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Preventing Uneven Bowl Slumping
This is part four of a
multi-part tip on preventing uneven bowl slumping. Click here to go to part one.
Sometimes, despite all your efforts, you peek in the kiln and the
bowl has slumped unevenly. There's a way to do something about
this, but it's not for the meek.
You'll need a pair of gloves that can withstand slumping
temperatures, a good pair of safety glasses to protect your eyes
from infrared radiation, and the courage to reach inside a hot kiln.
If your kiln door has a kill switch (the switch automatically cuts power
to the elements when the door opens), you can reach into the kiln
without fear of touching the elements and getting shocked (or
worse). If your kiln doesn't have a kill switch (or if you're
not sure), then the safest thing to do is to cut off the kiln.
Then, with the gloves on, and wearing the safety glasses, reach
into the kiln and pick up the loaded mold. Now shake it around
to center the blank. This will work easily with a ball-shaped
mold like a wok, but it can also work with more complicated shapes.
Remember to move quickly, then place the mold back in the kiln and
continue firing.
Sometimes it not necessary to totally remove the loaded mold, and
you can gently nudge the glass into place. But whatever method
you use, be sure to move quickly and with all the appropriate safety
equipment.
Click here for the final
section of this tip -- what to do if all else fails and you
end up with a piece that slumps crooked.
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Copyright 2006 Brad Walker.
All rights reserved.
Thanks to Brock Craig for this
tip, sometimes known as the "Craig shuffle."
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