Its that Season -Don’t have a Meltdown.
Yes, it is fall and with it comes the busiest time of year for most ceramists. Don’t have a Melt Down! It doesn’t matter if you are making things for yourself, or working as a business and doing things for customers, the last two months of the year really keep those kilns burning.
Also, if you believe in Murphy’s Law, this is when your kiln will malfunction and the risk of a meltdown increases measurably.
Meltdowns are a ceramist’s nightmare. Besides being costly, they are heartbreaking. It never failed that when I suffered a kiln breakdown, it would be loaded with customer pieces that they had purchased elsewhere. Underfires are reparable, but man-o-man, those MELT-DOWNS!
I always guaranteed my production to the point that I would replace customer losses. If it were pieces that they purchased from me, the financial loss was minimal, but if they purchased elsewhere and I did not have the molds….OY VEY the dollars could amount up, especially with a BIG kiln load.
Unfortunately, nothing can replace all the time and love that someone has put into their creation.
Face it, NONE of us want a melt-down.
That brings me to the point of this posting. I strongly urge everyone, be it hobbyist or business, have a kiln maintenance check NOW, don’t wait until it is too late.
As a regular routine, my maintenance man knows to come check out my kiln every year - around Nov 1, replace parts that look over worn, clean it and calibrate the firing temp. It has always proven to be worthwhile expense. Face it, only a few things can go wrong with a kiln, but it is much better to be safe than sorry. Have your kiln checked today!
