Need tips

Chicksta's Hobby · #1 2013-05-21, 7:48am

Hey all been out of this for a while. Can some one tell me a good kiln ramp for 104...

and any other tips to remember and get back into torching

pattycake · #2 2013-05-21, 8:29am

I just got a new paragon kiln and had to call them, they suggested ramp up to 200 then for 104 glass 960, hold for as many hours as you think you might work, then they told me to ramp down to 400 then 200, would love to learn from others as well
1) for if you put in cold beads
2) a faster ramp um
3) ramp and hold temp for boro? thanks

marla0416 · #3 2013-05-21, 10:19am

I do a full ramp for cold beads. Haven't had a problem. I then hold for 1 hour at 970 F (annealing temp), then decrease temp to 850 F (strain temp) for 30 minutes, final decrease to 600 F over 1 hour then cool down to room temp. Got from a book. Found it to be the one that was used the most in glass books. (the hold times vary but I go for the maximum). Hope this makes sense?

marla0416 · #4 2013-05-21, 10:26am

PS. My beads are cooled in fiber blanket prior to kiln annealing.

Chicksta's Hobby · #5 2013-05-21, 11:27am

Thank you. That is what I remembered. My ramp is programmed like the following.

9999 to 960. Hold for 3 hours (only because I turn it on while im using it and place items in as i finish. then drop to 860. hold for an hour then it turns off to cool as it does. I have a champ xl from olympic.

Jamie

glass obsessed · #6 2013-05-21, 2:05pm

Jamie what you are doing is NOT what Maria0416 suggested. You need to make sure that you are annealing for at least 30 to 60 minutes before you drop down to 860. I know you said you have it on hold for 3 hours but . . . Start counting the annealing time after your last bead goes into the kiln and not from when you start.

Max Hardcastle · #7 2013-05-21, 7:06pm

My $.02

Try to think about the most ideal situation for annealing. The glass gets heated completely to 970 or whatever the golden temperature is (I think last time I annealed soft glass I did 960), all the way through, and then is slowly and evenly cooled to 850 - that's the most important range of temp. After that it doesn't matter as much but... the slower the better in all cases. I use a fiber blanket and then batch anneal my pieces in a closed kiln (no door) both to save electricity and to have stronger finished pieces. I hold at max temp for up to 3 hours sometimes (usually just for large sculpture). If you're doing beads the ramp settings marla suggested sounds perfect. I've never used that particular kiln controller but they all pretty much do the same thing.

Hope it helps!