E-book: Small kilns, big results
Your ceramic kiln is likely to be the most significant investment in your studio. It’s worth more than your potter’s wheel. More than all your tools combined.
Yet it is precisely this piece of equipment that raises the most questions. Which kiln is right for me? Will it fit my mains supply? Why is there a crack in my bowl? And why has that glaze gone dull when it looked brilliant last time?
A kiln is not a black box. You can understand what happens inside it – and therefore control it.
- Which kiln is best suited to the work you want to create?
- Why do you need to fire slowly at the start and when can you speed things up?
- How do you set up a firing curve that suits both your clay and your glaze?
- What information does an Orton cone provide that your kiln controller doesn’t?
- What should you do if something goes wrong?
This e-book provides the broad knowledge needed to choose, install, use and maintain a kiln with confidence. It’s not a manual for any specific model, but it covers all aspects of kilns.
- Instant download
- 73 pages
- Language: English
€ 39,00
This digital PDF download will teach you how your ceramic kiln works, how to operate it effectively, and how to ensure it lasts for decades.
We’ll cover everything from initial considerations when purchasing to solving the smallest problems that only arise after hundreds of firings. We will explore the anatomy of a kiln, the stacking materials you will need and what happens to your clay during firing, zone by zone. We will then apply this knowledge to specific firing curves for drying, bisque, and glaze for both earthenware and stoneware.
What you’ll find in this e-book:
- Choosing the right kiln: clay type, size, top-loading vs. front-loading, new vs. second-hand
- Connecting and installing the kiln: power systems, capacity rating, ventilation, fire safety
- The anatomy of a kiln: heating elements, thermocouple, controller, switching relay, insulation
- Stacking materials and tools: kiln shelves, bat wash, supports, Orton cones
- What happens during firing: from quartz jump to sintering across thirteen temperature zones
- Drawing up firing curves: four complete curves with diagrams
- Setting up and stacking the kiln: including sympathetic firing and hot and cold zones
- Getting to know your kiln: Orton cones, firing log, test tiles
- Maintenance: the post-firing ritual, the paper test, the annual major service
- Identifying and resolving problems: from cracked pieces to pinholes and craquelure
- Four printable checklists: before buying a kiln, before every firing and ‘Is my work ready?’, and a firing log
The e-book includes clear photographs, easy-to-follow diagrams and temperature tables. This e-book is suitable for those considering their first kiln and for those who have been firing in one for years.
After your purchase, you can download the e-book immediately.
- Format: PDF
- Number of pages: 73
- Author: Nele Ostyn (Cursist)
- Language: English
Thank you for your interest in our e-book. We worked very hard on it and are proud to share it with you. We kindly ask that you respect the time and effort that went into creating this e-book, and refrain from distributing its content. Enjoy your reading experience!
