Updates to the Instruction Manual
The Instruction Manual for Hadar’s Clay has been updated. The date marked on the title page is March 22, 2013.
There is only one main change, but it affects different parts of the Instruction Manual, especially the quick-reference firing schedules.
Since the different options for performing phase 1 (pre-firing) seemed to be confusing, there are now only two options:
1. Pre-firing on stove top with pieces resting on carbon but not covered by it;
2. Pre-firing in the kiln with pieces resting on carbon but not covered by it.
No more pre-firing for two hours in the kiln inside carbon. This method does not seem to have any advantages over the options mentioned above. Its disadvantages are:
1. It requires a long firing process;
2. Even with 2 hours inside carbon there is no telling whether the binder did or did not burn off completely.
Reminder: White Bronze and Low-shrinkage Steel XT do not require pre-firing.
March 21st, 2013 at 4:54 pm
So the prefiring in the Kiln is not for 2 hours but until they smoke and then for an additional 15 minutes? Is that correct? This is good news.!
March 21st, 2013 at 5:34 pm
Hadar,
I’m not certain how long to pre-fire in the kiln, since two hours is no longer necessary. Think I read it somewhere, but can’t remember. Thanks!
March 21st, 2013 at 6:52 pm
Ro, Yes. Pre-fire on top of the carbon, even with the kiln door open, until all smoke is gone and pieces are black. Additional 15 minutes will help but don’t exceed one hour.
March 21st, 2013 at 6:53 pm
Georgie, Stove top is better, but in the kiln it’s the same deal: wait until the smoke is gone and pieces are black. Then you know the binder is gone.
March 21st, 2013 at 7:27 pm
Hadar…the new manual says Mid-fire in muffle kilns is now 1510 degrees??
Is this new or a typo? :). Thanks!!
March 21st, 2013 at 7:49 pm
Hadar, I have tried burning out the binder in the kiln on top of the carbon twice. The first time it worked great but the second time one of the three pieces (a slightly curved bracelet component) cracked almost in half with additional cracks along the surface. The side that was resting on the carbon was very cracked but the side exposed to the air looked fine. I’m not sure what to change to prevent this from happening next time. Thanks!
March 22nd, 2013 at 1:16 am
There is a small mistake in temperature conversion in the Quick Reference Table, Mid-Fire Schedule, 1460F is 793C, not 890C. 🙂
March 22nd, 2013 at 7:38 am
Thank you! it’s all corrected now.
March 22nd, 2013 at 7:40 am
Kelly, It’s not a typo: 1510 for muffle, 1460 for brick.
March 22nd, 2013 at 7:41 am
Kerry, I would position the curved links on their side. It will also prevent them from flattening.
March 22nd, 2013 at 9:48 am
It use to be 1520…when did it change?? I’ve been firing bronze at 1520 this entire week. Oops!
March 22nd, 2013 at 12:23 pm
Hadar, when I download your Instruction Manual from either your website or your blog, the date on the cover page is February 11, 2013, not March 22, 2013. Am I doing something wrong?
March 23rd, 2013 at 8:04 am
Kelly, I guess you misses an update. It changed with the introduction of Brilliant Bronze, which requires 10F lower. It turns out that 1510 works fine for all mid-fire clays.
March 23rd, 2013 at 8:06 am
Ron, I just opened it from the blog, and it says March 22.