Cheap Kiln Furniture/Bodging??

[cezerpringle]

I hope I'm putting this in the right Section!

Right, I have a stall coming up at a fair and want to make some coasters, however, all I have furniture wise is 1 kiln shelf, no props or anything and I'm thinking it makes sense to stack it all whilst running a program.

However, I am one skint puppy and have like £0 (or I suppose I could spare something but not much!) available for kiln furniture!
I was wondering if I could use something else for shelves like ceramic tiles, is there anything bodgy I could use for props?

I'm only really thinking it might be possible due to the mesh idea for lampwork - though obviously I can't fuse glass on mesh!

Alternatively does anyone know anywhere I can get kiln furniture for virtually nowt?

Thanks
Ceri

[Sulis (Hazel)]

Hi Ceri,

What type of kiln are you using? I've always believed that you shouldn't stack fused pieces, as they need to be fired very evenly.

If you're new to fusing, there are a couple of good books I'd recommend which should give you plenty of guidance.

As for kiln shelves, I've never used anything other than proper shelves. I think ceramic tiles may not fare too well for repeat firings, but I could be wrong.

[cezerpringle]

Hiya, I'm using an SC2 it's at least comforting to hear your suggestion of no stacking, I thought by not stacking I was being very uneconomical... Also, I think I worked out t'other day it's about £1 to run the kiln overnight. I don't suppose that's too bad really but I think I'd need to do 2 runs for 4 coasters which is an additional £2 on each set...

Sure, book suggestions would be great, I've done a fair bit but it's always worth learning more!

Thanks
Ceri

[Sulis (Hazel)]

Hi Ceri,

For fusing books - Warm Glass by Philippa Beveridge, Ignasi Domenech and Eva Pascual (Lark Books) is a good start 

Lark books are great!

[cezerpringle]

Thanks! for the suggestions

Just went to go check! it wont even take 2 coasters! grrrr!

What I've done before though is fused in the normal way but then flash cooled to above annealing temp in order to pop in a load of beads but the beads have to be warmed! grrr if it's 4 odd pounds per set of coasters that's a huge amount of dosh!

GRRR lol

Ceri

[Flippopotamus]

Hi Ceri,
Are you sure that when you measured the consumption you weren't running the washing machine/dishwasher/electric shower/hairdryer/kettle/toaster at the same time?  I tried measuring consumption for my SC2 and found it negligible (i.e. didn't seem any different to usual household usage).  I now have a much larger kiln & that's definitely measurable (I don't like to look at the meter when it's firing!), but still only about £1.50 per firing.

But you're right about the coasters - it's irritatingly not-quite-big-enough for more than one is it?  If it was just a couple of cm larger each side you could fire 4 at once.....

Cheers,
Flip

[cezerpringle]

Well, I'm only going on what a friend worked out... I'm useless with electric! The manual said I think 1300 watts.. so therefore I'm thinking 1kw/h which works out at about 5 kwh for a fuse (I think) and at 5p a unit hang on! His maths has gone very wrong there! Ok, feel better now then... I have now bought some new shelves but didn't have enough for props (as the shop on ebay didn't have them).
What I'm thinking is since you can put steel mesh in with mandrels in order to anneal lampwork I might try making a shelf rest outta some I have...

Anyone have a big reason I can't do this a few times feel free to let me know... the deal is I have a sale next sat and want to make a few coaster sets and in this weather I don't want it on that much lol.

Thanks
Ceri

[Zeldazog]

Even if your kiln was a 3Kw kiln, it wouldn't use 3Kw per hour for the full fusing schedule -

Think about it, what's the first ramp up, I'd guess you'd be going at say 266 degrees per hour - about 20% of full rate ish.

It only uses it's full kilowattage (is that even a word) when it's going full pelt.  Even the fusing hold at top temperature, it is unlikely to be using full power - as all it has to do is hold the temperature there.

I don't know about the SC2, with it being a fibre kiln they are less efficient (holding heat wise) than brick kilns, but my Hot Start Pro (which fits four coasters sorry  ), used less than 5kwhs for a FULL firing schedule - that was measured doing float glass, so a little hotter than bullseye, and a decent length soak.  And that's an 1800watt kiln.

I take it with extra shelves and mesh supports planned (no reason why not, so long as your shelf is nice and level), you are thinking of doing two at a time - so I would suggest that the best way to do this is fire ALL of *a set* in the same place so they get the same heat work.

By this, I mean, say you make a blue set of four and red set of four. Always put the blue on one shelf and the red on the other, and stick to the same shelf position each time (if blue was on top first time, make it the same placing for the subsequent three firings, so you've fired four blue on top shelf, and four red all on bottom shelf for example).

That way, if there is a difference (and there could/most likely will be) in the level of fusing, at least the set will match - so if your top coasters are more rounded than the bottom ones, it doesn't matter, as they all will be.  Am I making any sense??

Oh, and the other thing to remember, is don't assume everybody wants coasters in sets of four. I've sold a few pairs and singles...

[cezerpringle]

Ok thanks for replying so quickly and so detailedly... ok, I get what you mean... however, I can only fire one coaster on the same shelf so if I understand what you're saying, if I'm making 2 sets one red and one blue then I fire 2 at a time (on on bottom shelf one on the top shelf) and so if I fire blue on the bottom and red on the top, next time I should do blue on the bottom and red at the top the next firing (I'm not sure I'm explaining it well).

I do fully take on board what you mean about singles and doubles... I will certainly do that!

Just slightly unsure on price at the moment!
Ah well, back to babysitting
Ceri

[Zeldazog]

Yup, you got it Ceri

Theoretically, if something is fired in the same shelf position, on the same schedule, using the same glass and kiln and all circumstances the same (as in two shelves, not sometimes two sometimes one on its own on bottom, as this will give a different result again) - then the level of fusing will be the same.

Certainly you'll get more consistency of finish if you fire four times with the blue set always on the bottom and the red set always on the top, than if you fire two blues at once, followed by another two blues, followed by two reds, two reds.  Do it the latter way, and you'll more than likely get a difference.  Fire four consecutive firings in same position and results should be consistent - hope that all makes sense!

[cezerpringle]

It really does make sense, thanks.

So far I made one fritty/pink one to test but I've been thinking about making frit powder into "paint" with clove oil, which I have heard works quite well and painting a design on (with the template underneath).

We'll see if it works lol

Ceri

[Margram]

I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with Ceri . I tried fusing two shelves of pendants in my SC3, and some of the ones on the bottom shelf only tack fused due to not 'seeing' the heat. Not altogether a failure, as this can be a good look, too. I think I'll give this another go...

[Pat from Canvey]

I've found that terracotta works well for kiln furniture too. Small pots can be used as props and of course large pots are used for pot melts. My local building supply place sells terracotta in all shapes and sizes including flat pieces I've cut up and used as dams when making a large fused piece. Broken flower pots are good for curved shapes if moulds are too expensive and I have used a sandblasted dinner plate in the past to slump glass into when experimenting. This was all done in my larger ceramic kiln which is now ancient but still works well.

[Lee - Kilncare]

Even if your kiln was a 3Kw kiln, it wouldn't use 3Kw per hour for the full fusing schedule -

Think about it, what's the first ramp up, I'd guess you'd be going at say 266 degrees per hour - about 20% of full rate ish.

It only uses it's full kilowattage (is that even a word) when it's going full pelt.  Even the fusing hold at top temperature, it is unlikely to be using full power - as all it has to do is hold the temperature there.

I don't know about the SC2, with it being a fibre kiln they are less efficient (holding heat wise) than brick kilns, but my Hot Start Pro (which fits four coasters sorry  ), used less than 5kwhs for a FULL firing schedule - that was measured doing float glass, so a little hotter than bullseye, and a decent length soak.  And that's an 1800watt kiln.

;)Quality answer as always

[Wibbly Wobbly Glass]

Ceri,
the only thing to keep an eye on with the SC2 and coasters, well any fusing really is that the SC2 only heats on 3 sides and it's coolest near the door just keep an eye on how the pieces are developing and I'd certainly suggest at good few test firngs to see how the SC2 operates i9n fusing mode. Superb kiln for annealing beads and also enamelling.
HTH