grant465•3mo ago

Tbh, my color frit kept turning muddy for like 3 months straight

Turns out my kiln was cooling way too fast. Anyone else fixed this by just adding an extra hour to the annealing cycle?

3 comments

3 Comments

henry_webb683mo ago

Check if your kiln's cooling fan is set too high?

adam_anderson63mo ago

Good point from @henry_webb68. A fan on high can cool the outside too fast while the inside is still hot, which is asking for trouble. That thermal shock can cause cracks or even make pieces break. I always run mine on the lowest setting for the whole cool down. It takes longer but everything comes out in one piece. Rushing the last step can ruin a whole firing.

betty_reed612mo ago

My old Skutt 1027 manual actually says to keep the fan on low until it hits 300 degrees. I learned that the hard way after a big platter cracked right down the middle. Now I just set a timer and leave it alone, even if it adds a couple hours. That slow cool down makes all the difference for my thicker pieces.