Winter is Coming!

[AnnaMarie]

Hello Makers!

This is just a reminder to those making pieces more than a 3/8" thick!!! Winter is approaching, which means pieces are drying very slowly. Pieces may appear dry on the outside but are still wet inside. This leads to explosions in the kiln. The kiln team asks that you ensure your pieces are dried well because this is a community space, and we don’t want pieces going home broken.

• If you are making solid pieces, please make a vent hole for your pieces. Such as sticking a chopstick size stick or ceramic hole puncher into your piece at the bottom to allow airflow into the piece.
• If you are making thick pieces, you can candle them in your own ovens at home. This is putting your piece in the oven at 180/200 degrees Fahrenheit for a couple hours depending on size to wick out moisture in the piece. The process is called candling if you need to research more on this.
• If you are not adhering to these rules and your pieces are being placed on the needs attention shelf, please talk to a kiln team member or the chair to ensure that your method of making is approved. We will not be firing solid pieces during the winter time if we do not feel like it is safe in our kilns.

Lastly, as a reminder, the kiln team asks that people stop putting wet pieces on the greenware ready to fire shelf. It is not fair to our community guidelines and the kiln team members, who have to decide what is safe to fire. Pieces that are wet must be put on the in progress shelf to dry.

Thank you for reading this PSA.
-A

[Bill]

@AnnaMarie

If you are making thick pieces, you can candle them in your own ovens at home. This is putting your piece in the oven at 180/200 degrees Fahrenheit for a couple hours depending on size to wick out moisture in the piece. The process is called candling if you need to research more on this.

Dumb question from an outsider: would it be feasible to buy a used toaster oven or two from thrift stores for this purpose?

[dryad2b]

Well, there are probably one or two extra toaster ovens around the Space. I’m not up on toaster ovens, though. Can you run them at 180-200F for hours on end without potential issues? The other thing to think about is “will my greenware item fit in a toaster oven”? Some of the bigger pieces won’t.

[ozindfw]

And please don’t use the toaster oven in the galley.

[Monikat]

As long as they can be set for hours at time at the right temp (180-200), I don’t see why not.

[mdredmond]

@ozindfw

And please don’t use the toaster oven in the galley.

That one is reserved for welding rods.

[ozindfw]

@Monikat

As long as they can be set for hours at time at the right temp (180-200), I don’t see why not.

They can, but then this blocks them for their intended use for hours at a time.

This is also a slippery slope. While most clays are not an issue, non-food use opens them up to other non-food. This is why that they were restricted to food use only the last time the galley toaster oven was replaced in May.

New Break Room Countertop Stove available

A new counter top oven has been installed and I’m taking this opportunity to remind everyone of a few ground rules: This is for food only. You must clean up thoroughly after yourself. This includes the rack, drop pan and anything else involved in your cooking endeavor. It’s a shared resource so please do not monopolize the unit. Some functions might not be suitable for this environment because they are long running, e.g. dehydrate or slow cook for instance. The recently acquired small and b…

[dryad2b]

Yeah, but those now-decommisioned ones are in other areas, where there were others already. Ceramics could cruise around and see which departments have extras, and then politely request to have the spare. It could be a little special if many folks wanted to candle their wares all at once, but it’d be first-come-first-served at that point.

[ozindfw]

Absolutely. I know there is one in the powder coat area. And if you ask the Metal shop chair nicely he might even consent to the use of the big oven.

[Bill]

@dryad2b

Can you run them at 180-200F for hours on end without potential issues?

I doubt there is a fire risk. Two hours is not a big difference from one from a safety standpoint.

The issue is how long it will last under extended “industrial use” rather occasionally household use. Hence buying them cheap on the used market.

Another idea is some kind of drying cabinet heated by venting a food dehydrator through it.

[Bill]

@ozindfw

They can, but then this blocks them for their intended use for hours at a time.

This is also a slippery slope. While most clays are not an issue, non-food use opens them up to other non-food. This is why that they were restricted to food use only the last time the galley toaster oven was replaced in May.

These would be dedicated to candling pottery in the winter months.

Nobody but you even hinted at using the one in the galley.

[Bill]

@ozindfw

And if you ask the Metal shop chair nicely he might even consent to the use of the big oven.

What is the temperature range of that one?

[John_Marlow]

@ozindfw

And if you ask the Metal shop chair nicely he might even consent to the use of the big oven.

But if that happens, recognize that Metal shop isn’t going to have a dedicated team to load and unload that oven like the Ceramics team does with the kiln.

The person doing the candling would likely have to commit to showing up at a specific time to clear out of the oven so as to not prevent Metal Shop from using it.

[ozindfw]

@John_Marlow

The person doing the candling would likely have to commit to

And like most other things, leave a sign with contact information and when it should be done and can be moved.

[mreynolds]

We have two ovens in CA, I will bring one over to Ceramics later this week if ya’ll want it @AnnaMarie @jamierazzz

[AnnaMarie]

I was specifically mentioning the candling method to do at home, since many of us bring our items home to do this method. I feel that members are responsible of their own pieces and equipment being used at DMS, and if they can’t dry their pieces, the kiln team just won’t fire them.

Also, ceramics has literally no space to put anything anywhere, but thank your for the kind offer for the ovens!

[ozindfw]

@Bill

Nobody but you even hinted at using the one in the galley.

True, but it’s the one oven that almost everyone seems to know, and there’s history there. Seemed worth a mention.

[ozindfw]

@Bill

What is the temperature range of that one?

It will go higher, but I know it will go to 400F because I’ve used it there. It’s an electronic control, so the bottom is whatever the room is.

Tho old galley oven that was retired because of non food use is also in the powder coat area. I doing know for sure, but think it’s upper limit is 500F.

[Bill]

@ozindfw

@Bill

What is the temperature range of that one?

It will go higher, but I know it will go to 400F because I’ve used it there. It’s an electronic control, so the bottom is whatever the room is.

Tho old galley oven that was retired because of non food use is also in the powder coat area. I doing know for sure, but think it’s upper limit is 500F.

The critical number is the low end of the temperature range.

If wet pottery is heated above the boiling point, steam can cause the piece to “explode.” That is why everybody is talking about 180/200 degrees.

[Monikat]

Potters,

The main point here is that you’ll need to find a way and the time to candle your pieces that are thick or built more solid than not, especially in winter when there is humidity in the air.

This process ensures your piece will not crack, break, or explode and not damage other potters work or the kilns.

Candle means that your thick/solid piece is run in a 180/200 degree oven for several hours to dry it completely and throughout your entire piece.

Thank you, Kiln team and your fellow Potters