akin4843 Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 I recently performed my first glaze firing this weekend and noticed that the cones were very hard to see once the kiln was at full throttle (I was not using a sitter). So much so that I over-fired all but one mug So, I've decided to buy some goggles/glasses to help me see inside the peep hole better, but not sure which option is best. I found some didymium blue glasses and much cheaper green infrareds, but will they both help me see what I need to see? Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justanassembler Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 The didymium glasses will help to see the cones, but not really that much--their purpose is to block soda flare that you see in soda-lime glass melting furnaces, they wont protect your eyes from infrared. Shade 3 welding glasses work well for looking into kilns to see cones, and should be really cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arnold Howard Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 The didymium glasses will help to see the cones, but not really that much--their purpose is to block soda flare that you see in soda-lime glass melting furnaces, they wont protect your eyes from infrared. Shade 3 welding glasses work well for looking into kilns to see cones, and should be really cheap. I agree that green #3 is better for viewing the witness cones than didymium glasses. I found green #3 glasses at Amazon for $20.00. Sincerely,Arnold Howard Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akin4843 Posted July 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 thanks for the advice, shade 3 glasses it is.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coyle Posted July 16, 2013 Report Share Posted July 16, 2013 One trick I learned from an old CM magazine. Get a short length of1/4 inch rubber of plastic tubing . Hold it about an inch from the inspection hole where your cones are, and blow some air through. It will cool the cones momentarily and they will be dark enough to see in front of the glare of the furnace. I got too close the first time and melted the end of the tubing. But it works and doesn't require special glasses. I don't know if this would work for a gas kiln but it works for an electric kiln. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted July 16, 2013 Report Share Posted July 16, 2013 I blow into my spy pugs all the time in my gas kilns. Just do not get close and not be blowing.Use the #3 glasses all the time as its best for your eyes to protect them from the infrared. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akin4843 Posted July 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2013 One trick I learned from an old CM magazine. Get a short length of1/4 inch rubber of plastic tubing . Hold it about an inch from the inspection hole where your cones are, and blow some air through. It will cool the cones momentarily and they will be dark enough to see in front of the glare of the furnace. I got too close the first time and melted the end of the tubing. But it works and doesn't require special glasses. I don't know if this would work for a gas kiln but it works for an electric kiln. Oh my! With my clumsiness I'd probably do something dumb. Wouldn't the cold air going into the hot kiln cause some sort of temp. disturbance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted July 16, 2013 Report Share Posted July 16, 2013 You should protect your eyes from infrared. It can cause damage in the long run. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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