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Post by lonaugh on Oct 15, 2017 10:09:36 GMT -6
I have read a couple of places that you can use a very bright torch to look into the kiln and see the crystals forming and decide if you need to keep firing. My question is what kind of torch are people using to do this??? How many lumins does it need to be,  Any brands people can point me to on the Internet so I can get the right one...I have tried a couple of torches already and could not see a thing when I looked into the spy hole...  |
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annie
Junior Member
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Post by annie on Oct 16, 2017 2:26:21 GMT -6
I'm using a Coast 600 Led torch (has 620 Lumens) to view my cones drop. Takes standard batteries and works. Still tough at top temp to see but if I position the cones well and view them before a few times (so I know I'm looking at correct angle) I can see my cones bend. Hope that helps. I use North welding goggles.
--Annie
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Post by lonaugh on Oct 16, 2017 6:37:05 GMT -6
Thanks for that reply, Can you actually see the crystal formations on the pieces as well as the cones?? I understood you could see the crystals on the pots beyond looking the cones..I think it was mentioned in Fara Shimbo's book.
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annie
Junior Member
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Post by annie on Oct 16, 2017 7:50:31 GMT -6
I'm sure you could if you have a large enoug spy hole. I know others that view the crystals growth. I need to enlarge my access before that'd be poss. Hope that helps.
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Post by lonaugh on Oct 16, 2017 9:48:46 GMT -6
You're right, my spy holes aren't that large so it would limit what I could see..it would be worth making a piece and placing it there especially to fit so I could see it clearly. I was just wondering if other people use this method to look into a hot kiln at the size of crystals....
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Post by mohawkpiper on Oct 16, 2017 11:21:00 GMT -6
lonaugh, we look into the kiln every firing. it makes our success rate higher if the crystals arent very big by the end of the schedule, we add time. if they are getting too large before the schedule is done, we kill it. if crystals arent even showing up, we drop the temp to around 1860 for a 30 min hold and bring it back up and they start growing we use the fenixPD32. i dont know its lumens off the top of my head (you could look it up on the internet),but it is by far our favorite.... and we have tried many. the only downside is it uses weird batteries. we can easily see the cone and crystals below 2000 degrees. it gets harder to see above 2000 and really hard to see somewhere above ~2050F. I hope you are using glasses too to block out the IR to save your eyes. its tough deciding on glasses because if u go too dark its hard to see inside. the glasses we use have the label CZ87+U6 W5 on them. i dont know the brand off the too of my head. we have been using them (doing this) for years and years.... i used to have 20/15 vision in both eyes.... and still do! i havent seen a negative effect on my eyes... (yet...). we also drilled the peep holes on the inside to get wider instead of narrower as the go back into the kiln to make it less restrictive to see from the kiln brick.  You can see three of the five shown peep holes have been drilled larger. G |
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Post by lonaugh on Oct 17, 2017 7:50:55 GMT -6
Thanks so much for taking the time and trouble to respond.that is all really useful information to me.....I have just ordered a Fenix torch and have to look into getting some safety goggles too while I am at it..and drilling bigger holes in my kiln..Can't wait to see the crystals next time I fire !!!!!I am super excited!!!!!L
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Any brands people can point me to on the Internet so I can get the right one...I have tried a couple of torches already and could not see a thing when I looked into the spy hole... 
