I usually do most of my firing at night to take advantage of lower electric rate. Having a computerized electric kiln makes this doable, but still the night firings have their drawbacks. I rarely sleep well, knowing I have extreme heat going on in my garage and not totally trusting the programmed kiln to do what it's supposed to do when I'm removed from it. I still use cones, as I want to have that control at the end of the firing to make the decision myself. Sunday night I timed it so the lid, when the kiln reached 1000 degrees, would need to be closed at 3:30 AM. (Prior to this temperature the lid is propped open to allow moisture and organic stuff to burn off and escape the kiln.) So I got up, trekked downstairs and out to the garage, did my thing, went back to bed, and couldn't sleep because this song got stuck on permanent rewind in my head. A friend sent this to me several years ago. She was going to a series of concerts in Columbus, Ohio and the promoters sent this recording of one of the bands that was performing.
"Grace" by Saving Jane
Normally I can put myself to sleep by singing the alphabet song in my head. I tried, but this one kept knocking it out.
Made a few more cookie stamps yesterday. On the last market day before the fire I noticed I was getting low on some of these and made some replacements. I just realized that now I need to replace the ones lost in the fire too.
Bisque kiln is ready to unload, but before I get to glazing I want to do some outside work- get some plants put in.
Love the redwood color of the bowl at the top. Are the cookie stamps for cookies or for clay or both?
I thought our electric rates were less at night but turns out they are the same, although in summer it's much better for me to fire at night due to the heat from the garage wicking into our home.
That bowl is glazed with Randy's Red cone 6. I like it too. The cookie stamps are for cookie dough. I include a recipe when I sell them. I hope I'm not wrong about the electric rate- an executive with our electric co. told us several years ago that the rates were lower in the evening. He and his wife only did laundry after 6:00 PM for that reason. He retired and they've moved away so I suppose I should recheck that info.
Hm, are you sure about the temperature for propping the kiln? I do this at 600 degrees, sometimes lower.. What is the toptemp at your bisquefire? I do 900 degrees for lowfire and 1000 degrees highfire. I know they have lower electric rate at night in countrys like Denmark and Holland,but we don,t here in Norway though-in fact is the electric rate very high. We pay between 3-5000 Norvegian krones montly for the household incl ceramic-kiln-and the highest price during wintertime when it,s cold and everyone use much electricity...
Tone and Linda, Are we talking about the difference between Celcius and Farenheit? 600 degrees C = 1112 degrees F. I fire cone 6 ware and my bisque temp. goes to cones 05 to 04. My end temp for this last bisque was 1880 degrees F which equals 1027 C. Honestly, I don't know how accurate my temperature read out is which is another reason I like to use cones. Linda, I'm going by the manual also. And, I don't have the downdraft vent, if that makes a difference.
I have an old rolling pin with designs carved into it. Now I can't remember the name of the cookies you make with them. Kind of a hard cookie with anise flavor, I think. I tried it out when I was a kid and my mother was around to tell me what recipe to use.
Love the redwood color of the bowl at the top. Are the cookie stamps for cookies or for clay or both?
ReplyDeleteI thought our electric rates were less at night but turns out they are the same, although in summer it's much better for me to fire at night due to the heat from the garage wicking into our home.
That bowl is glazed with Randy's Red cone 6. I like it too. The cookie stamps are for cookie dough. I include a recipe when I sell them. I hope I'm not wrong about the electric rate- an executive with our electric co. told us several years ago that the rates were lower in the evening. He and his wife only did laundry after 6:00 PM for that reason. He retired and they've moved away so I suppose I should recheck that info.
DeleteHm, are you sure about the temperature for propping the kiln? I do this at 600 degrees, sometimes lower..
ReplyDeleteWhat is the toptemp at your bisquefire? I do 900 degrees for lowfire and 1000 degrees highfire.
I know they have lower electric rate at night in countrys like Denmark and Holland,but we don,t here in Norway though-in fact is the electric rate very high. We pay between 3-5000 Norvegian krones montly for the household incl ceramic-kiln-and the highest price during wintertime when it,s cold and everyone use much electricity...
My Skutt manual said keep the lid propped for bisque and glaze loads till 1000 degrees and I fired that way each time.
ReplyDeleteTone and Linda,
ReplyDeleteAre we talking about the difference between Celcius and Farenheit? 600 degrees C = 1112 degrees F.
I fire cone 6 ware and my bisque temp. goes to cones 05 to 04. My end temp for this last bisque was 1880 degrees F which equals 1027 C. Honestly, I don't know how accurate my temperature read out is which is another reason I like to use cones.
Linda, I'm going by the manual also. And, I don't have the downdraft vent, if that makes a difference.
I love the way your cookie molds look all in a group, ready to go. They remind me of my mother's old wooden cookie molds.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog.
I have an old rolling pin with designs carved into it. Now I can't remember the name of the cookies you make with them. Kind of a hard cookie with anise flavor, I think. I tried it out when I was a kid and my mother was around to tell me what recipe to use.
DeleteThat song is so beautiful. Kate
ReplyDeleteYes, but not so much when you're trying to sleep.
DeleteYes, sorry-I,m talking about Celsius :) -Than I understand!
ReplyDeleteThat's O.K.,I should learn to specify Farenheit.
Delete