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itc and wooden nickels

updated sun 22 mar 98

 

Linda Blossom on thu 19 mar 98

Remember the previous time that Marshall asked for peoples' report on ITC?
Well, I weighed in on that thread and gave my kwh usage before and after I =
used
ITC. Then Marshall came along and reran his same post asking exactly the =
same
thing. So I just hit delete. Figured he couldn't be pleased with any amount=
of
testimonials and research into a potential purchase didn't seem to be his =
point.
I never have understood his and Ellen Baker's beef against ITC. They haven't
used it and as, was it Tony who said, hadn't spend a wooden nickel on it? =
So
what is their problem? I did see the post some time ago about the diameter =
of
the element being larger after spraying. I certainly didn't see this happen=
and
I sprayed both 100 and 296 and figured that there must be larger elements in=
a
smaller slot on that kiln. Nothing to get worked up over. I knew Nils' =
report
on his propane usage with and without ITC and I knew my results which I have
posted. I also read the post from the person who saw an immediate =
decrease in
kiln performance. However, when you take in account all those who have =
reported
just the opposite, you realize that there are other factors that are not =
known.
It simply doesn't make sense that the application of a product that is =
working
for a whole lot of people is just going to do the opposite for one person
without some explanation. As far as Ellen's posts, I just figure she is =
trying
to sound impressive, after all, she is married to an engineer. However, a =
good
teacher doesn't try to impress you with their knowledge, they seek to make =
it
understandable. So when it is late and my email reading time is precious, I
delete these too. For the record, I have NEVER seen any flaking in either my
electric or my gas kiln, except on the elements and Feriz said not to worry.
The actual coating that was protecting the elements was much thinner and a
product of the first firing after spraying. What was flaking off was the
excess. I just find it bewildering that Marshall and Ellen have chosen ITC =
as
their bone to pick and can't see a reason for it since neither are potential
customers looking for information.

Linda Blossom
2366 Slaterville Rd.
Ithaca, NY 14850
6075397912
www.artscape.com
blossom=40lightlink.com

DEBBYGrant on fri 20 mar 98

After much soul searching I've finally decided to jump into this thread.
First let me say that I think Linda Blossom's comments are right on
the mark. Marshall, I really don't want to flame you but you are starting
to sound like someone who can't bare to be proved wrong and I am
getting very tired of your contenciousness. I have sprayed two kilns
with ITC and it has performed the way I expected it. I was not so
interested in saving money on electricity but in preserving the integrity
of the bricks and elements. My large electric kiln is home made and
I wind my own elements and I can tell you that they are lasting much
longer than they used to and that I am reaching temperature in the
same amount of time with each firing. Even more important, I no
longer get any detritus on the pots from the brick. I have also
discovered something else about ITC. I had a large sculptural piece
that developed a crack in the bisque. I filled the crack with ITC 200,
sanded carefully, rebisqued and it worked. It even takes the glaze.
You really can't judge a product if you don't try it.

Debby Grant in NH

Talbott on fri 20 mar 98

If ITC was and is that great of a product then I think you would hear a lot
of testimonials saying so. The bit about your energy savings from firing
your electric kiln means nothing unless you know the mass weight of the
shelves and contents (pots) within, etc., during each of the test firings.
Take a look at the below equation...

q = m x cp x ^T Where q = heat energy, m = mass of the kiln, shelves,
and pots, etc.. within., cp = the specific heat of the materials being
heated (obviously a difference in specific heats in the materials we are
dealing with.)
and ^T (Delta T) is the change in temp of the materials.

Unless you do a scientific quantitative test with your firings then the
results gained off of your electrical meter has NO validity. It is not my
opinion, your opinion, Ellen's opinion, etc.. that means a "tinker's
damn"... it is scientific facts that count. If you look at the scientific
tests which I prescribed a week or some back along this thread and convince
your good friends at ITC to have some tests conducted then you COULD get
somewhere. The test results data would tell the tale. From a scientific
standpoint, I don't care about ITC claims, who uses it, who likes it, or
who doesn't like it. All that I am interested in is arriving at the truth
about ITC and other ceramic coatings and what they can actually accomplish.
.....Marshall

>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Remember the previous time that Marshall asked for peoples' report on ITC?
>Well, I weighed in on that thread and gave my kwh usage before and after I used
>ITC. Then Marshall came along and reran his same post asking exactly the same
>thing. So I just hit delete. Figured he couldn't be pleased with any amount of
>testimonials and research into a potential purchase didn't seem to be his
>point.
>I never have understood his and Ellen Baker's beef against ITC. They haven't
>used it and as, was it Tony who said, hadn't spend a wooden nickel on it? So
>what is their problem? I did see the post some time ago about the diameter of
>the element being larger after spraying. I certainly didn't see this
>happen and
>I sprayed both 100 and 296 and figured that there must be larger elements in a
>smaller slot on that kiln. Nothing to get worked up over. I knew Nils' report
>on his propane usage with and without ITC and I knew my results which I have
>posted. I also read the post from the person who saw an immediate
>decrease in
>kiln performance. However, when you take in account all those who have
>reported
>just the opposite, you realize that there are other factors that are not known.
>It simply doesn't make sense that the application of a product that is working
>for a whole lot of people is just going to do the opposite for one person
>without some explanation. As far as Ellen's posts, I just figure she is trying
>to sound impressive, after all, she is married to an engineer. However, a good
>teacher doesn't try to impress you with their knowledge, they seek to make it
>understandable. So when it is late and my email reading time is precious, I
>delete these too. For the record, I have NEVER seen any flaking in either my
>electric or my gas kiln, except on the elements and Feriz said not to worry.
>The actual coating that was protecting the elements was much thinner and a
>product of the first firing after spraying. What was flaking off was the
>excess. I just find it bewildering that Marshall and Ellen have chosen ITC as
>their bone to pick and can't see a reason for it since neither are potential
>customers looking for information.
>
>Linda Blossom
>2366 Slaterville Rd.
>Ithaca, NY 14850
>6075397912
>www.artscape.com
>blossom@lightlink.com

http://www.PotteryInfo.com

101 CLAYART MUGS (Summer 1998)
2ND ANNUAL CLAYARTERS' GALLERY - NAPLES, MAINE (Summer 1998)
E-MAIL ME FOR APPLICATIONS

Celia & Marshall Talbott, Pottery By Celia, Route 114, P O Box 4116,
Naples, Maine 04055-4116,(207)693-6100 voice and fax,(call first)
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Vince Pitelka on sat 21 mar 98

>If ITC was and is that great of a product then I think you would hear a lot
>of testimonials saying so. The bit about your energy savings from firing
>your electric kiln means nothing unless you know the mass weight of the
>shelves and contents (pots) within, etc., during each of the test firings.
>Take a look at the below equation...

Marshall -
I hesitated to post this to the list, but it is time. You would be doing us
all a big favor if you would refrain from posting a single additional
message about ITC. You are doing no service to anyone with your anti-ITC
rantings, because in that regard you obviously do not have a clue what you
are talking about. Your participation in this list is otherwise valued,
but please drop the ITC thread.
- Vince

Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166