my new dilema with them.
> 1. I did a load (electric oxy) to cone 04. I put ss cones (04 05 & 06) on
> top and bottom shelves. On the top shelf cone 06 was slumped completely
> and the 05 had barely started to bend and the 04 cone had not bent at all.
> On the bottom shelf the 06 cone bent to about 7 o'clock while the 04 and
> 05
> did nothing. The 04 witness cone used in the sitter was one I got with the
> kiln when I purchased it (used)so I don't know how old it is. Sooo,
> here's
> my question. It's obvious that the kiln did not go to 04 or even to 05. Is
> the problem the possible old witness cone or is it possible that I did
> something else wrong? Or do I just need to use a higher cone in the sitter
> to get the right temp?
> 2. The ss cone that slumped completely is stuck to the kiln shelf. All the
> rest came off with no problem. Are you supposed to place the ss cones on
> something?
> 3. One more question not related to cones. I've noticed that there doesn't
> seem to be a relationship between the progression of the thumb wheel
> setting and the amount of time it takes to get there even though the speed
> has not been changed. Is that something to be concerned about? Why does it
> get to temp and shut off at 6 on the thumbwheel in less time than for
> another firing when it shut off at 4.5 on the thumbwheel? I hope I've said
> this correctly.Anyway I hope all you brains out there will know what I
> mean
> and read my mind.
>
> Is there a book that talks about the process of firing. Orton publications
> talk about what the kiln will do but doesn't say why or when you should do
> them.
> Jean Lutz
> jlutz@azlink.com
> Scottsdale, AZ
> "Despite the cost of living, it remains popular"
>
Rod, Marian, and Holly Morris on thu 30 sep 99
I've never heard of old cones causing problems. Yes, you do need to set
those cones in the kiln into a little pad of clay for them to slump down on
which will prevent exactly the problem you had. You may need to recalibrate
the kiln shut-off lever. I have had high and low firings when that thing was
not calibrated right. Read your manual very carefully and see if you can
figure out what I mean. Or call someone who knows how to do it. I do, but
would be on the computer all night trying to explain it- it just has to do
with how high the lever has to go before letting the shut-off arm go down.
And, oh yes, my kiln does three different temps on three different shelves.
It's small and not much air circulation, not to mention that I usually pack
the thing to the gills. You just have to know where it's hot and where its
cool, OR fire it real loosely packed with lots of space between the shelves.
Good luck.
----- Original Message -----
From: Jean Lutz
To:
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 1999 10:36 AM
Subject: firing cones plus
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Well, I took several peoples advice and got some self supporting cones.
> Now here's my new dilema with them.
> 1. I did a load (electric oxy) to cone 04. I put ss cones (04 05 & 06) on
> top and bottom shelves. On the top shelf cone 06 was slumped completely
> and the 05 had barely started to bend and the 04 cone had not bent at all.
> On the bottom shelf the 06 cone bent to about 7 o'clock while the 04 and
05
> did nothing. The 04 witness cone used in the sitter was one I got with the
> kiln when I purchased it (used)so I don't know how old it is. Sooo,
here's
> my question. It's obvious that the kiln did not go to 04 or even to 05. Is
> the problem the possible old witness cone or is it possible that I did
> something else wrong? Or do I just need to use a higher cone in the sitter
> to get the right temp?
> 2. The ss cone that slumped completely is stuck to the kiln shelf. All the
> rest came off with no problem. Are you supposed to place the ss cones on
> something?
> 3. One more question not related to cones. I've noticed that there doesn't
> seem to be a relationship between the progression of the thumb wheel
> setting and the amount of time it takes to get there even though the speed
> has not been changed. Is that something to be concerned about? Why does it
> get to temp and shut off at 6 on the thumbwheel in less time than for
> another firing when it shut off at 4.5 on the thumbwheel? I hope I've said
> this correctly.Anyway I hope all you brains out there will know what I
mean
> and read my mind.
>
> Is there a book that talks about the process of firing. Orton publications
> talk about what the kiln will do but doesn't say why or when you should do
> them.
> Jean Lutz
> jlutz@azlink.com
> Scottsdale, AZ
> "Despite the cost of living, it remains popular"
>
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