Stupid question # 438

[suzanne]

Alright.
I figured out my kiln, I figured out the controler, and it all works like a charm.

I turned the kiln on, and it reached working temp in just the blink of an eye. I made a bead...opened the kiln ( shit... you need two hands to open it, it shuts quite tight, so mandrel and red hot glowing bead in my mounth) . I grab my extra large tweezers so I can put my bead in there.

HOT!!!!! I threw the bead in there... so it looks real ugly now.

How do you put your beads in your kiln without burning your hands ( and I did not even touch the walls!
Do I need some kind of glove?

[Lizabeads]

Alright.
I figured out my kiln, I figured out the controler, and it all works like a charm.

I turned the kiln on, and it reached working temp in just the blink of an eye. I made a bead...opened the kiln ( shit... you need two hands to open it, it shuts quite tight, so mandrel and red hot glowing bead in my mounth) . I grab my extra large tweezers so I can put my bead in there.

HOT!!!!! I threw the bead in there... so it looks real ugly now.

How do you put your beads in your kiln without burning your hands ( and I did not even touch the walls!
Do I need some kind of glove?
YES !! You need some kelvar gloves, or welding gloves... I've also worn leather and used the hemastats to stick it in...lol :waving:

[suzanne]

See.... I knew something was missing when I stuck my hand in there ( not entirely but far enough to feel the imense heat!) I wonder how that must feel at the glory hole:S:D

[MikeAurelius]

lol - a glory hole is about 2400 degrees! And believe it or not, a furnace of molten glass at 2100 degrees feels even hotter - it's the mass and the larger radiating surface.

But yah - get a glove.

Here's a good habit to get into - it will sound silly if you work alone in the studio, but if/when you ever take a class the habit will serve you in good stead.

When you are ready to go to the kiln, say out loud "Hot Bead".

Go to the kiln. Transfer the mandrel to your left hand (if you are right handed). Put on the glove. Transfer the mandrel back to the right hand. Open door with left, slide bead mandrel in with right hand...you get the idea.

But getting into the habit of saying "Hot Bead" will let other people know to get the hell out of the way, especially important in a multi-person studio or class.

[suzanne]

Now that is cleaver, thanks for the tip

[Corinne - GOC]

I was almost not using my kiln because of the heat ...

On my kiln, there is a little handle that sticks off to the side ... IT gets hot too.

So I tied a rag (actually a knit "sleeve" protector I bought for the purpose of being able to open the kiln ... SO didn't work, when I went to "peek" in the kiln to check the state of fusing (as I was told to do) they would literally smoke!!) to the handle. I now have a 6-10" flexible "handle" to open the kiln without discomfort. I then found a HUGE pair of needle nose pliers ... about 10-12" long that are serrated and honking enough I can hold the very end of a mandrel and it is completely secure. So the routine is:

Kiln on the left side (I am right handed)

Put the mandrel in the right hand; grab the pliers with left hand
Put end of mandrel in pliers ... now holding pliers in left hand with mandrel in the jaws
Use right hand to pull up on my kiln "handle"
Place bead in kiln ... hands still well outside kiln because of honking pliers
Close kiln

Hey Mike, sounds like I will now be calling out "hot bead" too!! ... My husband will now think I am even crazier!!!

[kimberly]

lol - a glory hole is about 2400 degrees! And believe it or not, a furnace of molten glass at 2100 degrees feels even hotter - it's the mass and the larger radiating surface.



But at least it's a DRY heat!!!!

[Dale M.]

Alright.
opened the kiln ( shit... you need two hands to open it, it shuts quite tight, so mandrel and red hot glowing bead in my mounth) .


Another thing is to see why kiln door is so tight... IT should open freely with one hand... Maybe some modifications are in order....

Dale

[suzanne]

It has a little thing in the front, and the doorlock fits in there real tight. I think it is because it's still brandnew, and hasn't been opened a lot yet.