WarmGlass.com

Thank you all for your input on buying a kiln. Now one more question before I take the plunge. Can I slump more than one mold in a Skutt Clamshell (20" shelf) or Skutt 1014 (22" shelf)? Will have side elements blocked from one mold cause a significant problem? Will location in a element top only kiln also cause a problem for multiple molds? Should just get a bigger kiln?
Thank you.

the # of molds you can slump in one load depends upon the size of the molds (floor space) and heat schedules each mold needs. some molds need very little and some need a lot of heatwork. if you use both in the same load, will one be overfired and the other underfired?

I have always places as many molds in my kiln as possible. As long as you are an inch or so away from the walls/elements, you should be fine. If your molds are unusually thick or heavy, I would fire up slowly, like 150 degrees per hour.

I saw this photo the other day and made a note of it to remind me that I could slump student work this way. I believe this was taken from a Patty Gray class.

Valerie Adams wrote:I saw this photo the other day and made a note of it to remind me that I could slump student work this way. I believe this was taken from a Patty Gray class.

molds.jpg

Yep, that's a Patty Gray class

Dana W.

Valerie Adams wrote:I saw this photo the other day and made a note of it to remind me that I could slump student work this way.

The reason this works is that the molds are very gentle, with only a short drop. They're also molds that can stand being overfired or held at a long time at slumping temperature. And they're all the same mold.

If your molds are deeper or steeper, this kind of kiln loading will probably be problematical.

In my experience low temperature slumps (~605º C) are problematic when 'shading' lower pieces from the top elements (when only top elements are on). Same goes for placing slumping molds on stacks of shelves.