Mame pots on a mini pottery wheel

[Pitoon]

It's a neat little kiln. Have you made any further inroads into selecting a kiln yet? Did you ever talk to the Kiln Doctor? If I had the money to spend I would get one of those little kilns for small jobs and glaze testing.

I think it will come down to either a Skutt or L&L. They both a have a small test kiln that fires to Cone 10 which is one of the requirements I need for the kiln. After seeing that Skutt yesterday in person, the dimensions I feel would be better suited for what I want to do. The L&L test kiln would not allow larger pots because of the hex shape, while the Skutt has a 15" x 15" floorspace so that should allow a pot up up to say 14" x 14".............even though I will probably never make a pot that size. I always feel it's better to have the options and not need them verse need the options and not have them.

I think I need to prove I can move these little pots to the public before I take the plunge in getting another kiln. It's kind of hard to justify buying another kiln when I have one in the garage still waiting to be hooked up. I'll be in contact if I have specific questions though.

 

[Pitoon]

I like my doll kiln. Test tiles mostly but it’s known to do a small cascade in a pinch.
View attachment 368045

A hex kiln with a circle shelf....come on Dave!

That's the L&L kiln I got my eye on......but...... the Skutt has more usable floorspace after seeing it in person. I really do like the fact that they come with the element holders. How do you like that controller?

 

[penumbra]

I know I have said it before, but if you are going to change out your own elements, A Skutt is a better kiln. I can change out a Skutt quickie and with less aggravation. This applies to normal size kilns and I can't say for certain that it applies to the small kilns. You have to pin the Skutt elements but they come pre-sized and stretched to right size. Pins goes fast when you have a little experience. It is a lot easier than stretching the elements and then trying to compensate when they are overstretched. I really don't like the wiring harness arrangement on L&L either, but I am just one person.

 

[Pitoon]

I know I have said it before, but if you are going to change out your own elements, A Skutt is a better kiln. I can change out a Skutt quickie and with less aggravation. This applies to normal size kilns and I can't say for certain that it applies to the small kilns. You have to pin the Skutt elements but they come pre-sized and stretched to right size. Pins goes fast when you have a little experience. It is a lot easier than stretching the elements and then trying to compensate when they are overstretched. I really don't like the wiring harness arrangement on L&L either, but I am just one person.

Yes, I will be doing the maintenance myself. I have kept what we discussed in mind about both kilns, and honestly I am leaning more toward the Skutt.

What is it you don't like about the L&L harness arrangement?

 

[ABCarve]

A hex kiln with a circle shelf....come on Dave!

That's the L&L kiln I got my eye on......but...... the Skutt has more usable floorspace after seeing it in person. I really do like the fact that they come with the element holders. How do you like that controller?

Love the controller... just like the bigger kiln. The Skutt is bigger but L&L is a quality piece of work. It is a tough call. I mostly choose because I had the bigger one first.

 

[Pitoon]

On the drive in yesterday to the studio one of the feet on a pot got chipped. So I brought it back home to repair. Hopefully the fix works.

Before


After

 

[Pitoon]

First batch survived round 1, second batch now in the kiln

 

[Pitoon]

Second batch survived round 1. The repair on the chip foot came out flawless. Now to glaze

 

[ABCarve]

Now to glaze

Let the hand wringing begin!

 

[Pitoon]

Let the hand wringing begin!

Just to think I'm going to wax first.....then glaze

 

[Pitoon]

Tonight's the night! I'll start glazing tonight, I have all the pots that will be glazed labeled so I can remember what glazes I used after they are fired. This will help when I document the outcome for future reference.

 

[penumbra]

What an awesome group of pots. Best of luck on your glazing. Its the final episode.

 

[Pitoon]

What an awesome group of pots. Best of luck on your glazing. Its the final episode.

Thanks! What I'm really concerned about is the glaze running off the pots and sticking to the shelf.

 

[penumbra]

Thanks! What I'm really concerned about is the glaze running off the pots and sticking to the shelf.

You should make yourself some clay discs to set your pots on when you glaze fire them. Unglazed bisque fired tiles work well too but take up more space.
In any event, make sure there is a fresh coat of kiln shelf coating.

 

[Carol 83]

Tonight's the night! I'll start glazing tonight, I have all the pots that will be glazed labeled so I can remember what glazes I used after they are fired. This will help when I document the outcome for future reference.

View attachment 369286

Can't wait to see them glazed!

 

[penumbra]

Can't wait to see them glazed!

Purple!

 

[Pitoon]

Purple!

What I have planned...
1 pot purple
1 pot purple combo

You guys will have to guess which ones I picked

 

[Pitoon]

You should make yourself some clay discs to set your pots on when you glaze fire them. Unglazed bisque fired tiles work well too but take up more space.
In any event, make sure there is a fresh coat of kiln shelf coating.

That's an excellent idea! I'll just roll out a slab and hit it up with a round cookie cutter to make the dics. I will for sure do this next go around.

 

[penumbra]

That's an excellent idea! I'll just roll out a slab and hit it up with a round cookie cutter to make the dics. I will for sure do this next go around.

I take no credit for the idea, just happy to pass it forward. Nice thing is that you can make them in various sizes as needed. I have heard them referred to as clay biscuits. People who work with crystalline glazes use them religiously.

 

[Pitoon]

I take no credit for the idea, just happy to pass it forward. Nice thing is that you can make them in various sizes as needed. I have heard them referred to as clay biscuits. People who work with crystalline glazes use them religiously.

I wish we had discussed this earlier. I would have made them and bisque fired them with the pots so they would be ready. I'm debating to visit a local glaze and fire studio nearby to see if they have any bisque tiles. I could buy a couple of those and cut them down on my wet saw.

I just have no clue how these glazes will behave....that's what is worrying me. I'm hopeful that they won't run as the glaze coat is not as thick as dipping.