KILNS AND
FIRING
KILN
ROOM (#179)
Only
currently enrolled ceramics students allowed in kiln area at any time. Please
report
any unauthorized people immediately.
Finished
work and kiln furniture must be protected from theft.
We
need your help in maintaining security.
GENERAL
SAFETY:
1. Always wear shoes and eye protection in the kiln
room.
2. Assume that everything is hot.
3.
Be very careful when removing the peep‑hole plugs or peering into the kiln
to spot the cones or to check raku glaze. Normally, there is back pressure in
the kiln and flame or hot air comes out from the peep‑holes.
4.
Be careful of glazes that have run. The edges are sharp and cut like glass.
5.
Never open kiln doors until the lab assistant has given the okay.
6.
If a kiln shuts down, turn it off and see your instructor or lab assistant
immediately.
7.
Kiln room doors must remain closed at all times.
GENERAL
PROCEDURES: ALL FIRINGS ARE DONE BY OR SUPERVISED BY
THE GRADUATE ASSISTANT
1.
Shelving ware ‑‑ Shelving in the kiln room is labeled for particular
purposes. Please heed labels and put your ware on the proper shelf.
2.
Condition of ware ‑‑ Inspect ware to be fired, making sure bottoms
are clear of glaze and the ware is free of cracks and generally
well‑crafted. Improperly‑glazed ware or ware that
is otherwise poorly‑crafted will be rejected(check reject shelf
regularly). This includes ware that is glazed too heavily or too close to the
bottom, that is broken, cracked or otherwise flawed.
3.
Permission to fire ‑ You must have the permission of the Graduate
Assistant and the permission of your instructor. Permission must be noted on the
firing chart by you and the GA. Noted should be your name, the class, the
supervisor's initials, the temperature and the load and firing days only.
Without permission your firing may be terminated at any time. In addition, a
kiln with an abandoned firing schedule may also be turned off.
4.
Firing log ‑ The firing log is an important part of the learning process
and should be filled out clearly and maintained accurately for each firing.
5.
Kiln shelves ‑‑ Two kinds are used for firing: mullite
(buff‑colored) and silicon carbide (black). Mullites are for bisque firing
only and silicon carbides for high fire. Kiln shelves are very expensive and
fragile, requiring care in handling, cleaning and storing. (Each kiln shelf cost
approximately $100.) Kiln shelves should be thoroughly cleaned of any glaze or
oxide material from previous firings and have a fairly thick and even coat of
fresh kiln wash before they are loaded into the kiln.
6.
Kiln wash ‑ Kiln wash is a mixture of Alumina and EPK, that protects the
shelves from runny glaze. Shelf backs and sides should be totally free of glaze
or kiln wash. Unattended chips of wash are sure to rub off and fall into your
best bowl.
7.
Cleaning shelves ‑‑ After unloading, all shelves must be cleaned and
washed. When chipping, keep the chisel as parallel as possible to the surface of
the shelf and tap very gently. Grind and chip only on the padded surface. You
must use eye protection and an OSHA‑approved mask when chipping or
grinding kiln shelves.
8.
Storing shelves ‑‑ Shelves should be stored on edge, against the
wall of the proper locker, not propped against carts or any other moveable
object. Best is to stack shelves black to black and white to white.
9.
Written permission from instructor required: a. To put irregular material, such
as metals, wood, straw, paper or chemicals into the kilns or into saggars.
b. To deviate from normal firing procedures commonly
used. This includes excessively high temperatures (cone 8), excessive reduction,
extremely rapid heating or cooling or any other procedures that could damage
kilns or furniture. This applies to raku and pit‑firing.
c. To modify normal support patterns for stacking or
to make modifications involving repairs to the kilns or their accessories.
10.
Responsibility ‑‑ When you are in doubt regarding the
correctness of any procedure, it is your responsibility to obtain approval from your instructor or the Graduate Assistant.