Mondloch on thu 6 nov 03
This is what I've been playing with in my gas MFT car kiln and I thought it
may be of interest to some.
To get it to fire even, the target bricks in the flame trench got moved from
the front to about half way to the burners and with 4 split IFB spaced
between the remaining trench and the chamber floor. Then it was firing nice
and even but there was a dead space in the trench, between the target bricks
and the front walls, which bugged me. So I put a small 8 x 15 " electric
kiln shelf (up on 1.5"D posts laid on side) on each side, removed the target
bricks and fire tall skinny vases on the shelves to serve as target bricks
and get fired in the process.
I've also been playing with little dishes of salt for some localized salt
effects. I'm only using about 1 cup rock salt divided into 4 dishes. Two go
right in front of the target pots in the flame trench and the other two in
the chamber. The dishes are all previously glaze fired and set up on little
IFB blocks. The effect from the salt seems to be restricted to maybe 10 "
from the dishes, so I avoid placing them closer then 10" to the roof, front
and back walls of the kiln. The brick are ITC coated and I'm not too worried
if I eventually get some spalling in the flame trench area, but want to
avoid it from the roof and walls where it could fall into pots.
I'm also stoking with wood sticks for about 20 minutes after the burners are
shut down. I'm not sure how much this does. I think it adds flashing, it's
fun and I get my wood firing fix with allot less work. ;)
The pots in the flame trench are getting fired at least 1 cone higher then
the rest of the chamber. They are single fired like everything else, but I
do have a long candling- pilots 8hrs, burners low overnight. With the more
intense flashing and salt effects, they've become my favorite pots that I
can't wait to see when I open.
We've cleaned up around the little wood kiln the other day and it's
officially retired to lawn ornament status. I feel like I've finally made
the "connection" with the gas kiln so its OK.
Sylvia
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Mark & Sylvia Mondloch
Silver Creek Pottery & Forge
W6725 Hwy 144
Random Lake ,Wi 53075
HotArt@silvercreekpottery.com
http://www.silvercreekpottery.com
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