Kiln Flashcards
Kiln
A Furnace designed specifcally for heating clay to the temperature necessary to make it permanently hard and stone like. Kilns can be electric, natural gas, wood, coal, fuel, oil, or propane. Materials used to heat the kiln can affect the work: wood ash can build up on the surfaces of a piece and form a glaze at high temperatures. Some potters introduce chemicals into the kiln to influence the effects of the firing. Famed ceramist Beatrice Woods acheived a luster effect by throwing moth balls into the kiln.
Element
The heating coil of an electric kiln. (Tired of burned-out elements refer to elements which carry too little or no electrical current for producing heat.)
Glaze
Glass-forming chemicals, usually with colorants added, that applied in liquid form to bisque ware and fired in a kiln, form a pleasing, usually glossy coating to thesurface of the clay. Glaze can be colored, opaque, translucent, or matte.
Conditioning Coat
(Glaze or Underglaze): Is a thin coat of color that will soak into the greenware or bisque ware.
Gloss
A Shiny, glass-like finish.
Kiln Wash
The refractory coating applied to the top of the kiln shelves to protect them from glaze drips.
Leather-hard
Greenware that is allowed to become firm but still retains its wet look.
Matte
A soft finish with little or no shine.
Opaque
Color which does not allow other colors to show through.
Peep Holes
(Vent Holes) Small holes in the side of a kiln used for viewing shelf cones and ventilating the kiln during the firing process.
Pin Holes
Tiny holes in the final surface finish of a glaze or underglaze.
Posts
Articles made of refractory material which supports kiln shelves during firing.
Semi-Matte
A Satin-like surface which has a slight sheen to it.
Semi-Opaque
Colors which generally only allow dark colors to show through.
Semi-Transparent
Slightly colored and/or speckled colors which allows most colors to show through with only slight distortions.
