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opening hot kilns

updated sat 22 dec 01

 

primalmommy@IVILLAGE.COM on thu 20 dec 01


I don't like to open my kiln when it's too hot, parlt because of the song my pots sing, but mostly because of the crackling sound of the LID of my kiln, and the cracks that appear when it cools too fast.

This morning, under the pressure of somebody's office party deadline, I unloaded hot bisque with oven mitts. Bad idea. When I went to glaze them, I found areas of "melted oven mitt resist". They were invisible until I sponged the ware, and I'm crossing my fingers that the glaze (which I finally convinced to stick on those spots) isn't crawing off my big pre-paid bowls as we speak.

At least in winter, the kiln cools down faster. In hot summer weather it can take a couple of days...

Yours,
Kelly in Ohio
(not sure whether my kiln is a watched pot that will never boil, or chickens counted before they hatch.)

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Christena Schafale on fri 21 dec 01


Kelly,

I melted some hot pads myself at first! Get yourself some real kiln gloves
for those rushed moments. Highwater has some reasonably priced knit ones
that are fine for unloading 400 degree kilns, though not insulated enough
for picking up raku pots without tongs.

Chris

At 07:12 PM 12/20/01 -0800, you wrote:
>I don't like to open my kiln when it's too hot, parlt because of the song
>my pots sing, but mostly because of the crackling sound of the LID of my
>kiln, and the cracks that appear when it cools too fast.
>
>This morning, under the pressure of somebody's office party deadline, I
>unloaded hot bisque with oven mitts. Bad idea. When I went to glaze them,
>I found areas of "melted oven mitt resist". They were invisible until I
>sponged the ware, and I'm crossing my fingers that the glaze (which I
>finally convinced to stick on those spots) isn't crawing off my big
>pre-paid bowls as we speak.
>
>At least in winter, the kiln cools down faster. In hot summer weather it
>can take a couple of days...
>
>Yours,
>Kelly in Ohio
>(not sure whether my kiln is a watched pot that will never boil, or
>chickens counted before they hatch.)
>
>_________________________________________________________________
>iVillage.com: Solutions for Your Life
>Check out the most exciting women's community on the Web
>http://www.ivillage.com
>
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Alan D. Scott on fri 21 dec 01


The gloves worn by firefighters are wonderful for picking up those warm
pots. Check with your local fire department for old gloves and a vendor for
new ones. (Take a mug along -- you might work out a "mug for gloves"
exchange!)

Alan