Arnold Howard on wed 23 jun 04
shelves(was:Uneven kiln temp)
Ken, your idea to stagger half shelves sounds good. Some people swear by the
practice.
I don't think it would be feasible to drill holes in shelves after they have
been fired.
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
arnoldhoward@att.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kenneth J. Nowicki"
> I too was interested in perforating my shelves with small drilled holes to
> perhaps assist the kiln in achieving a more even firing, however, Steve
> recommended against this in the shelves that L&L uses... I'm not sure, but
I believe
> they are Cordierite, Mullite, or a combination thereof. Steve's concern is
that
> the holes drilled in these shelves will weaken them, and that many might
> break during the drilling process as well.
>
> So, as much as I'd like to see the manufacturers who make kiln shelves
start
> offering a "perforated" shelf to customers from the factory... it doesn't
look
> like it is going to happen anytime soon. I have heard that industry
commonly
> uses perforated kiln shelves, and see no reason why studio potters cannot
> take advantage of this and do the same. In my opinion, it certainly seems
like it
> warrants further investigation. But, for now... I've decided to use mostly
> "half shelves" and stagger them... using only one full round shelf on the
> bottom.
william schran on wed 23 jun 04
shelves(was:Uneven kiln temp)
Ken wrote:>.....was interested in perforating my shelves with small
drilled holes to
perhaps assist the kiln in achieving a more even firing..... But, for
now... I've decided to use mostly
"half shelves" and stagger them... using only one full round shelf on the
bottom. I think staggering them throughout the kiln.....<
The concept of creating/drilling holes in kiln shelves has been
written about previously, but I would like to know about the
reduction in setting space - I assume to perform the intended
function, they couldn't be covered by a pot, thus the loss of space
on the shelf.
I would think in any small electric/gas updraft kiln one would want
to use staggered half shelves, but then use a full shelf (or two
halves butted together) at the top, capping everything, a couple
inches below the lid to help hold and even out the heat, top to
bottom. Then, wondering, would a full shelf or two halves at the
bottom function better?
Bill
Kenneth J. Nowicki on wed 23 jun 04
shelves(was:Uneven kil...
........................................................................
In a message dated 06/23/04, arnoldhoward@ATT.NET wrote:
> I don't think it would be feasible to drill holes in shelves after they have
> been fired.
> Arnold Howard
> Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
> arnoldhoward@att.net
Arnold,
"Doh!!!" ::::<--- Homer Simpson:::: You are absolutely right.
I confess... I must've had a "brain fart" when I wrote that comment. I guess
I was drifting back in my mind to when I successfully drilled holes in a
Cordierite shelf that I attached a tubular aluminum handle to and made into a cover
to slide over the flue of my big raku kiln... but that was an unfired brand
new shelf... not one that had been fired. Of course it would probably be nearly
impossible to drill a shelf successfully after it had been fired... sorry
about that Cathi... my mistake.
- Ken
Kenneth J. Nowicki
Port Washington, NY
RakuArtist@aol.com
Jo Smith on thu 24 jun 04
shelves(was:Uneven kiln temp)
If two half shelves are on the same level I leave a gap in the middle.
Jo
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