Bee 5 clay

Hello Everyone, Has anyone had a problem with Bee 5 clay not vitrifing at cone 5? The pieces are glazed and I found that after about an hour the bottoms have become damp. My kiln is a fairly new L&L electric and I fire about two loads a month. I think I will refire at cone 6 and see what happens. Thanks, Sandi

Reply to
sandi
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Not familiar with the clay. Presumably you had cones in the firing, if they manufacturer states that it is vitrified at c5 and it has not you should probably go back to your supplier.

Reply to
annemarie

I have never used cones. I was told when I went to order them that I didn't need them because my kiln is computerized. I just program what I want it to do and push start and leave it. How do you see cones in the kiln if you use them? Do you lift the lid or peek in the holes in the side? Some of the pieces do not get damp so I'm thinking it might be the glaze I used. Thanks for your input, Sandi

Reply to
sandi

it's good to use cones no matter what. you'll get an idea of how well controlled your heat is all thru the kiln. you likely have a peep hole on the side, put one there to see it while firing.

steve

steve graber

Reply to
Slgraber

them. Am I supposed to take one out to look at a cone? They are small holes about an inch and a half in diameter. Sandi

Reply to
sandi

You should calibrate your kiln. This means that you should fire at all the temps you fire to with cones top middle and bottom. A controller, well I should say the pyrometor does not necessarily record the actual temperature or more precisely the actual heat work. Once you have done this and know what your kiln is actually doing you need not use cones every time, but it is wise to use them every so often because things change as elements age. Heat work - Means the actual heat that the clay recieves. For instance you can programme a long soak which means that the cones that drop will be higher than the actual temperature. Or for instance if your kiln is very quick you may not get enough heat work to make the cones drop. It sounds to me like you did not get to the cone you thought you were getting to. Annemarie

Reply to
annemarie

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