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raku kiln shelves breaking

updated mon 16 oct 00

 

F.Melville on sat 14 oct 00


>Hello Fran=E7oise/
>We have similar kilns,
>I have this problem, the shelve is breaking too fast. I put it on three
>posts/bricks.Any advise?

Hello again, Ababi,
I don't really have any advice: I use a small round kiln shelf (high=20
alumina, made my Acme Marls of Great Britain) which has lasted me for=20
years. Like yours, it is seated on 3 posts, 4 or 5" high, can't remember=20
which offhand. I did lose my very first shelf after only a few firings,=20
but this was because I was careless with glazing and had a build-up of=20
drips on the shelf which destroyed it quite rapidly.
Fran=E7oise
http://indalopottery.tripod.com

Richard Jeffery on sun 15 oct 00


any chance the flame from the burner is playing too heavily upon the shelf?
In the past I've stopped paying attention to the exact direction of the
flame, and found some problems - more to do with uneven firing (flat clock
faces warping because shelf getting too hot) than actual breakage.
Richard
Bournemouth UK
www.TheEleventhHour.co.uk


-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
Behalf Of F.Melville
Sent: 15 October 2000 07:22
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: raku kiln shelves breaking


>Hello Françoise/
>We have similar kilns,
>I have this problem, the shelve is breaking too fast. I put it on three
>posts/bricks.Any advise?

Hello again, Ababi,
I don't really have any advice: I use a small round kiln shelf (high
alumina, made my Acme Marls of Great Britain) which has lasted me for
years. Like yours, it is seated on 3 posts, 4 or 5" high, can't remember
which offhand. I did lose my very first shelf after only a few firings,
but this was because I was careless with glazing and had a build-up of
drips on the shelf which destroyed it quite rapidly.
Françoise
http://indalopottery.tripod.com

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Marvpots@AOL.COM on sun 15 oct 00


In the past I have had the experience of raku kiln shelves breaking and
traced the problem to the quality of the shelves themselves! Changed
suppliers and hence shelf qualities and have had no problems for years.
Might be worht trying other sources of supply for the shelves.

Good luck!

Marvin Flowerman (marvpots@aol.com)

Sharon31 on sun 15 oct 00


This is probably the reason, knowing that I do not have to worry abou=
t glaze
sticking to the shelf, made me, with the time less careful with the d=
ripping
to the shelf. Thanks, ababi
One other thing I made, after reading in PMI, I think is putting one =
of the
posts, facing the fire. it might be good, but could direct the fire m=
ore
toward the shelf. Thank you Fran=E7oise and Richard
----- Original Message -----
=46rom: "F.Melville"
To:
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2000 08:21
Subject: raku kiln shelves breaking


>Hello Fran=E7oise/
>We have similar kilns,
>I have this problem, the shelve is breaking too fast. I put it on th=
ree
>posts/bricks.Any advise?

Hello again, Ababi,
I don't really have any advice: I use a small round kiln shelf (high
alumina, made my Acme Marls of Great Britain) which has lasted me for
years. Like yours, it is seated on 3 posts, 4 or 5" high, can't remem=
ber
which offhand. I did lose my very first shelf after only a few firin=
gs,
but this was because I was careless with glazing and had a build-up o=
f
drips on the shelf which destroyed it quite rapidly.
Fran=E7oise
http://indalopottery.tripod.com

_____________________________________________________________________=
_______
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org

You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/

Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.