Locosan

My hats off to you Mark - I looked at your website and what a great career you are having. Not to mention your knowledge of ceramics. I am not much younger than you but retired from the Hospital lab industry and this is what I wanted to do in retirement. Congrats! Jerry

Thanks All - I just upgraded to a larger used 29"x28" Paragon Kiln (was using a 17x19 70's Duncan) but the seller can't find any of the shelves and stilts that she thought she had but had not promised that that was part of the deal (fingers crossed she is looking) - so I am going to get a few of the cheaper red firebricks (and add to what furniture I have just to do a few test fires to make sure it is working. Here is picture of red firebrick. Thanks Jerry (Locosanart)

Hello - been awhile since I got great advice from y'all on firing. I have upgraded to a larger kiln and have not gotten new larger shelves/stilts etc. (expensive) I would like to do some smaller fires to test and practice with the controller (always have fired manually) and I can get full size red firebricks (hard type but true firebricks - not regular red brick) for 3$ each. I would like to use some of these as stilts and maybe just have some in to take up space (hold heat better?). Would this work? I am only firing 04/06 - fire mostly standard white/terracotta...... Thanks for any advice - Jerry (Locosanart on FB)

I've been off for a while and love all the suggestions because I can use all of them. Only "real" problem I have had since last post. Thank you all - I have about 40 pieces so far that I am showing for the 1st time in a "studio tour" later March. - So Far So good....Jerry/Locosan

Thanks to all of you! figured out the pics - we'll see how they look on your end.

)Hi Babs - I was afraid you and others might say middle is better...I just try and fit all in and keep 1/2" away from walls (though I am pushing the limit on size with that one... my reasoning for not putting anything under flat pieces is fear of warp or waviness. But y'all (and cracks) have taught me a lesson...;-) as for pics - I sent myself an image as suggested and changed it to small I tried to upload it and I tried to copy it and paste right out of my email and it is still too large.... 3.4mb - even when I send it as small it stays 3.4mb.....I don't have any camera that takes pics of 1mb and I'm not sure the pic would be clear enough if made that small either........hmmm?

Thanks That is good advice and something new that I learned today - many thanks...Loco

Thanks for all the responses - how am I supposed to send pics? I don't have any less that 4MB? - not that computer literate haha as for 1/2 thick.... I like them and started with blank terracotta bowl planters that I found cheap until I couldn't get them anymore - and they were 1/2" thick -so I started making my own - these are not functional in the sense to use for food - they are my "canvas" for designs/art most are bowls, vases, and sculpture. I have been doing this for about 1 1/2 yrs now. This question was prompted because it's only the 2nd time that I have made platter with a large flat bottom - both had a crack after bisque firing.. None of the others have had problems with "fast" firing - I know it's fairly fast - I have checked with standing cones, the shut off is mechanical with a cone sitter. I try to always fire with shelves up as high as I need to in the kiln but it is not packed - usually do not have more than 3 or 4 pieces in at a time because of sizes (don't make many things smaller than approx 6-8" high x 12-16" wide which takes up an entire shelf (almost). So far I have made about 35 pieces. the 1st flat one was on the bottom (on a shelf 1/2 off floor) and the 2nd on top shelf with with a shelf over it just below the kiln top. Shelves are standard hex and only have kiln wash on them. No Feet on the pieces. This is an old Duncan kiln and it had an option to enlarge it with a collar that raised the top - that is what the setting is labelled. Thanks again - jerry/Locosan

Hi - I have cracks usually thin and through but not all the way broken on flat bone dry clay that I am bisque firing at 04... mostly terracotta clay. I am using an old Duncan kiln (manual). I am setting the flat pieces directly on kiln shelf (want to make sure they stay flat). I am sure the crack is occurring during fire not in cooling. I am firing with bowls and sculpture and they do not crack. All built 1/2" thick. All fired with peephole open 30min bottom low, 30 min top low, 45 min bottom med, 45 min top med, 1 hr both med high and then leave at high (no collar). Total time of firing for 04 is approx 6 to 7 hrs. 24 hrs to cool.....any ideas why my flat pieces only are cracking? Thanks - Locosan