Pyrometric Cones Or Bars?

[Cavy Fire Studios]

I was calibrating my Fred's trigger plate today, and as I slipped my cone into the sitter, I thought, "Huh. I wonder what the guys on the forum think about bars vs. cones..."

 

Which do you prefer? :3

[ronfire]

I asked the same thing a few months back and most replied bars, so I started using bars as well. Found that the firing are more consistent with the bars. 

[Cavy Fire Studios]

Really? I'ma get me some bars, then!

[PRankin]

I don't use a kiln sitter but from what I remember that others have said on here bars sit more evenly in the sitter where its easier to place a cone slightly off center which will affect how it works.

 

Paul

[Dick White]

In addition to the uniform physical dimensions of the bar vs. the variable thickness of the cone, the bars are designed to run a little hotter than the same number cone, to account for the additional heatwork flowing up and down the side edges of the kiln vs. in the middle of a shelf. The possible downside is that many walk-in supply shops do not carry the bars, only the mini-cones. If yours is one of the few that does carry them, you are in luck; otherwise you will need to order them from one of the usual online suspects.

[Marko]

I have always used bars with good result.