Getting The Maximum From Your Kiln

Posted on: 10 April 2019

People who enjoy making pottery as a hobby generally either use a clay that allows for the piece to air dry or they need to send their work out to be fired in a kiln.  Eventually, many hobbyists decide to step up their game and purchase their own kiln. Because kilns are expensive, both to purchase and operate, it is important owners do everything they can to extend its life and cut costs. Here are three ways to improve your kiln usage.

Don't Overwork Your Kiln

An electric kiln uses a tremendous amount of energy. Just as your home oven cannot heat evenly or bake consistently if it is overcrowded, so is the case with your kiln. Many people make the mistake of thinking if they load as many pieces as they can into the kiln, they won't need to run it as often. Not only will this potentially compromise your pieces from uneven heating and poor air circulation, this practice will make your kiln and its components have to work harder. Eventually, this practice will lessen its lifespan.

Vacuum The Elements

With every use, the brick that lines your kiln is going to degrade ever-so-slightly. The pottery itself will also give off sediment. The clay and various glazes can become airborne. This sediment will settle on the heating elements. This can cause uneven heating, hot spots, and lead to element burnout. You should carefully vacuum your kiln elements every few weeks to keep them dust-free. Your kiln elements should also be cleaned before the initial use as well as when it has sat without use for an extended period of time. You also want to vacuum any time you change the elements. The kiln should then be fired empty, followed by another cleaning session to ensure it is as dust-free as possible.

Use An Industrial-Strength Brick Refractory Coating

When you first receive a new kiln, the brick usually comes with a coating. However, this coating, as well as the brick, breaks down over time. In addition to the fine sediment this will create, requiring continual cleaning of the elements, your kiln will suffer heat loss. With an industrial brick refractory coating, radiant heat will be reflected back, which will help the elements do their job and come up to temp quicker. Brick refractory coating will also seal the brick and reduce dust. If the brick is in disrepair but isn't quite ready for replacement yet, use ceramic fill before applying the refractory coating.   

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