Kiln lid repair is often possible when the damage is limited to cracks, chips, or small deteriorated areas. A kiln lid does not automatically need replacement just because you see a crack. In fact, manufacturers specifically distinguish between normal hairline cracking and damage serious enough to affect the kiln’s operation. L&L, for example, states that […]
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Sep
Sep
Kiln brick repair is often much simpler than replacing an entire kiln wall. Small cracks, chips, holes, and gouges in insulating firebrick can often be patched, while badly damaged bricks may need to be replaced. The important part is knowing the difference before you fire again. A kiln is not supposed to look perfect forever. […]
24
Sep
Sep
A kiln thermocouple is one of the most important components inside an electronically controlled pottery kiln. It is the temperature sensor. The controller relies on the thermocouple to know what is happening inside the firing chamber. If the sensor is reading accurately, the controller can regulate the heating elements according to the programmed firing schedule. […]
24
Sep
Sep
Kiln vent vs exhaust fan is a common question when setting up a pottery studio. They are not the same thing. A kiln vent is designed specifically to capture and remove emissions associated with firing. A room exhaust fan primarily exchanges air in the studio and removes heat and airborne contaminants after they enter the […]
24
Sep
Sep
Kiln wash is one of the cheapest things you can put in a pottery studio, but it protects one of the more expensive pieces of kiln furniture you own: your kiln shelves. Its main job is simple. If glaze runs off a pot during firing, kiln wash creates a refractory barrier between the glaze and […]
23
Sep
Sep
Kiln shelf spacing looks like a small detail until you start getting uneven firing, crowded shelves, tall pieces that will not fit, or pottery sitting too close to the elements. The basic idea is simple: kiln shelves are separated by refractory posts, and the height of those posts determines how much vertical space each firing […]
23
Sep
Sep
Choosing the right pottery kiln size comes down to three things: the size of your work, how much pottery you fire at once, and how often you fire. Buy too small and you may spend your time running half-empty firing cycles because your work no longer fits. Buy too large and you can end up […]
Slab roller vs rolling pin is not really a question of which tool makes better pottery. Both can produce good slabs. The real difference is how much clay you process, how consistent your slabs need to be, how often you make them, and whether the cost of a slab roller is justified by your workflow. […]
The best pottery wheel for large pottery needs more than a powerful motor on paper. When you start throwing 10, 20, 30 pounds of clay or more, torque, stability, wheelhead size, pedal response, and motor performance under load become much more important. A wheel that feels excellent with three pounds of clay can behave very […]
The best pugmill for pottery is the one that matches the condition of your clay and the amount of clay you process. That sounds obvious, but it is where most pugmill buying decisions go wrong. A potter who mainly needs to de-air already workable clay has a different requirement from a studio that wants to […]