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Post by grandfather on Mar 20, 2022 12:28:32 GMT -6
I am the, so called, "grandfather" from the Netherlands and helping my wife since 1994 to make porcelain pots, but the recents years we didn't make any.
This year we try to start again.
We like to to start something new to us with crystalline glases, especially the matte ones.
For this we will buy a small kiln, who can go up to max 1350 ºC, and a programmable controller with possibilities of controlled cooling.
I have a question:
Is it wise that the kiln will be equipped with a peephole to look at cones or will it influence my maximum temperature too much?
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Post by jfox on Mar 21, 2022 7:04:22 GMT -6
assuming your kiln can get to cone 10 peep holes are fine infact required because thermocouples cant be trusted and must be calibrated to the cones over time . if i get a thermocouple reading thats five percent low at peak temperature ill adjust my holding temp likewise ect. this is not necessarily accurate because its not always linear but its a start because finding the sweet spot is a never ending battle
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Post by grandfather on Mar 21, 2022 9:27:48 GMT -6
Hallo Jim,
Thank you for your reply. Your making beautiful pots.
The kiln has a maximum temperature of 1350 ºC (about 2460 F). I think high enough for cone 10.
The porcelain I use has to go up to 1275 ºC (2327 F). But is it necessary (and not dangerous) to look into the kiln during firing through the peephole? Looking (measuring) after firing is not enough?
Vgr Adriaan
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Post by mohawkpiper on Mar 21, 2022 11:26:05 GMT -6
Welcome grandfather!
In my opinion, peepholes are great to have and do not have any noticeable affect to the results.
Yes, you can check afterwards and adjust each firing without ever looking into the peepholes during the firing, but I feel this will be a longer battle of chasing that sweet spot and you will have to be more consistent with just about everything to get more consistent results.
If you fire two firings, one with one shelf and just a few pots and the other with 3 shelves, loaded with pots, you will need a lot more heatwork for the second loaded one to reach peak. So if you dont look inside to watch the cone drop, you will have two differing peak temps if you run the same schedule.
It is totally doable that way and there is nothing wrong with it. It just might take longer to figure out the holds and stuff for differing size loads.
I prefer to just schedule a long hold at peak temp, and watch the cone drop through the peep hole, and end the segment when the cone drops.
I definitely get a really consistent cone drop, and I *feel* that it gives me more consistent results.
But with looking into the kiln comes the safety precautions of your eyes. I have some dark welding glasses, based off research I think are good and appropriate for such a task, but I guess in the end, I may not know if they are actually adequate. So far so good though.
Really it is up to you how you want to go about doing it. But cones either way are a really good idea.
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Post by grandfather on Mar 29, 2022 15:01:40 GMT -6
Thanks, mohawkpiper, for your reply.
Last weekend I have ordered my kiln equipped with a peephole.
The delivering time is 14 weeks, so I have to wait before I can try.
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