Gavin Stairs on sat 10 mar 01
At 04:09 PM 3/10/01, Jean Lutz wrote:
>The discussion about boiling water got me thinking.
>I'm in the process of moving from about 1,200 ft to over 5,000 ft above sea
>level. I know that I'll have to alter my bread baking methods but what
>about clay? Will there be any noticable changes in the way I fire? Or
>anything else I do. Drying times will change because of the humidity
>differences from the desert to the mountains but I can't think of anything
>else that should change.
The lower the pressure, the lower the boiling point of water. Also, the
lower the temperature at which water will be released from glazes. So, the
smoking period will be at a slightly lower temperature. Some other
volatiles will also leave a bit sooner. The solid-liquid phase chemistry
of the glaze sintering processes will not be much changed.
Gavin
Gavin Stairs
Stairs Small Systems
921 College St., # 1-A
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6H 1A1
phone: (416)530-0419 stairs@stairs.on.ca
Wade Blocker on sat 10 mar 01
Jean,
I moved from Los Angeles to Albuquerque, sealevel to mile high. Noticed
no change in my firing. Ware might dry more quickly for you in AZ. Baking
adjustments change, but not clay work. Mia in ABQ
Jean Lutz on sat 10 mar 01
The discussion about boiling water got me thinking.
I'm in the process of moving from about 1,200 ft to over 5,000 ft above sea
level. I know that I'll have to alter my bread baking methods but what
about clay? Will there be any noticable changes in the way I fire? Or
anything else I do. Drying times will change because of the humidity
differences from the desert to the mountains but I can't think of anything
else that should change. But then I know "nothing".
Thanks for any tips.
Jean Lutz
Soon to be in Prescott, AZ
Ceramic Design Group on sat 10 mar 01
on 3/10/01 4:45 PM, Snail Scott at snail@MINDSPRING.COM wrote:
> At 04:09 PM 3/10/01 -0500, you wrote:
>
>> I'm in the process of moving from about 1,200 ft to over 5,000 ft above sea
>> level. Will there be any noticable changes in the way I fire?...
>> Jean Lutz
We have fired both gas and electric kilns in Steamboat Springs CO (elevation
about 6000 ft) for 10 years and have noticed no difference at all from
firing outside of Philadelphia during the 70's and 80's.
Good luck!
Jonathan
Jonathan Kaplan,
Ceramic Design Group
PO Box 775112
Steamboat Springs CO 80477
voice and fax 970 879-9139
jdkaplan@cmn.net
info@ceramicdesigngroup.net
Plant Location:
1280 13th Street Unit 13
Steamboat Springs CO 80487
(please use this address for all deliveries via UPS, comman carrier, Fed Ex,
etc.)
"Custom design and manufacturing for the ceramic arts, giftware and pottery
industries. Molds, models, and tooling for slip casting, jiggering and
hydraulic pressing. Consultation on technical issues such as clay bodies
glazes, and kilns."
Cindy Strnad on sat 10 mar 01
Hello, Jean.
When you fire, you'll need to keep in mind that the boiling point of water
is lower at 5000 feet. I don't remember precisely what--you can find it in
any good cookbook. I keep my ware at 180 degrees until I'm certain all the
free water has gone. Otherwise, I can't think of anything, but then I
haven't done much work at lower altitudes, so maybe I wouldn't really know
anyhow.
Altitude does make a difference in gas firing, I hear, because of the oxygen
mix, but I can't help you much on that.
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
USA
earthenv@gwtc.net
http://www.earthenvesselssd.com
Snail Scott on sat 10 mar 01
At 04:09 PM 3/10/01 -0500, you wrote:
>I'm in the process of moving from about 1,200 ft to over 5,000 ft above sea
>level. Will there be any noticable changes in the way I fire?...
>Jean Lutz
Are you firing with fuel? There is less air pressure
at that altitude, and you will find that a kiln
configuration which may have fired neutral/oxidizing
at your old location will tend to reduce in Prescott.
More air will be needed, and you may need to increase
the secondary air to prevent over-reduction.
If your kiln is a commercial or standard design, you
may find it difficult to obtain an oxidizing atmosphere.
And, you will find that the weather becomes much more
important. With some kiln designs, a low pressure weather
system passing through will be enough to affect the kiln
atmosphere noticeably. (Try plotting your reduction levels
against a barometer, just for kicks. Pressure goes down,
reduction goes up!)
This is the main difference I have noticed between working
at altitude, and working elsewhere, (except that things
generally dry faster, too). If you fire electrically, you
may not need to change anything.
-Snail
Martin Howard on sun 11 mar 01
Moving to 5000 ft asl? Lucky Lutz.
Because of the lower air pressure you will grow taller;
your pots will be higher;
you will need a taller kiln.
The good thing is that you will escape the rising sea level.
Martin Howard
Webb's Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
England
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
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