Nichrome Wire

[Pompots]

Hello Potters,

I'm trying to glaze a slip cast porcelain egg (Cone 5) and don't want the pin marks of the stilts. I came up with a simple solution for my problem (see attached picture), in the picture the egg is being held by a wooden chop stick (for illustration purposes) but the idea is to use Nichrome wire, my question is:

Would Nichrome wire support the egg without bending on the firing? This wire is very thick, can't bend it with one hand, don't know the gauge thought. The egg is not to heavy, like 4 ounces unglazed and it might get up to 6 ounces with the glaze.

Thanks in advance for your input and knowledge.

Pompeyo Cepeda.

[justanassembler]

Hello Potters,

I'm trying to glaze a slip cast porcelain egg (Cone 5) and don't want the pin marks of the stilts. I came up with a simple solution for my problem (see attached picture), in the picture the egg is being held by a wooden chop stick (for illustration purposes) but the idea is to use Nichrome wire, my question is:

Would Nichrome wire support the egg without bending on the firing? This wire is very thick, can't bend it with one hand, don't know the gauge thought. The egg is not to heavy, like 4 ounces unglazed and it might get up to 6 ounces with the glaze.

Thanks in advance for your input and knowledge.

Pompeyo Cepeda.

 

 

Sounds like it might work--why dont you test it and see?

[perkolator]

depends on the balance and weight of the egg. most likely if it's fairly centered balance-wise I don't see any issue firing it. for the nichrome, try a rod for a bead rack - it's around 1/8" thick.

[neilestrick]

You'll need something thicker than the little rolls of nichrome wire you can get at the pottery supply store. You need a piece of heavy element wire. You can usually buy it by the foot from kiln manufacturers. I fire some things the same same way and it works well, however my pieces are not hollow, they only have a small hole in them. Your piece must sit loosely on the wire, to allow for expansion/contraction and shrinkage. This will likely be a problem if your piece is hollow, as it will want to tip over.

[Pompots]

Yeah, I think testing is the only way i would know for sure, I just want to avoid the mess in case it bends and falls on other piece or even the shelf.

Thanks everyone for your input.

[Guest Big Electric Cat]

Hi Pompots,

 

 

I am going to need something like this also, so I found a place that may have what you and I both want :

 

National Artcraft (http://www.nationalartcraft.com/subcategory.asp?gid=10&cid=172&scid=451)

[Pompots]

Thanks Big Electric Cat,

I have already the nichrome wire but im not sure what gauge it is, it is really tick and hard to bend, so I'm thinking it might be 9 or 11. I'm making a test tonight, I'm loading the kiln right now, I will post a picture of the way it looks before and then I will take another picture after.

[Pompots]

Ok, so I have decided upon the test that I'm putting posts around the egg, in case if the wire bends the post will support the egg keep it from falling into any other pots and i wont have any casualties but the post that can be cleaned and saved. I'm attaching 2 pictures one of the egg showing part of the wire, and other on how it was set on the kiln, this is firing right now, so tomorrow night i will have the end result.

[John255]

I doubt that wire in your photo will bend.

For years I use a similar size (3mm dia) for glazing my spoons to cone 6.

It is the replacement wire for the Dawson kiln sitter available at most suppliers.

John255

[Pompots]

I doubt that wire in your photo will bend.

For years I use a similar size (3mm dia) for glazing my spoons to cone 6.

It is the replacement wire for the Dawson kiln sitter available at most suppliers.

John255

 

Thanks John, yeah, your sitter is fine, the only difference with mine is the wire is like 6" long the egg is hollow, the kiln is 925F now. will be able to see the result at night. Will keep you all posted.

[Pugaboo]

Have you seen the egg holders sold at Big Ceramic Store? One goes to cone 10 and the other goes to cone 6 and even kind of look like that you are trying to make. I am thinking of getting one to use for ornaments (not eggs). Is there a reason you have not considered one of these? Just curious if there is a reason to avoid them. I have attached a picture in case you have not seen them.

 

Terry

[Pompots]

Have you seen the egg holders sold at Big Ceramic Store? One goes to cone 10 and the other goes to cone 6 and even kind of look like that you are trying to make. I am thinking of getting one to use for ornaments (not eggs). Is there a reason you have not considered one of these? Just curious if there is a reason to avoid them. I have attached a picture in case you have not seen them.

 

Terry

 

I just had the nichrome wire sitting there for a long time, i got it for some reason when i build my raku kiln a couple of years ago. and i wanted to give it a use. I guess it is easy to just buy the sitter, but i like to avoid the expense if i can. If my test doesn't work, then I will consider buying this nice sitter. Thanks for your input.

[Pompots]

OK, I opened the Kiln and voila! the egg was there standing shiny and proud. the wire did not move or bend at all, so you all know that It works. Nichrome wire gauge 9 or 11 holds eggs.

I'm attaching a picture of the 3 parts involved.

Thanks a lot everybody and may the Clay Gods be with you.

[Pugaboo]

That is so cool! Congrats on it working!! I unfortunately have just started out and do not have neat kiln stuff laying around awaiting a new life. My kitchen on the other hand has much emptier drawers since I started pottery and even my painting studio has less "extras" lol.

 

Terry

[Pompots]

That is so cool! Congrats on it working!! I unfortunately have just started out and do not have neat kiln stuff laying around awaiting a new life. My kitchen on the other hand has much emptier drawers since I started pottery and even my painting studio has less "extras" lol.

 

Terry

 

 

Thanks Terry, at some point you will find yourself with lots of pottery stuff that you dont know what to do with it, do not throw anything away. lol....

Best

Pompeyo