Lily Krakowski on sun 15 sep 02
Nice AH from Paragon probably will tell you himself, but the rule of thumb
is to fire kilns AT LEAST two cones BELOW their rated maximum. If you fire
kilns to max you burn out the elements quicker, much quicker, and if you
overfire--can happen--you have too little safety margin.
As to cones. Normally the pad or holder, and I do suggest you get the
holders or the self-supporting cones, are placed in threes. The one closest
to the peephole is one cone below firing temp desired, the middle cone is
the one you want, the last cone is there to tell you, oops, overfired.
Some people place the cones so that they fall one on the other like
dominoes. Others prefer to have the cones dropping towards the SIDE. When
they go down it is rather like a TV news shot I saw once of the (British)
Household Guards on parade on a boiling hot day. The poor dears kept
fainting and falling flat on their faces! (No, Brits, I am not making fun of
the Guards. Close friend's father was one!)
Place the cones so no matter where they fall they do not hit your pots!
I prefer to leave enough room around and BEHIND my cones as I have more
trouble each year seeing them well. AND PLEASE WEAR THE PROPER SAFETY
GOGGLES WHILE LOOKING IN THE KILN!!!!!!
Anyhow. A tip. Place a wooden kitchen match in a little wad of clay and
set near where you are putting your cones. Light the match and peek through
the peephole and see how well you can see your cones. One of those tiny
flashlights works too.
Lili Krakowski
P.O. Box #1
Constableville, N.Y.
(315) 942-5916/ 397-2389
Be of good courage....
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