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itc stuff

updated mon 2 oct 00

 

mel jacobson on sun 1 oct 00


i do not thin more than 50 percent. in fact i do about 40 percent
water.

i just do not spray thick coats.

you have to keep moving your gun, just like when you spray cars,
you must look ahead of your gun...don't watch the already sprayed
area.

yes, of course the itc seals brick.

and some of you have not heard of the gas/electric kiln.
25lb gas tank, rubber hose, bunsen burner, hole top and bottom.
light at 17-1800. electric does the heating, gas assist and reduction.

the rumor out there for some kiln manufacturers is the wear and tear on coils
when potters are doing mid-range crystalline glazes. the zinc
is attacking the coils and some new kilns are dying in 10 firings.
still on guarantee.

i sure would not drip oil in a kiln not sealed with itc. especially
crystalline glazes. the coils would last no time at all.

june:
your gas/electric will do the same thing as the oil...no need to
add oil, the gas will reduce the kiln.

i think we will add wood shavings at the end of our next firing
in the gas/electric at the farm..(fall firing weekend next.)
or, at least small wooden sticks. we will have to leave a small space
in one of the peeps to let the sticks drop.

and last but not least....skutt is a very solid kiln company. i respect
them a great deal. great product. it is there choice not use itc
products, and i respect that. i feel strongly that the gas/electric
is a way of using an older kiln, making repairs, new coils, spray
and experiment. at this time i would not buy a new skutt, take it
all a part, void the guarantee with a new experiment.

i would however, spray a skutt kiln, (as i have done) after about
ten firings with itc 100.

if one re/wires a kiln, that is the time to dip them in itc 213 and
do the full spray. it sure can't hurt the kiln, and more than
likely will improve the performance.
it has for us.
and as nils has said, we get nothing but good will from any company
selling products. our job is to test, compare, and report back.
be as honest as we can be. just as marc ward does for us.
and many others.

skutt makes a great kiln. anyone would be happy with it...as does
paragon, l and l, and the canadians have a great electric kiln.
but, howard axner is on the cutting edge of new research, and
is willing to step out there. that is his business..and he can do
whatever he wants. it is a great kiln that he is making.
mel



FROM MINNETONKA, MINNESOTA, USA
http://www.pclink.com/melpots (website)