[Long dried pieces exploding in bisque]

2 hours ago, Kellykopp said:

You can also try a "candling" program.  I run the kiln at 180 degrees for 8 hours.  Do not go above 212 degrees (boiling temperature), and be aware of any offsets your kiln may have.  Make sure your work is not too thick.  Sometimes I touch the piece to my face and if it feels cool I let it sit for a while longer.  It's humid now in Indiana, I can't imagine what you go through in Florida!

Yes!! It's like a steam room every day haha! 

I'm not sure I have the ability to candle with my kiln, it's an old manual kiln..? 

I've been doing the cheek test but it's oddly been deceiving ... I'll put my cheek to the bottom of a piece an it'll feel warm.. yet BOOM!

thanks for your response

[Long dried pieces exploding in bisque]

Hello! I've been doing ceramics for a few years now and have come across a strange dilemma this summer. FYI I live in South FL where it's hot and humid (particularly during these summer months)!
The last two bisque firings i've had have resulted in explosions of nearly every piece.  This hasn't happened to me since I first started doing ceramics years ago and was unsure about drying times. 
For some background, I usually let pieces dry for 3 weeks as a rule of thumb, all of these pieces dried for over 5 weeks.. it has been very humid and stormy and I keep my pieces in a garage (no ac).

This hasn't been a problem in the past, and my firing cones all give me consistent temps for bisque (04) as before.

Could the humidity in the air be causing my pieces to stay wet for much longer than usual?