Monday, November 28, 2011

About That Kiln...

Thought to show you what was happening to your clay tiles...


Our newest kiln...

The electronic controls, programmable too!

Beginning to load the tiles on shelves, new shelves will be added on top...

You can see the "posts" holding up the shelves, and the coils in the sides of the kiln..


First, the GREEN WARE (air dry clay) are loaded into the kiln shelves. Because it is the first firing, or BISQUE firing, the pieces can be close together and lie directly on the shelves.

The kiln will slowly heat up to 200º for an 8 hour "CANDLING".... this dries the clay completely, preparing it for the higher heat.

Then the  Bisque fire begins, the kiln takes several hours more to heat up to 1800º, changing the clay's molecular structure and making it BISQUE WARE.

Now the clay will be ready for glazing and firing at a higher temperature (2200º) to complete the process.

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