So the kiln ran like a champ, just the way a kiln is suppose to do. It was so awesomely nice not to have to go out and turn dials for the kiln every 2 hours give or take and even more awesome that I could tell what temperature it was with a glance at the digital readout.
Computer controlled kilns its good for what ails ya. Everything survived the kiln but with the starting of my real job as an art teacher this week, I haven't been able to do anything but look at the pretty pots. However tomorrow that is all to change, I will spend the time mixing some glazes, glazing some pots and loading up my brand new to me computer controlled kiln and even get in some rakuing. Then hopefully on Monday morning when I have to deal with kids I will have a new giant coffee mug to at least keep me semi sane.
Till next time keep your hands muddy and burn some dirt.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Power, power and more power.
I kind of feel like Tim Allen's character on Home Improvement right now. They came out and plugged my studio into that big electrical cord on the road and all I have to say is omg. I have spent the last 4 years running my shop off of a 40 amp 220 volt line from my house, yes not exactly ideal especially when running my small kiln was all I could do, no wheel throwing, no welding nothing when running the kiln. And now....hee hee, I now have 200 amp service straight to the shop..More power, ugh ugh ugh..or however you spell happy grunting sounds.
So to test out this new power my electrician and I decided to turn the 8.0 cubic ft kiln, the small 2 cubic ft kiln, the 4 foot shop fan, all the lights and the wheel all at the same time and it ran like a dream. Can you say AWESOME? I can and was even chanting it.
Well you say what have you done with all that power? I will tell you... nothing until 4:30 today when I finally finished loading my big kiln and turned her on. It was so nice to just keep putting more and more pieces in there, I have gone from 8 firings to 1. Now we get to see how long it will take for the kiln to fire and how much power it will use to figure out the power usage, which we all know equals money output, but I do believe that the electrical cost per piece should drop significantly thus increasing profit. Yes I said profit because one day it would be nice to make my living just from my artwork. Fingers crossed yes one day it shall happen.
That's all I have to ramble about today, no need even to think about going fishing.
So to test out this new power my electrician and I decided to turn the 8.0 cubic ft kiln, the small 2 cubic ft kiln, the 4 foot shop fan, all the lights and the wheel all at the same time and it ran like a dream. Can you say AWESOME? I can and was even chanting it.
Well you say what have you done with all that power? I will tell you... nothing until 4:30 today when I finally finished loading my big kiln and turned her on. It was so nice to just keep putting more and more pieces in there, I have gone from 8 firings to 1. Now we get to see how long it will take for the kiln to fire and how much power it will use to figure out the power usage, which we all know equals money output, but I do believe that the electrical cost per piece should drop significantly thus increasing profit. Yes I said profit because one day it would be nice to make my living just from my artwork. Fingers crossed yes one day it shall happen.
That's all I have to ramble about today, no need even to think about going fishing.
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