william schran on sun 21 jul 02
Leland wrote: "I also use this technique for raku fireing
in my electric kilns."
This was within the commentary about using a piece of refractory
material to prevent the kiln sitter from shutting off the kiln. There
certainly is no need to insert anything in the cone holder to keep
the sitter on. Others have described the method to bypass the kiln
sitter's function, which I do myself, but do not encourage anyone to
do. Anyway - Leland, I hope the hell you're at least turning OFF the
switches to the kiln before you go reaching in there with the raku
tongs! One misstep and you touch the element with the juice on and
you may very well be signed off Clayart for good.
Bill
Leland G. Hall on sun 21 jul 02
Good morning clay arters. Some folks here are taliking about soaking and
slow cooling in electric kilns. It was also asked about turning an
electric back on after the kiln sitter had dropped. It took me a while to
figure out how to handle these diffuculties, but with a digital pyrometer,
lots of attention, time and patience electric kilns can behave. I put a
miniature stilt thing in the kiln sitter. This is little triangular rod of
refractory matierial, probably made for jewlery fireing, or doll house
furniture, I don't know. Just something I found. Any way, It will never
melt, therefor the kiln sitter will NEVER shut off the kiln, So make sure
you NEVER leave the kiln for any length of time. This way, with the
pyrometer, and appropriate cones, (which are going to turn into puddles of
goo, so protect shelves appropriatly) you can do whatever soaking and/or
controlled cool downs you want. I also use this technique for raku fireing
in my electric kilns. It is true that you can turn an electric kiln back
on after the kiln sitter drops, it's just that if you miss it by even a few
minitues, and your goal is to controll cooling, you can lose controll.
Another option is to buy one of Skutts wall mount computerized kiln
controllers. I've never used one of these, but they look like a real time
saver. They are expensive however. Any one have any experience with
these? Pro's and con's? Cheaper versions of the same idea?
Hope this helps someone.
Leland Hall
Before The Wheel Enterprises
La Pine Oregon
Leland G. Hall on tue 23 jul 02
On Sun, 21 Jul 2002 18:30:17 -0400, william schran
wrote:
>Leland wrote: "I also use this technique for raku fireing
>in my electric kilns."
>
>This was within the commentary about using a piece of refractory
>material to prevent the kiln sitter from shutting off the kiln. There
>certainly is no need to insert anything in the cone holder to keep
>the sitter on. Others have described the method to bypass the kiln
>sitter's function, which I do myself, but do not encourage anyone to
>do. Anyway - Leland, I hope the hell you're at least turning OFF the
>switches to the kiln before you go reaching in there with the raku
>tongs! One misstep and you touch the element with the juice on and
>you may very well be signed off Clayart for good.
>Bill
>
Well, actually, no, I don't always shut the juice off to the elements
before I pull a pot and put it into reduction. Often I have two or more
pots in the same fireing, and I want to save heat. Pull the first one
single handed, other hand to raise and lower lid, build heat back up, then
pull next one. I do however tend to shut it off when I'm reacheing down
deep. Yes, this is risky, but I've been doing this for years, and I
carefully calculate the risk each time. Also, I'm wearing heavy leather
gloves, rubber soled shoes and standing on dry concrete, so truthfully, I
doubt that I would conduct to ground well to enough to recieve a shock.
There are many risks in our chosen day to day business. We each calculate
as best we can then go for it or not. I wouldn't want to live too safe of
a life. Might get bored!! Nevertheless, I confess that I do not advocate
the above mentioned behavior with kilns for the novice, and should have
said so from the beginning. I will be more mindfull in the future. And
thanks Bill, for your concern.
Peace
Leland Hall
Before The Wheel
La Pine Oregon
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Imzadi . on wed 24 jul 02
b4thewheel@BENDNET.COM writes:
<< Well, actually, no, I don't always shut the juice off to the elements
before I pull a pot and put it into reduction... Nevertheless, I confess
that I do not advocate the above mentioned behavior with kilns for the
novice... >>
You should propbably hang up a sign when you do this, similar to the
disclaimers car commercials use in small print about the race car drivers
they use.
Only your sign would say:
"Do not attempt this at your own home studio. Professional stunt potter in a
closed studio."
Imzadi
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