Jeff Tsai on sat 19 jan 02
I prefer cones over a computer for a couple reasons. I'm usually careful when loading a kiln, but work in a school studio. Sometimes students aren't always as careful when their helping me and they might accidently put a piece right on the pyrometer or just too close, or worse yet, hit the pyrometer with a kiln shelf (which I just discovered a couple days ago after firing a kiln where the computer went berzerk and said it was 2000 degrees before cone 010 had dropped.)
That's reason one. The second reason I trust cones more is because they are more similar to clay. The pyrometer may say it's at 2000 degrees, but it takes time for the clay to actually heat up (or so I'm given to understand). I think this is why there are usually two or three cone drop temperatures given for the different speeds at which a kiln climbs.
anyway, I love seeing cones melt.
-jeff
Cindi Anderson on sat 19 jan 02
But the question wasn't "cones" vs. "thermcouples". The question was
"cones" vs. "electronic controllers". I would use cones over a thermocouple
any day, because as you are trying to say, it is heat work that matters, not
temperature. But an electronic controller is far more sophisticated than
just a thermocouple. They don't just measure temperature, they also
calculate the "area under the curve" which is the equivalent of "heat work"
which a cone measures. I have never had my electronic kiln over fire or
under fire. I use witness cones and they are always bent just right. And I
don't have a lot of the firing problems people often have, because the
program turns the heat up when it can, but slows it down at critical points.
Cindi
Fremont, CA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Tsai"
To:
Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2002 3:11 AM
Subject: Re: Cones or Computer
>
> That's reason one. The second reason I trust cones more is because they
are more similar to clay. The pyrometer may say it's at 2000 degrees, but it
takes time for the clay to actually heat up (or so I'm given to understand).
I think this is why there are usually two or three cone drop temperatures
given for the different speeds at which a kiln climbs.
>
> -jeff
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