Olivia T Cavy on tue 1 feb 00
Hello, all.
My problem is that both of us have jobs that keep us out of the house M-F
until 5 PM or later, and when we get home, there isn't enough time to run
a glaze firing. This means I can only fire on weekends, which is
frustrating when I have a full loaded glaze kiln begging to be fired
right now.
My electric kiln here in Pittsburgh does not have a controller, and I
won't fire it unless someone is home and awake. The manual electric kiln
requires someone to turn up the dials periodically. Most of my glaze
firings have been taking 8-9 hours, and recently I've been slowing the
cool down by overriding the kiln sitter and turning the heat on low after
the kiln shuts off.
My question is whether anyone has experience or thoughts on running a
glaze firing by doing the first 4-5 hours of firing, in my normal time
and then shut down and cool off the kiln. Then in a few days I'd start
again with the cold kiln (definitely cold in my unheated basement!), turn
it on and rush through what is normally the first few hours of firing but
do the last 4 hours slowly, with a slow cool down.
My thought is that the purpose of slowing down the first few hours of
firing is burn off impurities, and once that is done, I wonder if I can
accelerate the heating through those lower temps.
I suspect that technically this would work, but I want my glazes to look
the same as if I'd done my "regular" glaze firing schedule. That's the
real question-- what are the odds my glazes will look the same?
If all else fails, I MIGHT try it.... but I wondered if anyone had any
experience or thoughts about this?
Bonnie
Bonnie D. Hellman, Pittsburgh, PA
PA work email: oliviatcavy@juno.com (NO attachments please to this
address)
PA home email: mou10man@sgi.net (that's the number 10 in the middle of
the letters)
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Maggie Woodhead on wed 2 feb 00
Kia Ora Bonnie,
Although I know they are expensive I got an
E.M.C.digital controller about 15 years ago for my electric kiln and it
has been worth its weight in gold.
About a year ago the scale became impossible to read and we sent it
back and now have the facility for setting eight programmes in an
update of the original. Only cost $100 US for the updated model and
the company are great to deal with.
I very rarely fire during the day, almost never in fact as I don't
like working in the pottery when the kiln is on. I'm not a heavily
commercial potter, and the easy use of this controller makes for less
worry. Set it and forget it! No running backwards and forwards
making sure things are O.K. I have just finished a bisque which was set
to take 17 hours as the pots were heavy and the damp weather lately was
not conducive to drying.
Having pots ready to go and having to wait must be
frustrating as well as time wasting. Good luck with a solution to
your problem.
----Best Wishes Maggie----
maggiew@clear.net.nz
----- Original Message -----
From: Olivia T Cavy
To:
Sent: Wednesday, 2 February 2000 08:27
Subject: Can I fire electrically in 2 stages?
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Hello, all.
My problem is that both of us have jobs that keep us out of the house
M-F
until 5 PM or later, and when we get home, there isn't enough time to
run
a glaze firing. This means I can only fire on weekends, which is
frustrating when I have a full loaded glaze kiln begging to be fired
right now.
My electric kiln here in Pittsburgh does not have a controller, and I
won't fire it unless someone is home and awake. The manual electric kiln
requires someone to turn up the dials periodically. Most of my glaze
firings have been taking 8-9 hours, and recently I've been slowing the
cool down by overriding the kiln sitter and turning the heat on low
after
the kiln shuts off.
My question is whether anyone has experience or thoughts on running a
glaze firing by doing the first 4-5 hours of firing, in my normal time
and then shut down and cool off the kiln. Then in a few days I'd start
again with the cold kiln (definitely cold in my unheated basement!),
turn
it on and rush through what is normally the first few hours of firing
but
do the last 4 hours slowly, with a slow cool down.
My thought is that the purpose of slowing down the first few hours of
firing is burn off impurities, and once that is done, I wonder if I can
accelerate the heating through those lower temps.
I suspect that technically this would work, but I want my glazes to look
the same as if I'd done my "regular" glaze firing schedule. That's the
real question-- what are the odds my glazes will look the same?
If all else fails, I MIGHT try it.... but I wondered if anyone had any
experience or thoughts about this?
Bonnie
Bonnie D. Hellman, Pittsburgh, PA
PA work email: oliviatcavy@juno.com (NO attachments please to this
address)
PA home email: mou10man@sgi.net (that's the number 10 in the middle of
the letters)
________________________________________________________________
YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET!
Juno now offers FREE Internet Access!
Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit:
http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
Paul Lewing on wed 2 feb 00
Hi, Bonnie.
My electric kiln usually takes about 10 hours to fire to cone 4. It's
now about 5 in the evening, and I just started it. I'll set my alarm
for 3AM, and go down and make sure it's gone off. If your kiln is in
your house, why don't you do that? Or start it just so it should go off
before you have to leave for work in the morning. I think the schedule
you're thinking of is a waste of energy, and is asking for problems.
Paul Lewing, Seattle
Cindy Strnad on wed 2 feb 00
Bonnie,
Glaze firings can be done quickly, provided you're glazing bisque-ware. Most
of the clay impurities will be burned off during the bisque firing. Waxes
burn off during the glaze firing, but, if properly vented, speed is not a
problem with waxes.
I always start my kiln out full tilt for glaze firing. It's the last few
hours that make the difference--not the first. Load your kiln, have it all
ready to go, then start it as soon as you get home. Or better, if you can
reconcile yourself to the idea, have a friend start it a few hours before
you get back. If it's properly wired and situated, this isn't really a big
deal, but that's just my opinion and you must do what you feel is right.
Hold the kiln at slightly below the peak temperature for 1/2 to 2 hours,
depending on your own experiments of what works best for your glazes. This
gives the glaze components time to "marry", for a more mature, interesting
glaze.
Cindy Strnad
earthenv@gwtc.net
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
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