Kiln Logs

[Krysia@No98]

Does any one else use these?

[GlassOcean]

What are they? 

[Krysia@No98]

LOL
I have just rang up Sean @ Off-Mandrel and he says that they are for people who slump glass and stuff.  Which  have no intention of doing intentionally for quite while.

But they are print outs that came with my kiln

[Zeldazog]

ROFL - a kiln log....... seriously.

Actually, seriously, I should, seeing as I am a fuser/slumper.  And I will definitely have to keep one for the current Uni project..... 

[Krysia@No98]

he he, I was thinking that I'd not heard any one mention them before!!

[Zeldazog]

They are very useful actually, especially if you're after different effects, or using a new glass, or a different combination of glass.

Where as with beads, all you're doing is annealing them, so there's no change.... with fusing, or slumping, etc, different glasses soften at different temperatures, even with a tested compatible range such as Bullseye.  Standard black for example softens much quicker than white or clear.

Then you might prefer a different degree of rounded-offness (word??)....  some colours might strike in the kiln more at higher temperatures or a longer soak.....

And then slumping....

So. They ARE really useful, its just me, I am haphazard!  And I figure if I don't like how it comes out, I can either re-fire it or grind it, etc.  But I haven't tried to repeat an exact copy of something else before, I prefer the randomness, that's assuming the kiln fairies have been kind....

[ejralph]

I find my kiln logs invaluable.

Not really for lampwork annealing - although I will log if I am trying out a new schedule, new glass or anything unusual that I want to keep a note of. Just not for basic sessions where nothing is out of the ordinary.

For fusing, metal clay work and especially ceramic work though I log everything. I am constantly referring back to the logs too. Mind you, a lot of my ceramic work is quite experimental all the time, so there is a lot of note taking throughout the processes not just the firing.

If you have never had a moment of "I wish I could remember...." about your kiln firing though, you probably don't need logs 

Emma

[Zeldazog]

Ah, Emma, you're so good!

I have kept them for gas reduction firings of ceramics at Uni (well you have to really), and did keep sort of logs when I did the fusing class.

I don't tend to have too many "I wish I could remember moments", although I have had a few, so I really should keep a log more often.  I even created one for myself, and probably printed a handful off somewhere....

[Krysia@No98]

ahh....  So when i expand my repotwa (SP!!!) It will come into it's own.

Do you have a book or do you photo copy the sheets?

[GlassOcean]

Oh I see a kiln log (diary?) not a kiln log (bit of tree!)   

[ejralph]

I just knocked myself up a little form in word.

I have a bit to note the firing schedule, what I am doing. An area for comments about the firing - simple stuff like if I used one shelf or two, if I had the lid propped open to a certain temp, all that sort of stuff. And a bit for notes and observations once the firing has occured - ie it, did everything come out pants again?

Too many times I forget to fill that bit in - so I know what I did and when, but not if it were any blinking good or not ;-)

Emma

[ejralph]

Oh I see a kiln log (diary?) not a kiln log (bit of tree!)   

I must admit, I wondered that too at first ;-)

Emma

[Flyingcheesetoastie]

Log....I have a kiln bible!  Although actually most of it I keep in my head and just naturally know how to apply it, but for casting and things I write it all down as there are so many variables each time that change a programme.

I don't have a form but I always write down both the rate and the ramp time, that way I can work out how long each firing will take.  I also always to a sketch of how the contents looked pre-firing and take photos as best I can.  This is invaluable for troubleshooting as if something doesn't work you can usually work out straight away whether it's you, the programme or the material that's to blame!

[Kaz]

Oh I see a kiln log (diary?) not a kiln log (bit of tree!)   

Me too Kerensa - thought it was something to do with all that weird PMC firing in a box thing
Kazx

[Krysia@No98]

Oh I see a kiln log (diary?) not a kiln log (bit of tree!)   

Me too Kerensa - thought it was something to do with all that weird PMC firing in a box thing
Kazx

LOL and there was me thinking It was just me having a day of miss reading things!!