Carty Ellis on sun 31 jul 05
Thanks to RR, Bonnie and others - had a very successful firing today. Time
was the culprit. I had been using my little Paragon A-77b and not much in
it. Firing was way too fast. I'm sure I will fully prove it out to myself
over the next couple of weeks.
BUT HERE IS MY ANSWER
Yesterday (and last night) in the Skutt 1018 -
about 16 pieces of pottery (some plates, small vase, cups bowls Standard 182
and Standard 153 clay bodies...bisqued at Cone 04) RR White - Waterfall,
Floating Blue - combos thereof -
Both switches on low at 3:15 PM - both to medium at 4:30 PM - both to high
at 6 PM.
At 10:10 PM pyrometer said 2010 F.
At 11:43PM the sitter tripped at 2190f and then (as can be found in Appendix
E, p. 144 of MC6G) cone sitter overridden, both switches to medium and timer
on kiln sitter set to four hours. Opened kiln at 7 tonight (was still 150F
but couldn't wait any longer) and success! RR White was great - waterfall
could have been a touch thicker on rims - but cup covered with waterfall did
not drip to shelf, was nice dark brown with light rim - and FB was as usual
great ( two dips was more interesting than one).
I guess figuring out how to slow the Paragon A-77B down will be my final
ticket to success (for small test runs - I'll try letting it go about 4 or 5
hours on medium and then turn one switch to high leaving the other on
medium- wonder how that will work getting to cone 6. But I see light at the
end of the tunnel.
Thanks all - fast firing can cause problems that appear to be other than
what they are.
Thanks.
Carty Ellis
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