Firing logs - what do you include? any files for standards?

Following on the thread about soaking, I was thinking that each kiln is an individual, and thus, logging what your own kiln does is essential. BUT! What information do YOU log? Do you have a kiln log - is it on computer file, so you can share it with us that are inquisitive and searching?

I have a log-file made in word or excel, but it is on my home computer, and I am - very thankfully!!!! - staying with friends in Mallorca at the moment. I can upload it to my homepage later on - but do you guys have any - or, even if you don't, what do YOU follow of information in your kiln logs?

Marianne

Reply to
Bubbles
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Mm I just have a hard cover book that I keep by the kiln. Time start, controller settings - top temp - ramp rate - soak time Then temp and time I change the ramp rate, then off time.

Reply to
Annemarie

in a book that lives near the gas kiln.... What i'm firing to and the weather to start... Bungs out and in and door opening at the beginning... Time, Temp, Gas setting, damper setting, sniffer reading, rate of rise, other comments Time finished What it turned out like... Hugs Eddie

Reply to
Eddie Daughton

Okay - my kiln is in the laundry room, with wheels on - so the book lives in my workshop and comes along when I start loading the kiln.

VERY good point! Hadn't thought of that, but outside temp and humidity (or at least if it is raining or not) would most probably have some influence on at least the firing time - and possibly what happens with the glazes.

Door opening at the beginning?

Sorry for my ignorance. What is a sniffer?

I have started collecting everything from the kiln (only 60 liters, so not a big batch each time) and taking a collective picture of them.

Ooo! Thanks! Hugs be always welcome!

Hugs to you too!

Marianne

Reply to
Bubbles

When (+ how hot the kiln was) i closed the door at the beginning and what temp i put the bungs in... Bestest to leave the door ajar (when is a door not a door? when its ajar!) during the first bit of the firing to let the pots dry.... A "sniffer " is a oxygen probe (actually tells you how much Carbon monoxide is in the kiln atmosphere) a very useful tool if, like me, you fire reduction stoneware, and have neighbours who get freaked out if there's a bit of smoke... Hugs should ALWAYS be given... The world needs more Hugs.... Hugs Eddie

Reply to
Eddie Daughton

good question on firing log details.

for my electric, i record the aproximate kiln load: light, heavy, medium load. generally the kind of pots: bowls, mugs, vases. i note the start time, the hours i set on the timer (my kiln sitter stopped working years ago), and the settings i fire at such as the A, B, C and "/ \" on that cress thumbwheel. and the results such as cone was down or not. (i use the electric just for bisque).

for the gas kiln i note the load (like above), start time, candle or not, and end time for bisque or glaze. and the results such as good glaze, hot zones, cold zones. any tweaks or firing style things i notice get writen down. "closed the flew until seeing constant reduction evidence at the peep hole" or things similar.

see ya

steve

Reply to
slgraber

How long do you wait before closing the lid? I can see the point of getting a dryier "raw goods" by leaving the lid open, but am wondering if bung out of the middle of the lid and bung out of the bottom of the side up until

650C might do the same job?

Hehe! You didn't interview the neighbours before moving in? ;-)

I have a feeling that I will just get more and more tempted to fire reduction, but at the moment, building and equipment and economy are keeping me at oxidation firing. Have seen that there are many very good results achieved in reduction, though.

BIG HUGS!!!

I totally agree! Wish more people would share their hugs! Makes the atmosphere so much nicer!

Marianne

Reply to
Bubbles

I have been firing the same 120 cubic foot down draft kiln for 30 years. She has 8 eclipse burners and a thirty foot ceramic lined metal stack on top of a hearth where the dampers are. What I write in my logs are for each hour the kiln is on or when a change occurs:

1) the amount of gas going thru the lines as feet per minute. 2) the position of the primary air intakes to each burner. This is measured by the number of revolutions open each primary air intake is opened from closed. 3) the position of the dampers. 4) the amount of flame coming from each of the door peeps. 5) the cones that are down for each peep hole top/middle/bottom Finally, I make a diagram of the shelf placements for each tear of pots noting the number of shelves in the tear and size of the stilt.

So a typical log for a glaze kiln reads something like this:

7pm all burners on-3ftper minute/open 8 revolutions /dampers open /neutral draft 1am all b on-8fta@min/open 16 rev /dam open/neut 6am all b on-15ft@min/open 16 rev/dam open/neut 7am all b on-17ft@min/open 8 rev/ dam closed half/ top pos, mid pos, bot neut(cone 08 down midlde) 7:45am all b on-18ft@min/open 8 rev/ dam open/ all neut(cone 08 down all) 11am all b on-18ft@min/open 8 rev/ dam open 85%/all light pos (cone 7 down) 1pm all b on-20 ft@min/open 6 rev/ dam closed 50%/ all heavy pos (cone 10 down top & mid cone 7 down bot 4pm all b on 18 ft@min/open 12 rev/ dam open 85%/ light pos top&mid, neut bot (cone 10 down top and mid, 8 bot) 5pm all b on 9 ft@min/ open 16 rev/ dam open 100%/ all neut 6pm all b off/ close dampers, brick up ports The numbers indicate inches of each stilt. teer one- 9/9/9/4/4/4/4/2/2/4/12 teer two- 9/9/4/4/4/2/2/2/2/2/2/2/4/4/2/2/2/2 teer three- 9/9/9/4/4/4/4/2/2/2/2/16 teer four- 9/9/9/4/4/4/4/4/4/4/12 When I unload, I will denote on the log where there appears to be cold or hot spots, over/under reduced body (I can only tell this on stoneware, not porcelain) and glaze reduction) I have filled several books in during the 70's, 80's, and 90's. Since 2000, I have occasionally logged the kilns when I am having problems. I am now only firing 4 times a year instead of 10. Slowing down in my sixties and the market seems to evaporated for me.... plus I spend too much time on this dang computer.... Russ Andavall firegodarts.com

Bubbles wrote:

Reply to
Russell Andavall

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