 |
|
Kiln Pointers
|
|
|
When the Kiln Lid Flakes |
CONTENTS When the Kiln Lid Flakes Recent Q&As: How long does lid coating last; can you use kiln cement as a lid coating? Memorable Quote News: Improved Bluebird XL and Fiberfuse-16 Elements ----------- WHEN THE KILN LID FLAKES We coat the inner lid surface of kilns to reduce dust. If the refractory coating is too thick, it will blister and flake off when the kiln is fired. An especially thick coating looks like a network of peeling cracks similar to the cracks in a dried mud puddle. The cracking is due to the difference in expansion between the firebricks and the coating. Correctly applied kiln coating will look like it disappeared after the kiln has been fired. Cracked lid coating is easy to repair. Lightly remove the blistering with sandpaper and apply a new coat. Or you could even leave the lid uncoated. The natural tendency is to apply too much lid coating, because it looks better than a thin layer. You should still be able to see the firebrick pores under the coating. I recommend Paragon's Liquid Kiln Coating. Shake the container. Pour some of the coating into a bowl. Stir the coating just before you apply it to the firebricks. Apply the coating with a large, soft sponge. First moisten the sponge with water; then squeeze out the excess water. Dip the sponge into the bowl of kiln coating. Wipe the coating over the lid surface. Do not let excess coating run into the element grooves of a glass kiln. Apply a light coat to prevent this. If the coating drips along the edges of the grooves, remove by wiping a cotton swab or rag along the groove. ----------- RECENT Q&As Q. Before you apply coating to a kiln lid, does the old coating have to be sanded off? And how long does the new lid coating last? A. If the old coating is loose, then it must be sanded off before applying the new coating. The lid coating lasts for several years. Q. What is the difference between kiln cement and Paragon Liquid Kiln Coating? Can a lid be coated with a thin mixture of kiln cement? A. Kiln cement thinned with water will work as a lid coating. The Liquid Kiln Coating that we offer is a mixture of kiln cement, fine brick dust, a gumming agent, and water. We are currently coating our lids with the Liquid Kiln Coating. ----------- MEMORABLE QUOTE “Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.” --A. A. Milne ----------- NEWS: IMPROVED BLUEBIRD XL AND FIBERFUSE-16 ELEMENTS The BlueBird XL roof elements and FiberFuse-16 wall elements are now embedded in ceramic fiber “muffles.” The muffles are similar to those used in the SC-2, Home Artist, and J-14 kilns. We expect longer element life from the BlueBird XL elements, because they can dissipate heat better than before. The FiberFuse-16 now features a ceramic fiber muffle with new sidewall surface-mounted sinusoidal “wavy” elements. This eliminates element grooves, thereby increasing the efficiency of the wall insulation. A lid safety switch is now standard on the FiberFuse-16. ----------- In Portland, Oregon last week, the NCECA pottery convention hummed with voices. A woman sat at a table in the Paragon booth, eyes glowing because we were at NCECA. “Once I bought my first kiln, clay became the center of my life,” she said. Sometimes on weekends she told her husband she was going to the office for a few hours. But after she bought the kiln, she would stop at her ceramic home studio, intending to be there for only a moment before going to the office. Her husband would see her later and say, “Did you come back from the office?” “No, I haven’t left yet.” Often she would not even leave for the office but would stay in the studio working in clay. Before she left the booth, we agreed that everyone needs a creative outlet, whether clay, jewelry making, glass fusing, writing, etc. How often do you see eyes glow with excitement? Perhaps in children at play . . . or adults who are creating in their studios. Thank you, With best wishes, Arnold Howard Paragon Industries, L.P. – Better Designed Kilns 2011 South Town East Blvd., Mesquite, Texas 75149-1122 Voice: 972-288-7557 & 800-876-4328 / Fax: 972-222-0646 / ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com / www.facebook.com/paragonkilns PRIVACY NOTICE: Under no circumstance do we share or sell your email address. Copyright 2017, by Paragon Industries, L.P. |
|
|
|
|
|
on:
|
“Custom and standard Kilns and Industrial Furnaces for ceramics, pottery, heat treating, enameling, |
||||