William & Susan Schran User on wed 24 may 06
On 5/24/06 8:47 AM, "Joan Conklin" wrote:
> I noticed three cracks which do not run along the lines of the brick line=
s. My
> kiln is 4 years old a Scutt 1027 with thicker walls and envirovent (facto=
ry
> drilled holes in lid and floor). It runs well and maintains cone temperat=
ure
> exactly as I want through slow cooling. I use Ron and John's firing with =
a
> slow cool. But what about these cracks! It sits on cement floor.
All of our 6 electric kilns at school have cracks in the bottom. Some one o=
r
two cracks, a couple with multiple cracks.
Stress from heating/cooling, how the kiln bottom sits on the stand and how
the shelves are propped up can all contribute to the cracking.
If you=B9re concerned, you could get a piece of sheet metal cut to fit the
kiln shape and sit between the kiln bottom and the stand.
I used to sit the bottom shelf on posts to raise the shelf off the kiln
floor. I now use larger pieces of broken kiln shelves which disperse the
weight better.
For one kiln I mixed some kiln cement to a runny consistency and poured it
in the cracks. I=B9ll have to see if this helps after the next firing.
-- William "Bill" Schran
Fredericksburg, Virginia
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
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