If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Fusing/slumping/casting with kiln sitter
I've done a little bit of kilnwork before, but have never managed to get
access to a kiln regularly. A friend has offered me a loan of her ceramics kiln (she mainly fires tiles) fitted with a kiln sitter. I appreciate that this isn't the ideal method of learning, but at present the possibility of regular kiln access is tempting. Is anyone using a kiln sitter set up to fuse/slump/cast glass? I'm happy to experiment, and can be in attendance while I fire, but a few initial pointers would be great? I'll gladly post my results/progress for anyone in a similar position... Gordon Watt morningglass |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
you need to wedge the sitter open, (not use it), get a pyrometer and a plug
with a hole the size of the pyrometer to be able to have it in the kiln. This may run a hundred bucks or so. After you get completely addicted you will need a controller to plug the kiln into which will go 300 $$ or so.This will eliminate the need for human tampering with on/off switches. m "Gordon Watt" wrote in message ... I've done a little bit of kilnwork before, but have never managed to get access to a kiln regularly. A friend has offered me a loan of her ceramics kiln (she mainly fires tiles) fitted with a kiln sitter. I appreciate that this isn't the ideal method of learning, but at present the possibility of regular kiln access is tempting. Is anyone using a kiln sitter set up to fuse/slump/cast glass? I'm happy to experiment, and can be in attendance while I fire, but a few initial pointers would be great? I'll gladly post my results/progress for anyone in a similar position... Gordon Watt morningglass |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Kiln sitters are not used here (Finland). As I understand it,
a kiln sitter is an emergency switch that prevents the kiln from melting down. As such it is useful. You can set it to trigger somewhere around 900 - 1000 C (1700-1850 F). It may be used also to set a top temperature, where the kiln turns off. I doubt it is accurate enough for glass work. As long as you work under 6mm (½") thickness, the natural cooling of a ceramic kiln works well. When your ambition goes to 1-2" thikness you need a three men crew to monitor the annealing days and nights. -lauri Michele Blank wrote: you need to wedge the sitter open, (not use it), get a pyrometer and a plug with a hole the size of the pyrometer to be able to have it in the kiln. This may run a hundred bucks or so. After you get completely addicted you will need a controller to plug the kiln into which will go 300 $$ or so.This will eliminate the need for human tampering with on/off switches. m "Gordon Watt" wrote in message ... I've done a little bit of kilnwork before, but have never managed to get access to a kiln regularly. A friend has offered me a loan of her ceramics kiln (she mainly fires tiles) fitted with a kiln sitter. I appreciate that this isn't the ideal method of learning, but at present the possibility of regular kiln access is tempting. Is anyone using a kiln sitter set up to fuse/slump/cast glass? I'm happy to experiment, and can be in attendance while I fire, but a few initial pointers would be great? I'll gladly post my results/progress for anyone in a similar position... Gordon Watt morningglass |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
No, a kiln sitter is a device that uses an accurately made Orton Cone to
control a pottery kiln. The cone (as in Cone 6 or Cone 10) reacts to heat in the way the pottery does, so long slow heat or quicker fast rising heat produce the desired results. With pottery, it is safe to run the temp up and when the cone trips, the kiln can shut off and coast back down. You are correct that it is not proper for glass. It is not literally measuring temp, but heat gain. And letting the kiln crash may produce okay results with thin glass, but with thicker glass, annealing will not occur and the glass may shatter in the kiln or later. -- Mike Firth Hot Glass Bits Furnace Working Website http://users.ticnet.com/mikefirth/hotbit45.htm Latest notes http://users.ticnet.com/mikefirth/NTBowl.htm Once again, Empty Bowls will collect for the North Texas food banks - donate. "Lauri Levanto" wrote in message ... Kiln sitters are not used here (Finland). As I understand it, a kiln sitter is an emergency switch that prevents the kiln from melting down. As such it is useful. You can set it to trigger somewhere around 900 - 1000 C (1700-1850 F). It may be used also to set a top temperature, where the kiln turns off. I doubt it is accurate enough for glass work. As long as you work under 6mm (½") thickness, the natural cooling of a ceramic kiln works well. When your ambition goes to 1-2" thikness you need a three men crew to monitor the annealing days and nights. -lauri Michele Blank wrote: you need to wedge the sitter open, (not use it), get a pyrometer and a plug with a hole the size of the pyrometer to be able to have it in the kiln. This may run a hundred bucks or so. After you get completely addicted you will need a controller to plug the kiln into which will go 300 $$ or so.This will eliminate the need for human tampering with on/off switches. m "Gordon Watt" wrote in message ... I've done a little bit of kilnwork before, but have never managed to get access to a kiln regularly. A friend has offered me a loan of her ceramics kiln (she mainly fires tiles) fitted with a kiln sitter. I appreciate that this isn't the ideal method of learning, but at present the possibility of regular kiln access is tempting. Is anyone using a kiln sitter set up to fuse/slump/cast glass? I'm happy to experiment, and can be in attendance while I fire, but a few initial pointers would be great? I'll gladly post my results/progress for anyone in a similar position... Gordon Watt morningglass |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
I HAVE used a kiln sitter successfully for both Slumping and fusing.
Why? I have one and can't afford better. It is true that they only control the Max temp, but they are very accurate. Usually within a degree or so. (Just because a digital readout displays an exact number doesn't mean its an accurate one. When I kids were younger, I took to deliberately setting the digital clocks wrong just to teach them this.) you do need to pay particular attention to placing the cone to achieve this accuracy. As for controlling ramping, Trial and error taught me the switch settings to use and the time to run them. I use a kitchen tiem to remind me when next to check things, and a K probe connected to a DVM via an adapter to check actual temps in the Kiln To control the soak, I bypass the sitter after its tripped and watch it like a hawk. The final ramp down I have to rely on the natural characters of the kiln, assisted by extra insulation. On Tue, 02 Dec 2003 11:31:33 +0200, Lauri Levanto wrote: Kiln sitters are not used here (Finland). As I understand it, a kiln sitter is an emergency switch that prevents the kiln from melting down. As such it is useful. You can set it to trigger somewhere around 900 - 1000 C (1700-1850 F). It may be used also to set a top temperature, where the kiln turns off. I doubt it is accurate enough for glass work. As long as you work under 6mm (½") thickness, the natural cooling of a ceramic kiln works well. When your ambition goes to 1-2" thikness you need a three men crew to monitor the annealing days and nights. -lauri Michele Blank wrote: you need to wedge the sitter open, (not use it), get a pyrometer and a plug with a hole the size of the pyrometer to be able to have it in the kiln. This may run a hundred bucks or so. After you get completely addicted you will need a controller to plug the kiln into which will go 300 $$ or so.This will eliminate the need for human tampering with on/off switches. m "Gordon Watt" wrote in message ... I've done a little bit of kilnwork before, but have never managed to get access to a kiln regularly. A friend has offered me a loan of her ceramics kiln (she mainly fires tiles) fitted with a kiln sitter. I appreciate that this isn't the ideal method of learning, but at present the possibility of regular kiln access is tempting. Is anyone using a kiln sitter set up to fuse/slump/cast glass? I'm happy to experiment, and can be in attendance while I fire, but a few initial pointers would be great? I'll gladly post my results/progress for anyone in a similar position... Gordon Watt morningglass |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
On Sat, 06 Dec 2003 21:14:41 +1100, Greg Kraushaar
wrote: I HAVE used a kiln sitter successfully for both Slumping and fusing. Why? I have one and can't afford better. It is true that they only control the Max temp, but they are very accurate. Usually within a degree or so. ( And hope that the cone doesn't stick and over fire the kiln. Just completed a glass cast 11KG which took 13 1/2 days kiln time. I use a Perfect Fire III and I love it Cheers Jo |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
On Tue, 09 Dec 2003 19:19:02 -0700, nJb wrote:
And hope that the cone doesn't stick and over fire the kiln. Just completed a glass cast 11KG which took 13 1/2 days kiln time. I use a Perfect Fire III and I love it Cheers Jo 13-1/2 days. That's getting serious. The 200" mirror for the scope on Mt Polomar took 11 months to cool. Josh Simpson's 12" diameter "worlds" take about 4 months. What were the dimensions of your casting? Jack http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/xmissionbobo/ Hi Jack The diameter is just over 10 inch and 8 inch high , the weight is 11 KG or 24 Lbs , the wall is just over 1 inch thick. I could mail you a pic if you like Cheers Jo |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
|
#10
|
|||
|
|||
the 8.4 meter mirror in tucson az was annealed in about 3 months.
http://medusa.as.arizona.edu/mlab/mlmail2.html for the casting info http://medusa.as.arizona.edu/mlab/lbtcast2.html for the complete set of picture and movie links. regards, charlie cave creek, az "nJb" wrote in message ... On Tue, 09 Dec 2003 19:00:07 GMT, wrote: On Sat, 06 Dec 2003 21:14:41 +1100, Greg Kraushaar wrote: I HAVE used a kiln sitter successfully for both Slumping and fusing. Why? I have one and can't afford better. It is true that they only control the Max temp, but they are very accurate. Usually within a degree or so. ( And hope that the cone doesn't stick and over fire the kiln. Just completed a glass cast 11KG which took 13 1/2 days kiln time. I use a Perfect Fire III and I love it Cheers Jo 13-1/2 days. That's getting serious. The 200" mirror for the scope on Mt Polomar took 11 months to cool. Josh Simpson's 12" diameter "worlds" take about 4 months. What were the dimensions of your casting? Jack http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/xmissionbobo/ |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Good news, and agonizing over kiln purchase | Kalera Stratton | Beads | 14 | October 17th 03 02:11 AM |
Good news, and agonizing over kiln purchase | Kalera Stratton | Beads | 0 | October 14th 03 06:11 PM |
adding firebrick to fiber-lined kiln | EJ | Glass | 11 | September 10th 03 02:01 AM |
Seeking Kiln Advice | saucy | Beads | 5 | August 11th 03 04:18 AM |
Kiln question | Kalera Stratton | Beads | 13 | July 11th 03 06:35 AM |