search  current discussion  categories  kilns & firing - misc 

kiln firing questions

updated fri 27 aug 04

 

Gay Judson on wed 25 aug 04


I have just had my (loaned) kiln check out (good report) and installed
appropriate electrical connection. So now I am ready to fire it for the
first time-which will be an empty kiln firing. Then I will load it for =
a
real firing-bisque first-then with glaze tests. Besides this being my =
first
kiln firing I am also making my first glazes-using Mastering Cone 6 =
Glazes.
So lots of new experiences. =20

=20

I know that I must keep good records. Can you give me some help in know
what/how to record of these experiences: firings and glazes. Or point =
me to
literature that provides guides for record keeping. Our library has a =
lot
of books on ceramics, and I've checked out a lot of books but I have not
come across specific guides for record keeping. Any help will be
appreciated. Thanks in advance!

=20

Gay Judson

San Antonio, TX

=20

Mike Gordon on wed 25 aug 04


Hi,
Did I miss something ??? Where is the firing chart? Mike Gordon
On Aug 25, 2004, at 11:25 AM, flatrockclay wrote:

> Hello Gay,
>
> This is a copy of the electric firing chart we used at the Univ of
> Dallas
> and you can adapt it for your needs.
> _______________________________________________________________________
> _______
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>

flatrockclay on wed 25 aug 04


Hello Gay,

This is a copy of the electric firing chart we used at the Univ of Dallas
and you can adapt it for your needs. I also write the basic weather
conditions and note the items in the kiln and if it was full or a partial
load and if it was fuller at the bottom or top or if the work was thin or
thick (I make very thin lighted vessels and thick vessel sinks). If you
have a programmable controller on your kiln you may want to note if you
alter the basic program you use, such as making the first 500 degrees take
longer or shorter.

You may want to copy this for the beginning then just get a small lined
journal to keep near the kiln and record the info as you want. I also
suggest keeping a record of what our cones look like after the firing so you
can detect problems sooner and note any glaze changes. You may want to find
a copy of the Orton firing video because they offer a lot of firing
suggestions and things to look for when starting out.

Take care and happy mud fingers, Kelley

http://www.flatrockclay.com

Flat Rock Studio
Clay Supplies & Gallery
479.521.3181
2002 S School, Fayetteville, AR 72701

Thirty spokes are made one by holes in a hub
By vacancies joining them for a wheel's use;
The use of clay in molding pitchers
Comes from the hollow of its absence;
Doors, windows, in a house
Are used for their emptiness;
Thus we are helped by what is not
To use what is.
11 - Lao Tzu

Cynthia Bracker on wed 25 aug 04


You might check our website for a firing schedule & other good kiln
maintenance info etc.: http://www.brackers.com/tech_corner.cfm
As for a firing log, My recommendation is to get a 3 ring binder. Use
one piece of paper for each firing and tape your junior cone to the top
of the page. If you have a controller and aren't using junior cones,
just mark your witness cones with a Sharpie and keep them in a box.
They're too big to tape down. Keep are record of the following:
Bisque vs Glaze
Cone (either in sitter or programmed)
Start Time
Finish Time
(Hours on) Low
(Hours on) Medium
(Hours on) High
Load Density (light, medium or heavy)
# of shelves (# full & # half)
Weather conditions
Other comments

If you use a pyrometer, you might also keep track of the temp at
specific times during the firing (i.e. when turning up the switches or
once/hour whatever works for you)
Good Luck!
Cindy

Gay Judson wrote:

>I have just had my (loaned) kiln check out (good report) and installed
>appropriate electrical connection. So now I am ready to fire it for the
>first time-which will be an empty kiln firing. Then I will load it for a
>real firing-bisque first-then with glaze tests. Besides this being my first
>kiln firing I am also making my first glazes-using Mastering Cone 6 Glazes.
>So lots of new experiences.
>
>
>
>I know that I must keep good records. Can you give me some help in know
>what/how to record of these experiences: firings and glazes. Or point me to
>literature that provides guides for record keeping. Our library has a lot
>of books on ceramics, and I've checked out a lot of books but I have not
>come across specific guides for record keeping. Any help will be
>appreciated. Thanks in advance!
>
>
>
>Gay Judson
>
>San Antonio, TX
>
>
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
>
>

Earl Krueger on wed 25 aug 04


On Aug 25, 2004, at 9:56 AM, Gay Judson wrote:
> I know that I must keep good records. Can you give me some help in
> know
> what/how to record of these experiences: firings and glazes.

Gay,
I asked this same question on Aug 15, 2003 and got some good answers.
Still working out my own system though.
Check the archive around that date and see what you come up with.

There was also a recent post about painting a band inside the foot of
your pot and then inscribing in that details that refer to a log book.

Earl K...
Bothell, WA, USA

Gay Judson on wed 25 aug 04


Thanks Earl, Cindy, Arnold and Kelly
I had searched the archives--but for "firing log". I have found Earl's
reference under "technical record keeping"! I have never been very
effective at making archive searches!
Again thanks for the responses and good suggestions. Now I will get to =
work
making a composite template to use.

Gay Judson

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Earl =
Krueger
> Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2004 12:44 PM
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: Re: kiln firing questions
>=20
> On Aug 25, 2004, at 9:56 AM, Gay Judson wrote:
> > I know that I must keep good records. Can you give me some help in
> > know
> > what/how to record of these experiences: firings and glazes.
>=20
> Gay,
> I asked this same question on Aug 15, 2003 and got some good answers.
> Still working out my own system though.
> Check the archive around that date and see what you come up with.
>=20
> There was also a recent post about painting a band inside the foot of
> your pot and then inscribing in that details that refer to a log book.
>=20
> Earl K...
> Bothell, WA, USA
>=20
> =
_________________________________________________________________________=
_
> ____
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>=20
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>=20
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.

Lee Love on thu 26 aug 04


Earl Krueger wrote:

> There was also a recent post about painting a band inside the foot of
> your pot and then inscribing in that details that refer to a log book.

All my tiles are dated with the date that the tiles were made (a cheap
date stamp), an identification number, and H, M, or L (High/hot,
middle/medium or Low/cool.)

After the firing, I match the number with the glaze in the
glaze test log book and write the description on the tile with a
Sharpie. That way, I don't have to look at the book to know what the
test is.

In the beginning, I draw every level of kiln shelves with
the pots on them, like Arnold suggests. Also, when firing a new
kiln, I made a set of 27 tiles that are glazed half on one side with
a shino and the other side with my strontium blue/green/red. The
shino tells you about early reduction and the copper always stays
blue/green unless there is very heavy reduction. These are place in a
grid, 9 on the bottom, 9 in the middle and 9 on the top. This gives
you a map of the reduction in the different areas of the kiln.

--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan http://mashiko.org
http://www.livejournal.com/users/togeika/ WEB LOG
http://public.fotki.com/togeika/ Photos!