While I went to visit the wood fire kiln my electric kiln (Skutt 1227) was working hard to achieve Cone 10. To read a nice explanation about temperature as it relates to cones check out this information from John Hessleberth. Firing to cone 10 in an electric kiln is considered a bit crazy. My explanation is not all that rational- but here goes: 1) When I first learned to make pots, my teacher fired to cone 10- okay, it was a gas kiln...but it was to cone 10. 2) At the higher temperature, the clay and glaze actually fuse vs. the glaze sitting atop the clay....right, you can't feel that and you can't see that- so why care? I just do! 3) I enjoy the challenge of finding/creating glazes that look interesting at this temp. and finally 4) I am a little crazy- in a charming kind of way!!
In addition to the handy computer read out of my electric kiln, the pyrometric cones (white triangular things in between the pots) show that cone 9 (the totally slumped over, depressed looking cone) was surpassed, cone 10 - the middle guy, gently touching the post, and cone 11 leaning slightly (the last cone, looking like: "huh? you sayin' something to me?"). Another benefit to electric kilns ~ consistency...except when the theromcouple begins to go or goes...then it's ugly, really ugly.
All potters use more than one measure for temperature because one measure is not always accurate- must have back ups to prevent the ugliness!
Overall, it was a good firing. I keep a log of firings, length of firing, what kind of firing, and other observations. This firing ran a little long, which indicates that the thermocouple needs to be replaced soon. I'll get to it before the next kiln load.
These little beauties made it out of the kiln~ I love the combo of blue and brown.
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| Mug; imprinted when leather hard. |
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| Mug; soft altered while on the wheel. |
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| Butter/Cheese Dish; imprinted when leather hard. |
