Firing the Silver Bullet

Background

• This little kiln was built to help with the design and test of the WatchDog Sensors, but has evolved to become a very useful way to do up to Cone 10 firings with a small test load. This has already preempted some combinations from ending up on production loads that would have low­ered yield and quality!

Summary

Good Firing!

• I Forgot to put in cones, so by accident this was the first firing that Watchdog was 100% the deciding factor on when firing was complete.

• It is working nicely to put a top shelf on just an inch or two below the Kaowool "roof". This keeps junk on out the glaze and helps stabilize firing / gas flow.

• We hit it just right! Glazes mature, but not over-fired - Coleman was just beginning to stick to shelves, which tells me we hit C10.

• On this firing reduction was not necessary (we were testing oxy-happy glazes)

• The first temperature ramp is accomplished with just the left burner ignited, turned up only once to a bit above 3".

• Quartz inversion happens at 1064F. So I kept only one burner on until well into the 1100's.

• At 1100: Increase gas to 6 inches and light the second burner. Gas should come in just under 3 inches w/ both burners going.

• Silver bullet is just about at its top limit for C10, so a gentle ramp / soak comes naturally.

• To slow things down a bit I plugged both side air intakes, cranked in on the venturi valves (3mm) and dampered in. This slowed the kiln down a bit and put it in reduction.

• I think next time I should do that a little earlier in the process.

Results

Blue Caledon is a bust! 5% didn't even make a dent. This MS needs to go on straight with a brush, then cover with Coleman Clear.

This is becoming the BKM for color / painting for Robin.

BKM:

• brush stain on with water or water based binder

• coat and dry with CMC

• very thin spray of clear. Stop BEFORE the stain become invisible under the glaze. You almost don't even need a glaze

SCM Qualification:

• Tile 6 / EPK makes no difference in this glaze

• Use 5% Deep Crimson, do some tests with even higher abounts

• SCM under Blue Satin matt works just fine

1

2

1. Look at what we can do with just Mason Stains, CMC and Coleman Clear!  Robin now dips a brush in CMC, Mixes with a bit of dry ma­son stain and paints it on.  Use CMC to seal, then airbrush on the Coleman Clear.

2. No Blue. Hmm.  This was 5% Blue Caledon Mason Stain.  Perhaps the Oxygen rich firing was partly to blame.

3. White SCM under Blue Satin Matte  work­ing as ex­pected.

4. This is an example why I am so glad we have a way to test glazes and clay bodies!  This is Laventure glaze on Cocoa clay body.  I was expecting this to be an earthy color, but there is no Red IO affects at all here.  Also, it crazed.  So glad I tried it on one pot in the Silver Bullet instead of 12 in the Olsen!

5. Finally, the best things in the load. Robin hand painted on these Mason Stains (Deep Sea Green, Black, and Turquise Blue). Robin can treat them as if she were water coloring. The monster was then airbrushed with Celedon. The small tray is Cole­man Clear.

Look at what we can do with just Mason Stains, CMC and Coleman Clear! Robin now dips a brush in CMC, Mixes with a bit of dry ma­son stain and paints it on. Use CMC to seal, then airbrush on the Coleman Clear.

No Blue. Hmm. This was 5% Blue Caledon Mason Stain. Perhaps the Oxygen rich firing was partly to blame.

White SCM under Blue Satin Matte work­ing as ex­pected.

This is an example why I am so glad we have a way to test glazes and clay bodies! This is Laventure glaze on Cocoa clay body. I was expecting this to be an earthy color, but there is no Red IO affects at all here. Also, it crazed. So glad I tried it on one pot in the Silver Bullet instead of 12 in the Olsen!

Finally, the best things in the load. Robin hand painted on these Mason Stains (Deep Sea Green, Black, and Turquise Blue). Robin can treat them as if she were water coloring. The monster was then airbrushed with Celedon. The small tray is Cole­man Clear.