Vince Pitelka on mon 22 aug 05
We have always placed some damp wares in bisque firings in our toploader L&L
electrics, and on occasion, items that are VERY damp. We preheat overnight
with the lid raised several inches and the bottom element on low, or in the
case of the programmable kilns, with the preheat set at 180 degrees F. That
takes care of any residual moisture in the wares, and even a very wet piece
will get dry over night. Granted, this is not at all a desireable way of
drying ceramic work, but sometimes things get rushed.
Just over the past two years we have replaced the L&L J230s that were
purchased when the Craft Center was opened in 1980. They were still in
remarkably good condition, after 20 years of heavy use. As long as you
leave the spy plugs out and leave the lid open several years, I think that
most of the vapors pass out the opening at the top rather than passing
through the refractory and causing the shell components to deteriorate. The
stainless won't be affected, but the steel screws that hold the other
components in place will deteriorate, and the hinges, handles, and other
non-stainless parts will eventually start to deteriorate. Over the years I
have periodically replaced all of the non-stainless sheet metal screws that
hold the kiln together.
The minor amount of deterioration we have experienced in the kilns is a very
small price to pay for the convenience of drying out wares in an overnight
preheat.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
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