Frank Gaydos on thu 17 aug 00
I used to think it made a difference at the lower levels of the kiln when
firing low platters,
Allowing heat to circulate better.
But now with the computer kilns it should not make a difference??
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Subject: Staggering shelves in an electric kiln
> Some ceramists stagger their half shelves in electric firing, because they
> feel that it helps heat distribution. Others feel that it has little
effect.
> What is your opinion? (Staggering half shelves means to position each half
of
> one layer at different heights.)
>
> Thanks,
>
> Arnold Howard
> Paragon
L. P. Skeen on thu 17 aug 00
Arnold,
I was taught to stagger only when I had tall ware that would otherwise not
get to be fired. I think that staggering the kiln on purpose would invite
warpage on the side of the ware nearest the opening from the shelf above it.
(Did that make sense?) It SEEMS LIKE staggering would make one side of ware
near the seam hotter on one side than the other. I guess the only way to
really test this theory is to put in some cone packs.
L
----- Original Message -----
From: Arnold Howard
To:
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2000 6:00 PM
Subject: Staggering shelves in an electric kiln
> Some ceramists stagger their half shelves in electric firing, because they
> feel that it helps heat distribution. Others feel that it has little
effect.
> What is your opinion? (Staggering half shelves means to position each half
of
> one layer at different heights.)
>
> Thanks,
>
> Arnold Howard
> Paragon
>
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melpots@pclink.com.
>
Lois Ruben Aronow on thu 17 aug 00
On Thu, 17 Aug 2000 15:00:11 -0700, you wrote:
>Some ceramists stagger their half shelves in electric firing, because =
they
>feel that it helps heat distribution. Others feel that it has little =
effect.
>What is your opinion? (Staggering half shelves means to position each =
half of
>one layer at different heights.)
>
I have also heard this, but don't know if it's true. I personally
like to stagger half shelves because I feel i can get alot more ware
into the kiln. =20
vince pitelka on thu 17 aug 00
> Some ceramists stagger their half shelves in electric firing, because they
> feel that it helps heat distribution. Others feel that it has little
effect.
> What is your opinion? (Staggering half shelves means to position each half
of
> one layer at different heights.)
Arnold -
In all my years in clay I have never seen any evidence that this helps at
all in evening out the temperatures in an electric kiln. In fact, if
anything I expect it would have the opposite effect, since it would more
easily allow the heat to rise to the top of the kiln. And of course for
certain kinds of wares staggering shelves means a much less efficient use of
the kiln space.
For anyone who is unfamiliar with this technique, staggering shelves is
common in atmospheric glazing and wood firings, in order to allow more even,
efficient circulation of flames and atmosphere throughout the kiln. In all
fuel kilns it is essential to visualize the heat path through the kiln, and
in some cases, especially with difficult kilns, staggering shelves may be a
very wise practice.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Home - vpitelka@dekalb.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
Arnold Howard on thu 17 aug 00
Some ceramists stagger their half shelves in electric firing, because they
feel that it helps heat distribution. Others feel that it has little effect.
What is your opinion? (Staggering half shelves means to position each half of
one layer at different heights.)
Thanks,
Arnold Howard
Paragon
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger.
http://im.yahoo.com/
amy parker on fri 18 aug 00
Arnold - in my kiln, the bottom is coolest, the top next coolest, and the
middle the hottest, with no apparent relationship to the shelves being
staggered. Even when I have fired the occasional really tall piece with no
shelves on one entire side, the cone packs show the same heat pattern. If I
stacked more evenly it might matter more.
Amy
At 03:00 PM 8/17/00 -0700, you wrote:
>Some ceramists stagger their half shelves in electric firing, because they
>feel that it helps heat distribution. Others feel that it has little effect.
>What is your opinion? (Staggering half shelves means to position each half of
>one layer at different heights.)
>
>Thanks,
>
>Arnold Howard
>Paragon
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger.
>http://im.yahoo.com/
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
___
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
Amy Parker
Lithonia, GA
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