KILN COMMITTEE – Procedures

Kiln Committee Procedures Shortcuts
UNLOADING KILNS LOADING KILNS FIRING
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR KILN TECH TRAINING KILN WASH
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  1. UNLOADING KILNS
    1. Record firing times for each kiln and return the controller to “idle” (just press “stop”)
    2. Note whether firing times are within the norms: 17 to 19 hours for High fire, 19 to 20 hours for bisque and about 7 hours for low fire. If a kiln appears to have taken longer than usual to fire, inform the committee chairperson.
    3. Determine which kilns are ready to unload. Temperature must be no higher than 125 degrees.
    4. Record which kilns are to be unloaded. Record the names of the techs who are unloading.
    5. Unload kilns. Be aware that the posts sometimes stick to the underside of the shelf.
    6. Place shelves, posts, and shards in appropriate location. Shelves with glaze on them are placed by the wall next to kiln #8. Shards with glaze on them are placed in the box on the lower shelf of the shard unit.
    7. G. Place bisque ware on right end of holding room shelves and glazed ware to the left.
    8. Determine who will load greenware for bisque and who will load glazed pieces.
  2. LOADING KILNS
    1. General Guidelines:
      1. Big Bertha (kiln #1) is used only for bisque firing.
      2. Items from classes have priority.
      3. If a kiln has any loose matter in it, vacuum it.
      4. Assure a one inch clearance from kiln walls, thermocouple and kiln lid as well as one inch between top of pieces and next shelf.
      5. Use post with one-half inch riser when appropriate.
      6. Support shelves by placing posts vertically over the lower posts.
      7. If using full shelves, support with at least four posts.
      8. It is ok to close and lock the holding room door until you have finished loading.
    2. Greenware:
      1. Pieces should be completely dry before firing. If a piece is not completely dry, put it back on the holding shelf with a note. Sign and date your notes.
      2. Generally, load shorter pieces toward the bottom of the kiln and taller ones toward the top.
      3. You may remove small pieces from a “tray” and place them individually in the kiln.
    3. High Fire:
      1. Do not fire a piece with color on the bottom unless the artist has specified that the color is oxide or a velvet. Return it to the holding room with a note.
      2. If an item appears to be over-gazed or glaze is too close to the bottom or glaze is wet, return it to the holding room with a note.
      3. Place all High fire items on shards that are big enough to catch any drips.
      4. Use four to five inch posts on the bottom of the kiln to assure adequate air circulation.
      5. Maintain one inch between pieces.
      6. You may place cone 5 and a cone 6 witness cone on a shard toward the center of each high fire kiln.
    4. Low Fire:
      1. Place all low fire pieces on stilts.
      2. Maintain one inch between pieces.
  3. FIRING
    1. Check the Firing programs by pressing “Review”. If it is the right program, follow each segment to make sure it is correct. Use the program sheets to do this. Programs are sometimes changed to accommodate a special circumstance.
      1. If it is not the right program, re-program the kiln using the program sheets. Bisque is Ramp Hold Program 1, High Fire is Ramp Hold Program 5, and Low Fire is Cone .06.
    2. Place the appropriate disc on the kilns that have been loaded.
    3. On the clipboard, record each kiln that was loaded. Enter the kiln #, the kind of firing and the hold time.
    4. Close each kiln and press “start”.
    5. Turn on the envirovents power. The switch near Big Bertha controls kilns #1, 2, 3, 4 and 9. The switch near kiln #8 controls kilns 8, 7, 6 and 5.
    6. Assure that the program discs are placed correctly on top of the kiln—not on the controller vent. (Vent must remain clear to circulate the air.)
    7. Turn on the big wall fan.
    8. Turn out the lights.
    9. Make sure the door is locked.
  4. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR
    1. Kiln Room
      1. The GVR cleaning crew does not have access to the kiln room, so the kiln techs are responsible for cleaning and maintaining this space. In addition to replacing shards, posts, shelves, etc. where they belong, the room also needs to be vacuumed periodically.
    2. Kilns
      1. We also maintain and repair kilns. When a kiln malfunctions, the controller usually alerts us with an “error” message. These messages are listed in the Skutt kiln manual, and a copy of the list is also posted. Thermocouples, relays and elements are the most common causes of malfunction. We keep a log of repairs posted next to the holding room door.
  5. KILN TECH TRAINING
    1. Prospective kiln techs are selected by invitation by the Kiln Committee. They must be a studio member for at least one year and have been volunteering regularly in some other capacity. They are trained by the Committee Chairperson(s) or designee. New trainees work with an experienced tech and are on probation for a minimum of three months.
  6. KILN WASH
    1. Kiln Wash is applied to shelves and shards at regular intervals.
      1. Clean shelves, shards of glaze drips and assure they are free of dust.
      2. Apply wash per instructions.
      3. Dry between coats of wash.
      4. Shelves may be dried in kiln room between coats.

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Kiln Commititee Procedures - revised 10-15-23.docx

updated: 1/4/2024 - jdo