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watching cones (even at cone 10)

updated thu 14 dec 00

 

Arnold Howard on tue 12 dec 00


A few weeks ago I experimented with cone viewing suggestions that
many of you had shared on Clayart about two years ago. I tried
welder's glasses, mirror, flash light, positioning ware behind the
cones, etc. I didn't try blowing on the cones or inserting a rod
into the peephole, because I wanted to use only the safest ideas.

My observations:

1. Ironically, positioning the cones close to the peephole makes
them difficult to see. They should be no closer than 8", no farther
than about 12".

2. Position the cones so that when viewed from the peephole, they
are silhouetted by an element on the opposite kiln wall.

3. The element that silhouettes the cones should be level with the
lower part of the cone. If the element is in line with the upper
part of the cone, you won't be able to see the cone when it bends.

4. If you use the three cone system, always have the higher
temperature cone on the same side in every firing. Otherwise you
can lose track of which cone is which.

5. Use firing safety glasses, available from kiln manufacturers.
They are only about $12 and make the cones much easier to see. At
cone 10, the kiln interior is bright yellow. But with the glasses,
I can easily make out the cones. (I also tried a welding mask, but
found no additional advantage over firing safety glasses.)

If you follow these suggestions, you should be able to see cones at
cone 10.

With best wishes,

Arnold Howard
Paragon


--- Charles Moore wrote:
> Clayart friends,
>
> I have a new electric kiln which I fire to ^06 for bisque and ^6
> for glaze firings. My problem is this: I have great difficulty
> actually seeing the cones when the kiln chamber begins to get
> hot, even during the late stages of the bisque fire. The local
> kiln manufacturer (now retired and unavailable) made the interior
> peep holes quite small, which makes it difficult to see the
> profiles of three successive cones. Since my last firing, I have
> filed the interior of the peep holes so that they are the same
> size as the exterior openings; this may solve my problem.
>
> I recently bought UVEX safety glasses, but I do not find that
> they have helped in spotting the cones.
>
> Any advice?
>
> Charles Moore
> camoore@csus.edu
>
>
______________________________________________________________________________
> 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.


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Jennifer F Boyer on wed 13 dec 00


I followed the cone viewing thread with interest and the
following solved my viewing porblems in my gas kiln:

I painted iron oxide wash on small posts and put them right
behind the cone packs. Works great!
Thanks to whoever gave this tip.
Jennifer packing shipping

Arnold Howard wrote:
>
> A few weeks ago I experimented with cone viewing suggestions that
> many of you had shared on Clayart about two years ago. I tried
> welder's glasses, mirror, flash light, positioning ware behind the
> cones, etc. I didn't try blowing on the cones or inserting a rod
> into the peephole, because I wanted to use only the safest ideas.
>
> My observations:
>
> 1. Ironically, positioning the cones close to the peephole makes
> them difficult to see. They should be no closer than 8", no farther
> than about 12".
>
> 2. Position the cones so that when viewed from the peephole, they
> are silhouetted by an element on the opposite kiln wall.
>
> 3. The element that silhouettes the cones should be level with the
> lower part of the cone. If the element is in line with the upper
> part of the cone, you won't be able to see the cone when it bends.
>
> 4. If you use the three cone system, always have the higher
> temperature cone on the same side in every firing. Otherwise you
> can lose track of which cone is which.
>
> 5. Use firing safety glasses, available from kiln manufacturers.
> They are only about $12 and make the cones much easier to see. At
> cone 10, the kiln interior is bright yellow. But with the glasses,
> I can easily make out the cones. (I also tried a welding mask, but
> found no additional advantage over firing safety glasses.)
>
> If you follow these suggestions, you should be able to see cones at
> cone 10.
>
> With best wishes,
>
> Arnold Howard
> Paragon
>
> --- Charles Moore wrote:
> > Clayart friends,
> >
> > I have a new electric kiln which I fire to ^06 for bisque and ^6
> > for glaze firings. My problem is this: I have great difficulty
> > actually seeing the cones when the kiln chamber begins to get
> > hot, even during the late stages of the bisque fire. The local
> > kiln manufacturer (now retired and unavailable) made the interior
> > peep holes quite small, which makes it difficult to see the
> > profiles of three successive cones. Since my last firing, I have
> > filed the interior of the peep holes so that they are the same
> > size as the exterior openings; this may solve my problem.
> >
> > I recently bought UVEX safety glasses, but I do not find that
> > they have helped in spotting the cones.
> >
> > Any advice?
> >
> > Charles Moore
> > camoore@csus.edu
> >
> >
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> > 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.
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
> http://shopping.yahoo.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.

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Jennifer Boyer mailto:jboyer@adelphia.net
Thistle Hill Pottery
95 Powder Horn Glen Rd
Montpelier, VT 05602 USA
802-223-8926
http://www.thistlehillpottery.com/

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