June Perry on sat 30 sep 00
Thanks Diane. I think I'll have a couple of heavy duty metal clips on hand so
I can hang the coils, hammock fashion, to dry.
My supplier Bill Morgan (S. Oregon Pottery Supply) let's you borrow the
sprayer that they got from Alice and Feriz, if you buy the ITC there. I'm
hoping it works better than mine did, or maybe I just need a new, more
powerful compressor! I did it all by myself when I did my gas kiln and
finally gave up on the sprayer after a while and wound up brushing a lot of
it on because my sand blaster sprayer would spray for a few seconds and
stop. By the time I got to the kiln sheves and furniture, I just dipped or
brushed it and it was fine. It is amazing stuff. I even fired my silicon
carbide shelves in the salt and soda firings and only got a tiny bit of
foaming on the edges of one or two of the carbide shelves where I didn't
quite coat them.
This time, I'm going to recruit my husbands help, if only to stir the ITC for
me while I spray. I wish there was an easier, less messy way to do this!
Take care,
June
June Perry on sat 30 sep 00
Diane,
Thanks for the feedback. I swear by this ITC. I used the 100 in my old, fiber
kiln and did a couple of salt/soda firings and that old fiber held up which
really surprised me! Although I can't use that kiln for the soda/salt firing
any more, due to the burner configuration which was not compatible with the
salt fumes, I love the fact that I don't have loose fiber to deal with
anymore.
I have a question on dipping the elements. Going through the archives I saw a
good suggestion on using a wallpaper trough for dipping the elements. How did
you dry them without mucking up the wet ITC coating.
Regards,
June
Diane Woloshyn on sat 30 sep 00
June and all,
Tried several ways to dip the coils. Running them through a trough did not
work well for me. My arms weren't long enough. Finally, I wound them up in
a coil and dipped them in a round shallow pan and hung them on the line to
dry in the wound up shape. Used a extra piece of wire to coil them up, just
like they come from the manufacturer wrapped with several pieces of tape, and
a large clothes pin or clamp. Yes some of the ITC will come off with
handling and I am hoping the extra spraying of the kiln with the ITC 100 will
take care of that.
Diane Florida Bird Lady
Nils Lou on sat 30 sep 00
June, the main thing with ITC coatings is to apply thinly. With elements I
suggest first washing with a solution of clorox ( a chlorine cleaning
agent), let dry by hanging--either in one long vertical if you have the
height or in a catenary droop hanging from both ends. For elements you
want to use ITC 213. Thin with water to heavy cream consistency, put in a
plastic wallpaper trough and slosh the elements so there is an even
coating. Helps to have a partner with longer elements. Then hang to dry. I
don't coat the pigtail ends, rather clean them with steel wool for good
electrical contact. After installing the elements spray a coating of ITC
100HT with a sand blasting siphon gun, but don't lay on too heavy; a color
change is sufficient. Most of the problems folks have mentioned concerning
chipped bricks when elements are removed are the result of coating too
thickly. It should be like paint, not frosting. A final thin coating of
ITC296A is recommended, especially for the gas/electric mods. It provides
a smooth, final surface that will last indefinitely. In my opinion, these
coatings upgrade electric kilns to fire much more evenly and efficiently
--and to at least triple the element life. The only kiln manufacturer who
presently supplies an electric kiln with ITC coatings is Axner. It's the
only one I would buy at present. I own a Skutt and an AIM. Have never
changed the elements. The Skutt is 20 years old and the AIM three (used as
a gas/electric C 10 reduction). I have no financial interest in ITC,
Skutt, AIM or Axner's electric kilns. Nils
On Sat, 30 Sep 2000, June Perry wrote:
> Diane,
>
> Thanks for the feedback. I swear by this ITC. I used the 100 in my old, fiber
> kiln and did a couple of salt/soda firings and that old fiber held up which
> really surprised me! Although I can't use that kiln for the soda/salt firing
> any more, due to the burner configuration which was not compatible with the
> salt fumes, I love the fact that I don't have loose fiber to deal with
> anymore.
> I have a question on dipping the elements. Going through the archives I saw a
> good suggestion on using a wallpaper trough for dipping the elements. How did
> you dry them without mucking up the wet ITC coating.
>
> Regards,
> June
>
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