Curtis Nelson on tue 4 feb 03
Mel, Tom, Others -
I'm about to buy one of those tiny electric test kilns. Actually it's Axner's
Test Plus kiln, which is made by Olympic for them. When it's not firing
test glazes, much of the time it will be used to bisque fire paper clay
(30% to 50% paper). There is no vent possibility, it being so small, so
we'll fire it outside.
Although Axner routinely ITC coats the larger kilns in their line, this
little one is only coated by request at Olympic during it's manufacture.
With the amount of organic smoke produced in an unvented kiln by
paper clay, does even the vaunted ITC afford a reasonable protection
for the kiln interior, particularly the elements?
If our testing encourages us to start producing enough to fire in a
normal-size electric kiln that's been ITC coated and IS vented, will the
venting aspect significantly help to preserve the elements and brick?
I guess the overall question is how bad is paper clay for electric kilns?
Thanks -
Curt Nelson
LindaBlossom on tue 4 feb 03
I routinely fired paper clay in electric and gas. My kilns and elements
were coated with itc and I never lost a minute on my firing time after 150
electric firings. I don't remember any great smell either as it burned out.
Linda
Ithaca, NY
>
> With the amount of organic smoke produced in an unvented kiln by
> paper clay, does even the vaunted ITC afford a reasonable protection
> for the kiln interior, particularly the elements?
>
> If our testing encourages us to start producing enough to fire in a
> normal-size electric kiln that's been ITC coated and IS vented, will the
> venting aspect significantly help to preserve the elements and brick?
>
>
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