Julene on mon 16 oct 06
Thanks to all the help from this list, my kiln is
working great, almost. In researching and
building the kiln, I underestimated the kilnshelf
issue. Previously, i have had the same shelves
for my electic for over 25 years. These came with
my Paragon and never gave me an issue to think
about. Thanks Paragon! Shelf sources are not
discussed much in the books or literature. I am
now looking back at the kiln pictures asking, "and
what about those shelves?". Suppliers and
materials change. What has your experiences been
lately?
I planned my kiln for 12" by 24" shelves. How
does this size work for others when using 3 points
of support? Didn't work well for me (six points
maybe, but not a good solution).
What thickness worked best for you? Did you find
that you needed the 3/4" silicon carbide?
Did you have the shelves shipped? How well did
this work? Any suppliers better than others for
the shipping?
Any bad feedback on the use of zirconium washes on
your shelves?
Do you use different types of shelves for the
differing zones in the kilns?
I have obtained a few different types now to try
this week in my wood firing. I am asking for
others experiences and help to find the best
solution. I cannot fully express how wonderful it
is to be able to ask these questions to such a
knowledgeable and helpful group with so many
combined years of experience. And that is not
just being nice, or warm and fuzzy.
If you are wondering about my firing situation my
last firing is shown on my kiln page at:
www.airstreamcomm.net/~julene
Many of the pictures are old as most of the
webpage work is done in the winter for
entertainment. More interesting sometimes then
TV. Feedback is always considered and
appreciated.
Thank you,
Julene
Northwest Wisconsin
Vince Pitelka on mon 16 oct 06
Julene wrote:
> I planned my kiln for 12" by 24" shelves. How
> does this size work for others when using 3 points
> of support? Didn't work well for me (six points
> maybe, but not a good solution).
Julene -
We use 3/4" 12x24 and 24x24 silcar shelves in our wood, salt, and soda
kilns. On the 12x24 shelves we always do three-point support with common
posting (adjacent shelves supported by common posts). In these processes we
use soaps and standard bricks as posts - never standard commercial kiln
posts - they are too thin and unstable. Soaps (9"x2.5"x2.25") are great as
kiln posts in wood, salt, and soda, because they offer a lot more stability
than the thinner commercial kiln posts. Standard firebrick are a little
bulky, but they work. Use wadding to stabilize the shelves - make sure they
con't wobble at all. Sometimes we do use four posts per shelf for a stack
of shelves if we have large bowls or platters to fire.
It is up to the supplier to pack your shelves properly for shipping, and if
they arrive broken, the cost should be covered by insurance. Make sure that
the supplier insures the shipment properly.
Good luck -
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/
BJ Clark | Stinking Desert Ceramics on mon 16 oct 06
Julene,
There was some talk about this from attendees at the Woodfire conference
last weekend in Arizona.
Tom Coleman personally recomended to me the chinese nitride-bonded silcar
shelves. He said he's been using them in both wood and gas and has had great
great luck. He said he got his from Geil but that they were all comming from
the same place and Geil is getting a new shipment in soon.
Judith Duff recomended Advancers.
Tony Clennell said he uses regular clay based shelves (I forget which ones
specifically, I'm sure he'll recomend something when he gets back online)
and also silcar in different spots in his kiln.
The only bad comments I've heard about the advancers/silcar is that they
will drip big ash blobs.
Can't say much about kiln wash. I've heard they are totally unneccessary on
some of the shelves and can even do damange. I'd consult the
manufacturer/suppiler of the particular shelf.
-BJ
On 10/16/06, Vince Pitelka wrote:
>
> Julene wrote:
> > I planned my kiln for 12" by 24" shelves. How
> > does this size work for others when using 3 points
> > of support? Didn't work well for me (six points
> > maybe, but not a good solution).
>
> Julene -
> We use 3/4" 12x24 and 24x24 silcar shelves in our wood, salt, and soda
> kilns. On the 12x24 shelves we always do three-point support with common
> posting (adjacent shelves supported by common posts). In these processes
> we
> use soaps and standard bricks as posts - never standard commercial kiln
> posts - they are too thin and unstable. Soaps (9"x2.5"x2.25") are great
> as
> kiln posts in wood, salt, and soda, because they offer a lot more
> stability
> than the thinner commercial kiln posts. Standard firebrick are a little
> bulky, but they work. Use wadding to stabilize the shelves - make sure
> they
> con't wobble at all. Sometimes we do use four posts per shelf for a stack
> of shelves if we have large bowls or platters to fire.
>
> It is up to the supplier to pack your shelves properly for shipping, and
> if
> they arrive broken, the cost should be covered by insurance. Make sure
> that
> the supplier insures the shipment properly.
> Good luck -
>
> 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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>
--
BJ Clark
Stinking Desert Ceramics
bjclark@stinkingdesert.com
www.stinkingdesert.com
Lee Love on tue 17 oct 06
On 10/17/06, BJ Clark | Stinking Desert Ceramics
wrote:
> Julene,
> There was some talk about this from attendees at the Woodfire conference
> last weekend in Arizona.
> Tom Coleman personally recomended to me the chinese nitride-bonded silcar
> shelves. He said he's been using them in both wood and gas and has had great
> great luck. He said he got his from Geil but that they were all comming from
> the same place and Geil is getting a new shipment in soon.
Looks like Julene is firing the same design kiln as mine. Welcome aboard!
I use these same types of shelves as Coleman recommends, but
mine are probably the original japanese, that are copied in China.
They are thin, strong and light and will resist vapor and salt. Mine
are 35cm by 40cm. I buy them used (factories periodically replace
their shelves reguardless of their condition, and my last dozen only
cost me 800 yen a piece (about $7.00USA) The onces before were a
little newer and costs about $10.50USA each. The factories in Seto
go through a lot of shelves.
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan
http://potters.blogspot.com/
"Let the beauty we love be what we do." - Rumi
"When we all do better. We ALL do better." -Paul Wellstone
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