vince pitelka on wed 21 aug 02
> Has anyone had experience with both Bailey's high alumina shelves and =
> Highwater Clay's acme marls? If so, how did they compare? I'm looking at =
> 12 X 24 X 1, fired to hard cone 10. They'll be wood fired, not heavy =
> ash, coated with ITC. But any comparison information will be helpful.
Jim -
I have not used Bailey's, but we have used lots of the Highwater Acme Marls
shelves, and Axner's high-alumina shelves. I think Axner probably has the
best deal on high alumina shelves. Both the Highwater and the Axner shelves
have performed perfectly. They have been subjected to dozens and dozens of
cone ten reduction firings, and there is absolutely no evidence of warping.
We are using the 13 by 26 by 1" size. We have not used them in wood firing,
but if you are not doing heavy ash, and if you coat them with ITC as you
say, they should be just fine.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@worldnet.att.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
Jim Larkin on wed 21 aug 02
Has anyone had experience with both Bailey's high alumina shelves and =
Highwater Clay's acme marls? If so, how did they compare? I'm looking at =
12 X 24 X 1, fired to hard cone 10. They'll be wood fired, not heavy =
ash, coated with ITC. But any comparison information will be helpful.
Thanks,
Jim
Jim Larkin
Fox Pass Pottery
379 Fox Pass
Hot Springs, Arkansas
71901
foxpass@aristotle.net
Charles and Linda Riggs on thu 22 aug 02
Jim
I'm have to repeat the recommendation that Vince P. gave you and add that we are
using the high alumina shelves in a 2 chamber noborigama wood kiln. We coated the
shelves with ITC and they are doing just great. No warping at all. No problem
with the shelves that have been in the salt chamber either..
I'd buy them again.
Charlie Riggs
David Hendley on thu 22 aug 02
Jim, this will not exactly answer your question, but is relevant.
I have used a few Acme Marls, 12 X 24 X 1, ITC coated, in my wood kiln.
Most of my shelves are 20 + year-old silicon carbide, coated with
alumina/kaolin kiln wash.
The clay shelves are awful compared to silicone carbide. They sag after
a few firings. ITC does not really replace kiln wash. Pots stick to the
shelves, and little pieces of the pot will break off and stay on the shelf.
But you can't coat them with kiln wash because they have to be flipped
over so often.
I now use them as the bottom shelves in the kiln, and sprinkle alumina
hydrate on them before stacking the pots. And turn them over every
few firings.
I find it really funny that you have received 2 glowing recommendations
from Vince and Charlie for hi-alumina kiln shelves.
All I can think is that I am spoiled by using nothing but silicon carbide
for my entire potting career.
One other relevant point may be that I stilt my shelves so there is no
support
along the 24"long side of the shelf. I put a stilt in each corner (12 inches
apart)
on the right side of the shelf, and on the left side I put one stilt at the
mid-
point of the 12" side.
That leaves a l-o-n-g span subject to sagging. But, silicon carbide can do
it for years and years, decades and decades.
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Larkin"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2002 5:04 PM
Subject: Hi alumina shelves
Has anyone had experience with both Bailey's high alumina shelves and
Highwater Clay's acme marls? If so, how did they compare? I'm looking at 12
X 24 X 1, fired to hard cone 10. They'll be wood fired, not heavy ash,
coated with ITC. But any comparison information will be helpful.
Thanks,
Jim
Jim Larkin on fri 23 aug 02
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Hendley"
To:
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2002 8:08 PM
Subject: Re: Hi alumina shelves
> The clay shelves are awful compared to silicone carbide.<
David, I guess you know that is not what I want to hear! But, I value your
experience and thank you for the input.
> One other relevant point may be that I stilt my shelves so there is no
support along the 24"long side of the shelf. I put a stilt in each corner >
That definitely might be a major difference in your experience compared to
Charlie's and Vince's. I have a small Bailey kiln whose Thorley 12 X 24"s I
post as you do. I don't use kiln wash, but a light bed of fine grog, and
have to flip every firing or two, but the grog is easy to clean off and
replace compared to kiln wash. But it doesn't protect from drips like kiln
wash, either.
I have a car kiln with 13 X 16" Thorly's that I grog and post in the more
"standard" fashion, but I have to both flip AND rotate. I have been using
the shelves for 24 years and most of them are still flat, so I guess it
works if you are willing to put up with the hassle. My inquiries about the
high alumina shelves are in an effort to eliminate some of that hassle.
Thanks again,
Jim
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