Olympic Lite 126--First Time Set Up

[jsgirt]

I was given this type of kiln and have done much reading on how to prep things for the first time for glass/bottle slumping.   I read and reread the manual and no where did it mention how to prep the kiln and fire for the first time.   Finally I contacted the company (www.greatkilns.com) and suddenly a sales person writes to me---never use kiln wash on the floor of this kiln...this kiln has a fiber floor and kiln wash will ruin the floor.   I have since written again for more specific 'first time' directions and have not heard anything.  Should I use fiber paper on the floor?....it is probable that I will have a glass overflow and I do not want to spoil anything the first few firings out!!  My manual covers many types of Olympic kilns--not type specific.....I have never used a kiln before and since I like slumped bottles--my son gave it to me as a gift.  Please suggest a book/dvd or something that will be of good advise.

Please help!!

[oldlady]

i suggest contacting a glass slumping expert.  there are some names on google.  maybe even a group like this one for glass,  good luck.

 

you said you "contacted" the company.  why not try the telephone and talk to someone in the technical department.  do not take no for the answer.  someone should care about this problem, go to the top, if necessary.

[suevit1031]

Always use a kiln washed kiln shelf sitting right on the bottom of the kiln when doing glass. However, you shouldn't have run off of the glass if you're just slumping. That would happen when you get into the 1400 plus degrees when the glass gets liquid. I haven't slumped bottles but I have slumped lots of glass pieces and have made my share of expensive mistakes, glass is really expensive and unforgiving in many cases.

 

The shelf paper is great for smooth bottoms of pieces, (glass picks up the shape of ever little thing even the piece of brush hair you can miss when shelf washing and it stand out like a sore thumb!) but if the fired glass is too hot (in my kiln around 1600 - 1700 degrees) it will become part of the piece and getting rid of it is really tough if not impossible. Normally you would never use those high temps unless you were raking or doing pot melts and then there's always grinding to get the stuff off the bottom.

 

SueVit