[Clayart] Kiln spacing and heat dams

[Gail Dapogny]

Agree with Vince. At our guild , the pieces—high-fired—are about a quarter inch apart. Successful results.

Sent from my iPad

> On Nov 11, 2022, at 11:55 AM, vpitelka at dtccom.net wrote:
> 
> I have to agree with Paul here.  For a normal midrange or highfire oxidation or reduction firing, there is no reason for more than 1/8" clearance between the wares.  In a low-fire glaze-firing of bisque-fired wares, there will be very little shrinkage in the firing.  Many glazes bubble up a bit during the firing, and thus for low glaze-firing a bit more clearance is wise, perhaps 1/4".  But like Paul says, for a midrange or high-temperature glaze-firing, the wares will shrink considerably before the glazes become liquid, so very little clearance is necessary, and 1/8" is plenty.  
> 
> Atmospheric glaze-firing processes like salt, soda, and wood are a different matter, and more clearance is important to encourage circulation of gases and airborne particles among the wares.
> - Vince
> 
> Vince Pitelka
> Potter, Writer, Teacher
> Chapel Hill, NC
> vpitelka at dtccom.net
> www.vincepitelka.com 
> https://chathamartistsguild.org/ 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Clayart <clayart-bounces at lists.clayartworld.com> On Behalf Of Paul Lewing
> Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2022 10:47 PM
> To: Clayart international pottery discussion forum <clayart at lists.clayartworld.com>
> Subject: Re: [Clayart] Kiln spacing and heat dams
> 
> Sounds like a tremendous waste of space to me. I always put them as close together as I could get them. In fact shapes like bowls can even be touching when they go in. They’ll shrink apart as they fire. And they radiate more heat to each other if they’re close together.
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Nov 10, 2022, at 7:10 PM, Robert L. Johnson <impaladrive at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I have seen Mel proclaim, many times, that pots should be an inch 
>> apart in the kiln. Does that apply vertically, too? That is should the 
>> next shelf be an inch above the tallest pot below it?
>> 
>> Bob
>> Southern Oregon
>> . . . where the Fall Clayfolk Show will be showing on the weekend 
>> before
>> Thanksgiving: August 18, 19, & 20. See:
>> https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086640103044
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