John Hesselberth on fri 21 dec 01
on 12/21/01 3:04 PM, Judith I. Marvin at judithimarvin@HOTMAIL.COM wrote:
> I would like to use it for test tiles but don't
> know how. There are no holes for peeping or pyrometer and no controls other
> than a dial on the side numbered 1 - 100. It has a hinged door on the
> front. Do I just crack it open and glimpse? Won't this take away any sort
> of "control" over the tests. Any suggestions welcome. Judith Oh
> yes, I tried calling Cress but they are closed for the holidays. TY jm
Hi Judith,
You are worrying about the right questions. Test/doll kilns can be great
tools OR extremely misleading and worse-than-useless tools. I started
almost all the glaze development for Ron's and my book in a doll kiln BUT it
is a computer-controlled doll kiln and that was key. Doll kilns tend to
fire fast and cool like a shot. Bad news for glaze
development--particularly for true mattes (as opposed to unmelted mattes
which a lot of people, unfortunately, use). Adding the computer controller
let me duplicate what a bigger kiln would do with no sweat. I never had a
scaleup problem when I controlled rates of heating and cooling to match what
I used in my big kiln.
My advice: If you can't find a way to get control of the rates of heating
and cooling don't bother with it.
Regards,
John
web sites: http://www.masteringglazes.com and http://www.frogpondpottery.com
EMail: john@frogpondpottery.com
"Pots, like other forms of art, are human expressions: pleasure, pain or
indifference before them depends upon their natures, and their natures are
inevitably projections of the minds of their creators." Bernard Leach, A
Potter's Book.
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