kristinanoel

Thanks all, for the insights and commentary! Too bad, looks like solar is a 'maybe someday' situation.

I don't have a meter on my kiln, but seems like they would just draw too much power for a normal cone 04 or 6 firing as I'm guessing it's in the 40-60 kW range (Is that right? More? Anyone have data from the kiln meter to share?). Since a single powerwall can only store 13 kW, you'd need FIVE powerwalls to fire your kiln. Would be cool to be off grid, but since powerwalls are ~10 grand a pop, that's too rich for my blood. Would love to hear if anyone is doing this successfully, or if my assumptions about power draw is just way off.

Glad to hear you were successful! And what kind of device did you use to spray your cornstarch mixture? Are you using a spray gun/air compressor? Just a regular spray bottle?

I JUST tried this with some pieces, know just how you feel. I was trying to salvage some cups that had crazed - would have just thrown them out but I'd spent a lot of time on an exterior detail and hope springs eternal. Unsuccessful Tactics I tried laundry spray starch and hairspray - neither worked for me. The glaze kind of stuck to the spray in a patchy way, kind of like when a soup with dairy will form a skin as it cools, and then it moved around unevenly on the surface, sliding down the sides. Tried heating my ware in the oven to 175 degrees and dipping, the layer of glaze that stuck was way too thin. When I tried reheating and adding a second layer, the first layer came off in places, dripped funnily, and made a mess. Successful Using commercial brushing glazes actually worked well - they are much thicker and stickier than my own glazes (and probably a little dehydrated, to boot). I was able to add multiple layers - took a very long time to dry, hours, but it worked and did not come off or drip. Outcome While I didn't like the way the refiring came out (I only had a few old glazes I had stopped using for a reason) theoretically, if I'd had a clear or better color, it might have worked. The application was fine and the new glaze fused with the existing glaze and corrected the crazing, I just didn't like the way it looked.

So glad you asked this question, I've been fuzzy on this concept for a long time! Let's see if I'm any closer: A glaze has a certain state of liquidity based on what's in it and the amount of water. If you don't like what it's doing, you can change it by: Adding a deflocculate (like sodium silicate). What will that do? This will make it runnier/more liquid than one would expect based on the amount of water involved. Why might you do this? If the glaze is well suspended, but it's too thick to apply via dipping or pouring and adding water would leave too thin an application. Adding a flocculate (like epsom salts). What will that do? This will make it thicker than one would expect based on the amount of water involved. Why might you do this? If your glaze is not well suspended, adding a flocculate could aid in evenly distributing the materials. if your glaze is suspended well but you added too much water you could try this, but you'd probably be better off just letting some of the water evaporate. Do I finally have the right end of the stick here?

Would love to see a photo of what you did! I am always in awe of the ancient pottery with cobalt designs, I've tried to use it as a wash and it gets EVERYWHERE. Worse than iron. Ok, kidding. nothing's worse than iron.

One more question - I want to fire before I'll be able to try and upgrade my setup, but no way I'm running that thing all day! But...now I've got these holes drilled into my kiln lid and floor. Would you take any steps to mitigate that, like putting a kiln shelf or stilts over the holes? Or just leave it be?

Thanks for all of the great advice - my new plan is to find a suitable inline fan motor to swap out, keeping the rest of the apparatus, the collection cup and hose, and see if that is a better solution.

yeah, it's much more invasive than I would have thought! it's already in the unattached garage, so it's as separate as can be expected. Nobody's working in the building, so the benefit was purely for the ware, not people breathing. If I can't replace the fan, I probably just won't use it. I was thinking it'd be good for evening out the temperature in the kiln and providing a better oxidation atmosphere, but there's no way I'd ask neighbors to put up with that noise for hours on end, not to mention that I'd never be able to fire early in the morning or late at night. I (stupidly) hadn't considered the noise factor. Not worth it. So bottom line - anyone considering the envirovent, make sure you take the noise into consideration!

Normal, huh? Shoot, I was afraid of that. Curious if anyone who has and uses one of these has had complaints from neighbors about noise - it doesn't seem workable in a residential neighborhood with 50 foot wide lots. It's hard to believe they sell these things without a noise rating! Having that thing going for 8+ hours.... I'm considering replacing the fan with a quieter inline fan - anyone done this? Have recommended products or warnings?

shoot - how's this: https://photos.app.goo.gl/onoAUcoQXLjxw8RYA

Yep! https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNYcVxob74xJp7OsingXLQPDQQU0DAcHckrS38a

Just installed a new envirovent, seems to be working properly but it's really loud. Like vacuum cleaner loud. A freebie noise measuring app on my phone put it between 76-82 decibels, and I can't imagine this thing running for the length of a firing, for me and for neighbors. A few questions for the collective: Is noise a known issue for the envirovent II system, or is it possible I have a defective unit? If it is just the way it is, how do you handle the noise? Do you keep it running for the entire time? Has the noise discouraged you from using it? Thanks, all!

I'm of the opinion that sometimes a crack can make a decorative piece more interesting! Word of warning: if you have runny glaze, be sure to put something underneath it to protect your shelves and other ware, some glazes really run.

@mnnaj - I don't know how to crochet, but I would love to see a photo of these rugs of yours!