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i'm cracking up

updated mon 12 dec 05

 

Craig Clark on sat 10 dec 05


Stacey, this is absolutely NOT normal. Shelves, especially if they
are only subjected to low fire, should last for decades. WHat type of
shelves are they? Where did they come from? Are you by any chance
subjecting them to any type of sodium or other caustic vapors in your
kiln? I would go back to the manufacturer and describe the problem and
see what they have to say. I can't imagine a reputable maker of kiln
shelves taking the position that a set of shelves being used in the
manner described could or would develop cracks inside a five year span.
The only thing that I can think of is that you may have somhow
overloaded them. Or perhaps you haven't been correctly placing your
shelf supports. Could either of these be a factor?
As far as using them it isn't a good idea to use shelves that are
cracked. They could give way at any time and you could use a load of
work which is worth much more than new shelves.

Hope this helps
Craig Dunn Clark
619 East 11 1/2 st
Houston, Texas 77008
(713)861-2083
mudman@hal-pc.org


Stacey and Gary Ballard wrote:

>Hi Everyone,
>Most of my kiln shelves are starting to get a single crack going right through them, starting at one edge and going towards the middle. They are about 5 years old. Is this normal and is there any way to repair them? I do all low fire and I flip the shelves on a normal basis, so they wouldn't warp. Am I doing something wrong?
>Thanks for any help you can give.
>Stacey Ballard
>http://www.basicelements.biz
>P.S. My husband and I are going to the conference in Portland for the first time, I'm so excited! I have been doing clay for about 12 years (on Clayart for 2-3 years) How does the mug exchange happen there (I have done the Stay at Home Exchange for the last 2 years) do we have to sign up in advance? I there a place or a way for Clayarter to meet each other?
>
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Stacey and Gary Ballard on sat 10 dec 05


Hi Everyone,
Most of my kiln shelves are starting to get a single crack going right =
through them, starting at one edge and going towards the middle. They =
are about 5 years old. Is this normal and is there any way to repair =
them? I do all low fire and I flip the shelves on a normal basis, so =
they wouldn't warp. Am I doing something wrong?
Thanks for any help you can give.
Stacey Ballard
http://www.basicelements.biz
P.S. My husband and I are going to the conference in Portland for the =
first time, I'm so excited! I have been doing clay for about 12 years =
(on Clayart for 2-3 years) How does the mug exchange happen there (I =
have done the Stay at Home Exchange for the last 2 years) do we have to =
sign up in advance? I there a place or a way for Clayarter to meet each =
other?

katetiler on sun 11 dec 05


Stacey re your shelves the only thing I can think is that you are
placing your shelf supports so that they are not in line with each
other - if you imagine supporting sheets of paper with three kiln
props, in series getting higher & higher, if you don't keep the kiln
props in line above each other the paper buckles. Kiln shelves, though
solid, can build up stresses if the kiln props aren't in line.