Tom Yocky on sun 26 aug 01
As I am new to the "Art" of firing, I am quickly
realizing that I need eye wear that will not only help
me see cones inside the kiln, but protect me from the
unseen rays coming out of the kiln bombarding my
eyeball as I strain to see that cones within. So,
What do you people recommend I get for electric firing
up to cone 6. I can get a pair of these glasses
easily form e-bay.
---paste from ebay---
Crews Blackjack Welding Glasses**5.0 tint**
5.0 tint
Lightweight polycarbonate lens
Metal alloy temples with non-slip head-grips
Meets or exceeds ANSI Z87.1 Standards
Provides 99.9% UV protection
But will these work well for me? I'm sure they will
protect my eyes but will they also help me to see the
cones?
Thanks
Tom in Klamath Falls Oregon
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
vince pitelka on thu 30 aug 01
> I have been blowing through the kiln hole to see the cones more easily
> for over 35 years. Have never had any brick dust settle on anything. Mia
in
> ABQ
Mia -
I guess this depends on what kind of spyhole plugs you use. If you have
those nice fired clay spyplugs then that would explain why this has not been
a problem for you. A lot of people fashion spyplugs out of softbrick, and
when you use a softbrick plug in a softbrick hole you get softbrick dust,
which can ruin your glaze job if it gets blown into the kiln. So it is best
not to advise people to blow into the spyhole unless you caution them about
his risk. I should have been more clear about that myself.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
vince pitelka on thu 30 aug 01
> Ditto on Mia's observation. I have never noticed any debris on pots
> from blowing in the spy hole and I used to have brick up doors with soft
> brick and my spy hole plugs are all made of soft brick. If you are
> worried about it, blow out the spy hole before each firing.
Earl -
I don't have any why you have not had any problem with this, because legions
of other people have. Apparently you have been extremely lucky. In my own
studio experience, it seems to be a pretty well-known fact that you should
never blow into the spyhole of a softbrick kiln, because you will likely
scatter softbrick dust on your wares. I believe you would be doing a
service by NOT advising anyone to use this technique.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
David Coggins on thu 30 aug 01
Tom,
Yes, use welding glasses to see into your electric kiln, most types will be
OK to reduce the infra red radiation into the eyes. An old trick is to use a
mirror to reduce the direct radiation. Also, if you can't make out the
cones, just blow into the spyhole. The cooling effect of the air will make
the cones stand out perfectly as black on bright red background. It works, I
use it. Don't try it in a gas kiln, particularly if it is reducing, as the
kiln will blow back at you, and turn your lips to charcoal!
Dave
David & Elaine Coggins
dcoggins@bigpond.com
http://www.users.bigpond.com/dcoggins
-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
Behalf Of Tom Yocky
Sent: Monday, 27 August 2001 8:14
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: kiln glasses question
As I am new to the "Art" of firing, I am quickly
realizing that I need eye wear that will not only help
me see cones inside the kiln, but protect me from the
unseen rays coming out of the kiln bombarding my
eyeball as I strain to see that cones within. So,
What do you people recommend I get for electric firing
up to cone 6. I can get a pair of these glasses
easily form e-bay.
---paste from ebay---
Crews Blackjack Welding Glasses**5.0 tint**
5.0 tint
Lightweight polycarbonate lens
Metal alloy temples with non-slip head-grips
Meets or exceeds ANSI Z87.1 Standards
Provides 99.9% UV protection
But will these work well for me? I'm sure they will
protect my eyes but will they also help me to see the
cones?
Thanks
Tom in Klamath Falls Oregon
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
http://phonecard.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.
vince pitelka on thu 30 aug 01
> mirror to reduce the direct radiation. Also, if you can't make out the
> cones, just blow into the spyhole. The cooling effect of the air will make
> the cones stand out perfectly as black on bright red background.
This has been mentioned before on Clayart, but on any softbrick kiln, if
you blow through the spyhole you may very well blow softbrick dust all over
your wares.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
Wade Blocker on thu 30 aug 01
Vince,
I have been blowing through the kiln hole to see the cones more easily
for over 35 years. Have never had any brick dust settle on anything. Mia in
ABQ
Marianne Lombardo on thu 30 aug 01
Vince;
That is exactly what happened to me a while ago. Someone told me to blow
into the peephole, and a bowl that was on that shelf got some junk on the
glaze.
Now I just use the cones but look at them later on, after the firing because
I cannot see them in the peephole.
Marianne Lombardo
Omemee, Ontario, Canada
email: mlombardo@nexicom.net
> This has been mentioned before on Clayart, but on any softbrick kiln, if
> you blow through the spyhole you may very well blow softbrick dust all
over
> your wares.
Sarah House on thu 30 aug 01
I bought a pair of glasses last week. They are sunglass style not goggle
style, #5. (that's the level of protection) They were $8.50 at my local
small time welding supply store. The clay catalogs all have very similar
glasses priced at $12 and UP.
Sarah House
http://www.skhpottery.com
shouse@mcdowell.main.nc.us
po box 84
Little Switzerland, NC
828-756-1191
Earl Brunner on thu 30 aug 01
Ditto on Mia's observation. I have never noticed any debris on pots
from blowing in the spy hole and I used to have brick up doors with soft
brick and my spy hole plugs are all made of soft brick. If you are
worried about it, blow out the spy hole before each firing.
Wade Blocker wrote:
> Vince,
> I have been blowing through the kiln hole to see the cones more easily
> for over 35 years. Have never had any brick dust settle on anything. Mia in
> ABQ
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> 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.
--
Earl Brunner
http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec/
bruec@anv.net
Earl Brunner on fri 31 aug 01
Vince may be right here, to ere on the side of caution is something that
we should all consider. In my experience, some times the atmosphere in
a reducing kiln isn't just "bright" at high temperature, but is "thick"
as well. I prefer not to change the kiln settings drastically when
trying to read the cones because I have found that even small changes in
the settings can materially affect the rate of temperature climb and
reduction. When I've blown into my spy holes, it has been because there
was a pressing need to know the progress of the cones. A little dust
seemed of less concern than over firing. and as stated, I have never
noticed any adverse affects that I could attribute to blowing into the
spy holes.
I certainly wouldn't want to be of disservice to anybody. I certainly
wouldn't suggest that people run out and blow softbrick dust into their
kilns intentionally. Especially since from your experience there are
apparently legions and legions of people out there that have kiln
boogers on their pots from doing this. I would add that we probably
shouldn't dance on the lids or top of the kiln during a firing as well.
Definitely, on consideration, I definitely wouldn't recommend it. I
also wouldn't recommend turning on the gas, then lighting a rolled up
piece of newspaper and sticking it under the kiln.
(this would especially be true if you don't have any automatic safety
shut off equipment)
vince pitelka wrote:
>> Ditto on Mia's observation. I have never noticed any debris on pots
>> from blowing in the spy hole and I used to have brick up doors with soft
>> brick and my spy hole plugs are all made of soft brick. If you are
>> worried about it, blow out the spy hole before each firing.
>
>
> Earl -
> I don't have any why you have not had any problem with this, because legions
> of other people have. Apparently you have been extremely lucky. In my own
> studio experience, it seems to be a pretty well-known fact that you should
> never blow into the spyhole of a softbrick kiln, because you will likely
> scatter softbrick dust on your wares. I believe you would be doing a
> service by NOT advising anyone to use this technique.
> Best wishes -
> - Vince
>
> Vince Pitelka
> Appalachian Center for Crafts
> Tennessee Technological University
> 1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
> Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
> 615/597-5376
> Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
> 615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
> http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
>
--
Earl Brunner
http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec/
bruec@anv.net
Larry Phillips on fri 31 aug 01
John Baymore wrote:
>
> Electric welding puts out lots of UV....that is a prime concern for
> welders...and for the safety equimnet that they use.
Welding is also a source of IR, and welding glasses are designed to
protect against both those spectral regions.
A web search using the search terms 'welding', 'spectrum', and 'glasses'
will yield a wealth of information.
> At even higher stoneware temperatures (cone 9-10-11) UV is not really
> the primary issue for eye protection when it comes to kilns.
Right, but remember that welding may produce heat sufficient to melt
steel, which is considerably hotter than that required to fire pottery.
You are right in saying that UV is not a problem when looking into a
kiln, but IR is filtered by welding glasses too.
--
Procrastinate now!
http://24.113.44.106/larry/
Arnold Howard on fri 31 aug 01
Marianne, have you tried silhouetting the cones with an element on
the opposite wall? If everything is placed just right, and I'm
wearing firing safety glasses (obtainable from almost any
supplier), I can see the cones at cone 10 with no problem.
I have tried a mirror, high intensity flash light, welder's hood,
welder's goggles, the expensive blue glass blower's glasses. None
of these, I found, were necessary.
The main reason I tested the firing glasses years ago was that I
was concerned about the possibility of someone injuring an eye by
looking into a peephole at the very moment that ware exploded. I
know that is a very remote possibility, but nevertheness I was
concerned.
Arnold Howard
Paragon
--- Marianne Lombardo wrote:
> Vince;
>
> That is exactly what happened to me a while ago. Someone told me
> to blow
> into the peephole, and a bowl that was on that shelf got some
> junk on the
> glaze.
>
> Now I just use the cones but look at them later on, after the
> firing because
> I cannot see them in the peephole.
>
> Marianne Lombardo
> Omemee, Ontario, Canada
> email: mlombardo@nexicom.net
>
> > This has been mentioned before on Clayart, but on any softbrick
> kiln, if
> > you blow through the spyhole you may very well blow softbrick
> dust all
> over
> > your wares.
>
>
______________________________________________________________________________
> 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.
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger
http://im.yahoo.com
John Baymore on fri 31 aug 01
Electric welding puts out lots of UV....that is a prime concern for
welders...and for the safety equimnet that they use. At even higher
stoneware temperatures (cone 9-10-11) UV is not really the primary issue
for eye protection when it comes to kilns. They do put out some UV....bu=
t
not all that much. What is of more concern for kilns is having glasses
that also deal with the Infrared energy produced. IR does damage also. =
Even a clear polycarbonate lens filters out a lot of UV (ask your
optometrist/opthamologist). =
Tinted lenses that do not filter out the IR (or UV) can cause your pupil =
to
dialate (the pupil reacts to VISIBLE light) because there is less light
than staring into the port unfiltered, and allows even MORE of the heat
energy to reach the occular fluid and retina than would with no glasses.
Get the right tool for the job.
Also, if you can't make out the cones, just blow into the spyhole. The
cooling effect of the air will make the cones stand out perfectly as blac=
k
on bright red background.
Along with Vince's very astute warning about the IFB dust problem when
blowing......... repeated blowing on the cones in an attempt to view them=
can sometimes cause the outer surface of the cone to "freeze"....thereby
altering the end bending point. Cones measure heat work. Cooling them
alters the heat work they experience. If your ware / glazes are not
sensitive then you can get away with this.... (or if you are lucky) =
...... but for stuff needing real accuracy........ this practice can
affect things.
If you simply just HAVE to blow into the spy port........ periodicaly che=
ck
the ports condition and surface them with something like Greenpatch 421 o=
r
ITC 100 HT to seal all the dust. Then when stacking....... wash (don't
blow) out the ports BEFORE you load so that there IS no dust to blow into=
your 500 dollar bowl. Re-surface as needed.
Keep in mind that painting stuff ON the cones affects their melting end
points too.
BTW........ one sure way to have erroneous cone readings that I see happe=
n
to people all the time..................is to place them really close to =
a
spyport that is not tightly sealed and has a slight (chamber) negative
pressure across it. A small amount of cold air will be flowing into the
port all the time and directly into the area that the cones are placed in=
=
They'll read low compared to the general chamber around them.
Best,
.............................john
John Baymore
River Bend Pottery
22 Riverbend Way
Wilton, NH 03086 USA
603-654-2752 (s)
800-900-1110 (s)
JohnBaymore.com
JBaymore@compuserve.com
John.Baymore@GSD-CO.com
"Earth, Water, and Fire Noborigama Woodfiring Workshop August 17-26,
2001 ( a good firing was had by all)"
John Baymore on mon 3 sep 01
Welding is also a source of IR, and welding glasses are designed to
protect against both those spectral regions.
A web search using the search terms 'welding', 'spectrum', and 'glasses'
will yield a wealth of information.
> At even higher stoneware temperatures (cone 9-10-11) UV is not really
> the primary issue for eye protection when it comes to kilns.
Right, but remember that welding may produce heat sufficient to melt
steel, which is considerably hotter than that required to fire pottery.
You are right in saying that UV is not a problem when looking into a
kiln, but IR is filtered by welding glasses too.
Larry,
Thanks for clarifing my last post in response to some other stuff on this=
subject. Sometimes it is so hard to cover all the bases so that the broa=
d
spectrum of folks reading these posts don't get only a piece of
information. That's why I tend to get long winded at times on some of my=
posts...... .
I am well ware of the combination of IR and UV in welding also. The
original posts on the kiln glasses subject (as usual) focused on the UV
issue.... I was pointying out the accompaning IR issue that (once again)
seemed to be a bit overlooked.
Yes..... you're dead on there....... welding stuff covers UV emissions
also. But I have found that many people buying glasses for looking into
kilns end up with UV and impact type ANSI approved "safety glasses"
....not even welding gear. So the IR is sailing right through the lens
when they THINK they are wearing some protection.
Best,
.............................john
John Baymore
River Bend Pottery
22 Riverbend Way
Wilton, NH 03086 USA
603-654-2752 (s)
800-900-1110 (s)
JohnBaymore.com
JBaymore@compuserve.com
John.Baymore@GSD-CO.com
"Earth, Water, and Fire Noborigama Woodfiring Workshop August 17-26,
2001"
| |
|
