Before starting the glaze firing process, a little planning can significantly reduce errors. It's recommended to begin by loading pieces with lighter glazes first. Always keep a clean cloth nearby to wipe your hands, especially after handling pieces with dark glazes, to prevent dark glazes from smudging lighter pieces.
Always check the readiness of kiln shelves.
Before loading your pieces into the kiln, check if the kiln shelves have been cleaned of old glaze residues from the previous firing. If there are still glaze residues, they can not only contaminate new pieces but also damage the kiln shelves. If you find glaze drips, you can remove them with a tool, scrape them with a sharpening stone, or fill holes and smooth the shelf surface with Kiln Wash before placing new pieces.
Proper placement of kiln posts and spacing.
When setting up shelves in the kiln, position the kiln posts in a triangular formation (two posts at the left and right corners, and one in the middle of the opposite side) to ensure optimal balance. Make sure the lowest shelf is at least 1 inch from the kiln floor to allow for even air and heat circulation throughout the kiln. Importantly! While placing shelves or arranging pieces, be careful not to hit or damage the Thermocouple.
The golden rule of glaze firing: No touching, no stacking!
A key difference between bisque firing and glaze firing is that glazed pieces must not be stacked or touch each other under any circumstances. There must be sufficient spacing between all pieces. Therefore, glaze firing requires more space than usual. And don't forget to wipe your hands after touching each piece to prevent glaze contamination.
Increase accuracy with temperature cones.
For accurate glaze firing results and desired colors, place Pyrometric Cones inside the firing chamber. The ideal position is at the mid-height of the kiln. If possible, placing more than two cones will help assess the heat distribution in the kiln more accurately.
Setting up subsequent shelves and carefully closing the kiln lid.
Before handling shelves, wear gloves to clean any dust and debris on them to prevent particles from falling onto the pieces below. Once the bottom shelf is fully loaded, arrange the kiln posts for the next shelf directly above the lower shelf's posts to distribute the weight stably onto the kiln floor. Be careful not to press or bump the kiln bricks. Then arrange the pieces similarly, leaving at least 1 inch of space between the topmost pieces and the kiln lid. Once arranged, carefully close the kiln lid to prevent dust or brick fragments from falling and contaminating the pieces.
After firing is complete, and important notes.
After firing is complete and it's time to unload the kiln, you might hear occasional "pinging" sounds. Don't worry; this sound is caused by rapid cooling or hot glazed glass contracting as it comes into contact with the cooler air around the piece. And most importantly, never forget to keep a Kiln Log, noting details of the loading process, arrangement, temperature, and the entire firing process. This will serve as a reference and help improve subsequent firings perfectly.