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Hi ceramics community! I have a kiln question. I inherited a Cress model e23 kiln from 2001 (automatic). It is mostly in good working condition and I have had a professional electrician configure all my wiring and test my voltage etc. and confirm the kiln is wired properly and should operate at 100%. However, I have had ongoing issues and inconsistencies with my firings. I use all cone 5 laguna clays and glaze - bisque to 04 slow and glaze fire cone 5 medium. The issue arises when I program my glaze firings - I initially select my program and things seem to be going well up until the end of the firing. The preview indicates that the kiln is trying to reach 2165 until the last ~30mins when suddenly the projected temp changes to 2181+. This temp is too hot for my glazes and has caused a multitude of issues such as blistering, over-running etc. I usually end up turning my kiln off manually at 2165 but you can imagine this is frustrating knowing I have to be very present with the kiln at the end of the firing otherwise it will not shut off automatically and over fire my work. Plus I’m unsure that if I manually shut it off that I get a controlled cooling cycle. (??) The manufacturer help me set a custom ramp-hold program to mimic a factory cone 5 medium firing and it sometimes shuts off automatically at 2165, but sometimes does the same thing (continues to increase in temp. At the end) he has not recommended anything else or have an idea why this is happening besides possibly an issue with my voltage, which, like I said, has been ruled out by my electrician. I understand tightly packed kilns can take a bit longer sometimes, but why would my cone 5 program be climbing up to cone 6 and beyond? so I suppose my questions are: why is this happening? Is this just a cress kiln thing? does anyone have a go-to custom ramp hold recommendation for laguna cone 5 clays and glazes? sincerely, madeline (a potter who desperately needs a kiln mentor LOL)

Hi there, I have Amaco Potters Choice glazes and they say that they should be fired to cone 5/6. I am very new to pottery and was wondering what this means in terms of the firing schedule in my Nabetherm kiln. I have been trying to get the effects as shown on their website but they do not look very similar! What would the different outcomes of cone 5 and 6 be? Thanks so much and really appreciate any help, lara

Hello! Does anybody have experience firing Standard Clay 112 or 182 to cone 06/6? These are the clays that I work with and typically my studio fires to cone 05/5. However, I have recently started working out of home and found a studio nearby that will fire my work, but to cone 06/6. I want to be sure that I like the result before committing to the change.