Joyce Lee on wed 23 jan 02
This is strictly One Woman's Personal Experience ... no more. I have two =
Geil kilns, not large ones but big enough for me. I had never fired a =
kiln before firing my own. My "problems," which were numerous, were =
never with the kilns, but with my own inexperience in glazing, fitting =
clays to the glazes, and a propensity for falling in love with glazes =
that have a tendency to run even for the best of us.
Based on my personal, non-expert experience, if I were having your =
problems, I'd call Geil kilns very early in the morning California time, =
speak with Paul's mother and request a manual for firing your kiln. When =
it arrives, scrap all the bits of information you've been receiving ... =
they haven't worked yet ... forget them. Follow the printed firing =
instructions EXACTLY (even blindly) for several firings before even =
thinking of deviating to another schedule. Don't worry about WHY or =
HOW..... just Do It. Don't try to fire shinos or rutiles in the =
beginning... keep it simple ..... very simple, especially with student =
work.. KEEP RECORDS. I speak from experience. Today (after four years =
of firings) I continue to follow the chart in Geil's manual for =
recording firings .... indicating what's happening at various cones ... =
temperature at hour one, hour two... etc. It helps, too, if I take =
polaroids of pot placement Before& After, though I often neglect this =
step. =20
THEN if (when) some mysterious Bad Cess strikes a load, I can compare =
the present chart with others from successful firings and usually =
discover where I erred.... too much of a hurry .... not tending as =
closely when the cones begin to fall .... not stacking with sufficient =
room for airflow. In the beginning I wouldn't even TRY for "soaks," =
unless indicated in the instructions.
I hope I haven't offended, or stepped on toes of, gurus ... who would =
never tell me, but may refrain from helping me if I'm such a KnowItAll. =
I KNOW that I barely qualify to fire my own kilns, much less to offer =
advice to others. But I do love this addiction and the potters on this =
list ..... I owe THEM much but likely will not have the chance to repay =
them in kind EVER .... maybe I can pass something along.... even if it's =
just encouragement or My Own Experience.
Joyce
In the Mojave
Susan Fox-Hirschmann on wed 23 jan 02
Joyce:
Thanks for sharing these experiences. They are valuable to me as i am
currently working with Geil on order a brick car kiln from him.I have been
firing electric for 24 years, and now that plans to build that new studio
are almost past the county...well, you know, i am just salivating for that
gas kiln!
Could you share with us your gas costs and also tell us if you had the kiln
fitted with oxyprobe and controller?
thanks again
REGARDS
susan
susan
(in the the suburbs!) Annandale,VA
>From: Joyce Lee
>Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: Geil Kiln Woes
>Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 08:04:57 -0800
>
>This is strictly One Woman's Personal Experience ... no more. I have two
>Geil kilns, not large ones but big enough for me. I had never fired a kiln
>before firing my own. My "problems," which were numerous, were never with
>the kilns, but with my own inexperience in glazing, fitting clays to the
>glazes, and a propensity for falling in love with glazes that have a
>tendency to run even for the best of us.
>
>Based on my personal, non-expert experience, if I were having your
>problems, I'd call Geil kilns very early in the morning California time,
>speak with Paul's mother and request a manual for firing your kiln. When it
>arrives, scrap all the bits of information you've been receiving ... they
>haven't worked yet ... forget them. Follow the printed firing instructions
>EXACTLY (even blindly) for several firings before even thinking of
>deviating to another schedule. Don't worry about WHY or HOW..... just Do
>It. Don't try to fire shinos or rutiles in the beginning... keep it simple
>..... very simple, especially with student work.. KEEP RECORDS. I speak
>from experience. Today (after four years of firings) I continue to follow
>the chart in Geil's manual for recording firings .... indicating what's
>happening at various cones ... temperature at hour one, hour two... etc. It
>helps, too, if I take polaroids of pot placement Before& After, though I
>often neglect this step.
>
>THEN if (when) some mysterious Bad Cess strikes a load, I can compare the
>present chart with others from successful firings and usually discover
>where I erred.... too much of a hurry .... not tending as closely when the
>cones begin to fall .... not stacking with sufficient room for airflow. In
>the beginning I wouldn't even TRY for "soaks," unless indicated in the
>instructions.
>
>I hope I haven't offended, or stepped on toes of, gurus ... who would never
>tell me, but may refrain from helping me if I'm such a KnowItAll. I KNOW
>that I barely qualify to fire my own kilns, much less to offer advice to
>others. But I do love this addiction and the potters on this list ..... I
>owe THEM much but likely will not have the chance to repay them in kind
>EVER .... maybe I can pass something along.... even if it's just
>encouragement or My Own Experience.
>
>Joyce
>In the Mojave
>
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Brad S. Reitz on wed 23 jan 02
Since Joyce and I have the same kiln, my suggestion is also somewhat
limited but this is what I do:
1. Open the damper about 1.5 inches.
2. Turn enough gas to just light the burners. Usually, turn it till you
hear them, then back down until barely burning. Leave 1 hour.
3. Turn the gas until the gauge barely moves. Leave another hour.
4. Turn the gas up to 1" pressure. Leave an hour
5. Begin watching temp and if needed, add gas presure until 1600 or so is
reached.
6. At about 1600, put gas gauge at no ore than 3" pressure. Close damper
until just a lick of flame comes from bottom peep hole.
7. At about 2100, begin gradually opening damper ever hour until top temp.
I cheat here and there but have had very few problems with this schedule -
reds, shinos, and all.
Brad Reitz
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