Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Back to the kiln



I've got a couple of weeks off from work and am enjoying being home at the house. I fired up the kiln for the first time in too long a time, on monday night. I got to use a pyrometer that I had bought awhile back on ebay. I like knowing what's going on inside the kiln as it fires, trying to judge by color is not a very easy way to be sure of the temp. The one shot you can see through the peep hole and see the cone bending over, it has the number 04 upside down on it. Cone 04 is the temperature to which I fire my work to (Bisque)before I glaze and then fire it again. As you can see from the pyrometer reading at cone 04 is 1942 degrees, or somewhere around there depending how quickly or slowly you fire. Cones measure the amount of heat that the clay absorbs not the temperature that is in the kiln, when they bend over like this one is, you have reached your mark. I hope to improve my glaze firing with the help of the pyrometer. With it I'll be able to hold the temperature at a certain temperature to hopefully get some better results with my glazes. Anyhow, I hope to get some work done while I'm home. I just mixed up a new batch of paper clay so I can continue working on my series of man and woman theme sculptures. Merry Christmas!!

2 comments:

Jacque Pierro said...

Can't wait to take a peek into the kiln and see your brilliance baked.

jriggity said...

So nie to get a chance to work!

MERRY CHRISTMAS from all of us over here!!!!!

justin and Shel Aedon Nicky Shamus.