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Hello Everybody! I am getting a new fiber kiln from Denver Glass. The inside dimensions are 60" long 30" wide and 12" deep. It also will have a vent. Oh and it's a clamshell. My concerns are fusing schedules. I know that you can ramp down much faster, but what about the ramping up and hold segments? I've been fusing for years and have always used a kiln with firebrick. Any help would be most appreciated.

The kiln will ramp down much faster... that doesn't mean that YOU can ramp your glass down much faster .

Your firing schedules will depend more upon the glass project than the kiln. Keep in mind that in that big of a kiln, if you are doing very large pieces, there will be more chance of temperature variance across the glass. Thus, you are going to need to ramp more slowly and control your cooling more closely to avoid thermal shocking the glass.

2 cents,

Dana W.

Program in identical annealing schedules as you always would have, but I wouldn't suggest turning off the controller at 700, I program down to 300. The controller will take care of following along or shutting off. When it comes to your heatwork, it might be different. You can always slow down, or change temperatures, or soak longer. You will find that fiber kilns give you a lot more options, and you can do everything you are used to and more.

The big deal with fiber kilns is that you pay less to heat them up and they cool faster for you, at the bottom of the firing. The controller can make the temp what it is programmed to be, until it still can't cool fast enough.