E.G. Yarnetsky on tue 27 jan 04
My concern upon using temperature from a thermocouple as a guide as to
when to open the kiln, is that this temperature is the temp. where the
thermocouple is. If your kiln shelves are close to the walls of the
kiln, the temperature on lower shelves could be much higher. A draft
created by opening the lid could create a problem. I always prop slowly
rather than just completely open the lid. Also to consider is the
temperature of the room your kiln is in. Of course if we all waited
until the kiln hit room termperature it would be best, but I will admit
I am not very often that patient!
Darlene Yarnetsky
Mudcat Pottery
Madison,Indiana
Joe Coniglio on tue 27 jan 04
Waiting for a kiln temperature to reach ambient outer temperature is a
luxury we --can-- all well afford. Since most kilns are fired in unheated
rooms it would make a great deal of sense to wait---and wait. It's
tough but its the very last part of the long investment of time, materials
and energy---the finished piece.
Many schools can't wait because of the firing schedule, backlogs etc.
The results during this time of the year in most parts is crackle or
crazing--your choice of terms.
Then you're told the glaze was applied to thick. Who are you going to
believe? The pieces coming out were too hot to handle without gloves
so you be the judge.
Some say it's safe below 500F. I'd wait if I could. But that's just me.
There will always be critics and the student is always at the whim of
the instructor.
Best bet when the time is right is to pull away and make all your own
choices and then all you'll need to do is search for answers because
no other human being in the process is going to be held accountable
for your work but you. It's a lonely place and it'll leave you wondering
but it surely avoids shifting blame to anyone else especially the boss
of the kiln firing---a thankless job--endlessly loading and unloading
funky student work of which 5% has reached any status of
achievement at all. And they continue to ask me "Joe...is this why you
drink"? --just kidding. But a mind is a terrible thing to waste
endlessly guessing and guessing.
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