June 19th
We prep for a kiln firing tomorrow. Kiln #1 is the perfect load. A gas kiln because the circulation of the atmosphere is the best for drying the thin slabs. These 3 mm slabs dry so fast that by the day’s end, the 1st slab of the day is bone dry. We’re wondering if the elevator that carries the carts up from the ground floor is too rough a ride for the slabs. I rode down, even persons are verboten – it is dark inside {no problem there} but the jolt at the start and the landing are not too soft. How do we know if the slabs will survive. It think if we put the cart on rubber or a foam float this should work. {there is a sign – “no delicate work” on the outside of the lift.
Then the next kiln is not til 6/27; one week. Hopefully we will have success with this series of slabs. Other ideas would be to mix the dry bone china with 50/50mix of oil and alcohol to replace water as a binder. This could be problematic, if the alcohol evaporates over time?
Experiments today are best covered by photo’s. We’re set for the feel of perfect water ratio – almost too sticky to handle. Then we learned the interfacing in critical to holding the slab vertically when we transfer it to the kiln shelf. One of the Inside slabs fell onto the shelf – crumpled completed in a folded section. Spread it out – to see the effect to “dropping” the slab on the cracking upon exposure to heat.
Now to set up for posting – before dinner the weeks writing and photo journaling. It is glorious sunny evening, but I’ve been working to find time to post the blog – as this is a new rhythm to the days, for the past four or five days.
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