Chris Campbell Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 I have a load of new work, new forms, new glazes, new washes ... firing as I write. Second guessing my choices, doubting my testing, wishing I was firing with more information. Isn't pottery just the best!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 What, just look at it as another chance to fail, how wise you will become! Some times you just have to step off without knowing the exact depth of the water, only that it is deep enough!! And hey, you're not bored today are you??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted November 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 Bored is about the last thing I am!! You just know I am going to be opening it too soon. Ouch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrgpots Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 Bored is about the last thing I am!! You just know I am going to be opening it too soon. Ouch! Have you opened the kiln yet? If so was waiting anxiety worth it. Was seeing you work like Christmas morning greatness or New Year morning blues? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 I fired my 35 cubic car kiln then went away for 6 days (its day 5 of that trip today) I get a look at it when I get home tomorrow night. Ok its my 22nd glaze this year in that particular kiln so I see a lot of them. I always wonder whats up?? My big fear is earthquakes as they can bring the whole load down and have. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 Hey maybe with space spin offs we will see transparent kiln walls in our life times!! Now that would be nail biting stuff! Get someone to sit on you Chris!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 Well I hope you go away and come back to a kiln load of treasures! Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 Transparent kiln walls-hmmm now when do we learn to store the excess light or channel it to light our homes for the next week or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 I have a load of new work, new forms, new glazes, new washes ... firing as I write. Second guessing my choices, doubting my testing, wishing I was firing with more information. Isn't pottery just the best!! oh I empathize so much ... I just tweaked one of my main glaze recipes. I tested it twice and felt reasonably confident. But the first time I glazed a whole kiln load was very stressful. Smack in the middle of holiday production season. I had to fight the urge to start unloading a hot kiln too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted November 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 Rule One of pottery ... Anything you really care about does not go smoothly. Went to check the firing around ten pm and the breaker had tripped .... So, changed the faulty breaker this morning and trying again. So far, so good. Unfortunately my other kiln needs the elements changed before I can use it for a high firing ... I have them in a drawer so it's only an afternoon's work. Knew I should have done that job before I needed to. : - ) So later today I will either be calling an electrician, re-wiring a kiln ... Or happily monitoring an on going firing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JBaymore Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 Us potters are gluttons for punishment. best, .......................john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 I'm still fighting a battle with dark glazes on dark clay. Me thinks I will be using a white base glaze over white combed slip. How things change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 Argh! Let us know how its going.Or better, how it went. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted November 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 Nov 6 @ 5:49 pm EST .... 2191F and running smooth as silk ... knock on wood!!!!!!! I will definitely post pics of the opening .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugaboo Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 Good luck Chris waiting with bated breath to see pictures! Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 Y'see Chris you just spread your angst all over the planet!! I am feeling a bit stressy today and I'm just gardening! We're all waiting to see your stuff and read your reaction. MAy all our kiln gods be smiling for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted November 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 You are so right ... The cascading effect of expressing ones hopes is truly something to witness .... Firing went fine until around seven pm ... as the kiln was quietly firing down we seem to have had the 'perfect storm" of electricity when everything in the house must have clicked on at once ....... darkness fell, but no major harm we can see. Luckily I was monitoring the firing very closely and knew exactly where it was in the controlled cooling. Next time I am going to wait and report on a firing in the past tense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivajones Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 This may be far afield, But do any of you know if I can substitute alumina oxide for aluminua hydrate when making kiln wash using that and calcined kaolin at a 50-50 ratio? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 No Chris, I liked following your emotional journey, made me feel that there were lots of people who had experienced the same and that always is "helpful ". I enjoyed reading of everyone's thinking of you. Nothing wrong with sharing the load.... sorry about the pun, totally unintentional. Now if this is a wonderful result when you crack the kiln, are you going to be able to replicate it in the future??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugaboo Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 Chris following your firing journey this time has been a positive thing for me! I am waiting with bated breath to see what comes out of your kiln, almost as much as I am waiting to see what normally comes out of mine. Yes I KNOW to wait until the kiln has cooled all the way but I too have burned a finger pushing that "cool". Knowing you with all your experience still have the angst and joyous feelings as I do while you fire is reassuring. Keep posting! Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minspargal Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 I hope all went well with your firing. Want to see pix too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJR Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 Chris; I can't wait to see how it went. Don't forget to wear gloves. I am off to teach those lazy Gr 12's. I don't check this blog when I;m working. I actually teach.Ha ha. Don't forget to wear gloves. TJR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted November 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 9:30 am Nov 7 ... Kiln temp is still 431F so I will leave it alone because I have a bunch a glaze tests in there and don't want any confusion over the results. It turned off at about 1700F into the controlled cooling so I expect to have more cracks in the pieces since it cooled too fast. I have lots of witness cones inside so I will know what happened on every level. Luckily it was full of tests ... not a special Christmas Gift or stuff for a big retail show ... ... which is actually the time this sort of misadventure usually happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted November 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 WooHoo!! Yes, I opened the kiln and all is good. Some things worked ... others didn't ... and some are as ugly as a pot can get ... but I got a few beauties too, so all is good. Middle image shows the comparison between the soda ash wash and glaze ... I much prefer the wash. No images yet of the experimental works ... the forms performed well and overall I am happy but it is early days yet/. Lessons come tomorrow when they are cool and results can be analysed. Putting in an image of what we saw right away ... an element had sprung out and was resting on the shelf. It is totally stretched out so if anyone knows a good way to compress it again without breaking a brand new element, please share! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted November 8, 2013 Report Share Posted November 8, 2013 Pots look terrific! Wow, were you lucky the element didn't land on the pots, kiln gods were on your side there. (element gods maybe not so much) For putting an element back in we have always heated it up with a propane torch until it glows orange and then used a piece of wood to gently push it back into the groove. The wood starts to smoke and sometimes catches fire, the element is that hot. That being said I've never had one come out as much as yours did but I think you could heat up a couple inches at a time and work your way along then staple it in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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