jen on tue 1 feb 05
Okay guys, I think I finally got this all down, but had a few more
questions about these mayco stroke and coat underglazes I am firing in my
elec kiln on GREENWARE.
1. Do I need to apply kilnwash to shelves? Do I need to put pieces on
stilts if the bottoms are unglazed? Or do I need to do both, or neither?
2. The directions on the glaze bottle (wonderglaze by Mayco, called stroke
and coat) say fire to witness cone 06. Does this mean I need to see the
witness cone through the peephole? One cone or three in a "plague"? I
cannot use my kilnsitter to fire these pieces alone without a witness cone?
Also, if I sit my witness cone on a shelf, checking it through the
peephole,which shelf?(top shelf I can see through the open peephole, the
other shelves I don't have a clear view of the cone.Can some one explain
how to do this step by step? All the directions that came with my kiln are
so conflicting, use witness cones, check AFTER the firing, use your kiln
sitter, witness cones are not necessary, blah, blah,blah NOTHING about
peephole viewing! Please respond, I feel like I am so inexperienced with
the firing process, I have to start somewhere, though. Appreciate any
advice!
Jen
Louis Katz on wed 2 feb 05
Hi Jen,
These are easy questions. Make sure you get a basic ceramic text and
read it. I favor the Nelson, Burkett book but any of them would be
great. I would just warn you that I have strong reservations about
safety information contained in many of these books.
On Feb 1, 2005, at 6:34 PM, jen wrote:
> Okay guys, I think I finally got this all down, but had a few more
> questions about these mayco stroke and coat underglazes I am firing in
> my
> elec kiln on GREENWARE.
> 1. Do I need to apply kilnwash to shelves? Do I need to put pieces on
> stilts if the bottoms are unglazed? Or do I need to do both, or
> neither?
underglazes should not flow at all they tend to be not very sticky
either. no need for stilts or wash.
> 2. The directions on the glaze bottle (wonderglaze by Mayco, called
> stroke
> and coat) say fire to witness cone 06. Does this mean I need to see the
> witness cone through the peephole? One cone or three in a "plague"? I
> cannot use my kilnsitter to fire these pieces alone without a witness
> cone?
> Also, if I sit my witness cone on a shelf, checking it through the
> peephole,which shelf?(top shelf I can see through the open peephole,
> the
> other shelves I don't have a clear view of the cone.Can some one
> explain
> how to do this step by step? All the directions that came with my kiln
> are
> so conflicting, use witness cones, check AFTER the firing, use your
> kiln
> sitter, witness cones are not necessary, blah, blah,blah NOTHING about
> peephole viewing! Please respond, I feel like I am so inexperienced
> with
> the firing process, I have to start somewhere, though. Appreciate any
> advice!
using witness cones is smart advice. It can prevent your kiln from
vastly overfiring. It is particularly smart the first few times you
fire, or if you do not inspect the sitter tube each time you fire, but
kiln sitters are notorious for overfire problems. At the very least use
a cone three cones higher than your firing cone so you can turn the
kiln off before everything melts to a puddle at the bottom.
Make sure your shelves are posted correctly. Usually this means three
posts spread out as far as they can be. Subsequent layers should have
their posts right above the layer below.
Make sure you have all flammables away from the kiln and have read and
followed all the safety advice in the owner's manual.
I would suggest starting with just a few pieces, especially if your
process is involved.
Start out right and get yourself some welding goggles for viewing the
cones. I am not sure what number lens you need. Make sure you keep your
eyes and hair away from the spy hole. Use one of the upper spy holes
for your witnesss cones.
Louis
> Jen
>
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jen on thu 3 feb 05
Louis,
Thank so much for all of your help. I've read my manuals, but it's nice
when you can ask someone with experience specific questions and have them
answered in a way that makes sense. I truly appreciate you taking the time
to help. Thanks a million.
Jen
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