Today my apprentice Gemma Farrell got her first look inside of the control panel of my L&L Kiln. I really feel it’s important that my apprentices know every aspect of the pottery business, plus walk away from the two years with great pots. Gemma already has the great pots, (which I will show off in the next post.) She just needs the biz end of it… the part they don’t teach you in art school.
It was definitely time to change the element wires and the thermocouples. How did I know this you might ask… well the first sign is that the element wires are starting to grey and flatten in areas… but still work. The most notable reason to change them now, is that the kiln is taking longer and longer to fire… a sure sign it’s going to break down soon. The other reason to really, really change them now is that I do not have a big show coming up this month. It seems that kilns tend to break down in the middle of a firing, right before an important show or the holiday season! My next big show is the pottery trail at the end of April… and I better have the kiln heathly for all the firings coming up!
Whew, take a look at that old thermocouple compared to what it looks like new… won’t be long before that’s a goner. It’s been over a hundred firings… when that time comes along I know it’s time to take a look at them!
Great experience for her. And that kiln will be firing like new!
I am happy to find so many interesting information here in the post.