Firing, News, Technique

Solar-Powered Ceramic Firing: Bentrup SmoothPOWER

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SmoothPOWER is Bentrups solution for solar-powered ceramic firing. This summer, during a webinar from this innovative manufacturer of ceramic kiln controllers, I learned why this is so important.

Bentrup has more than 40 years of experience in developing controllers for the ceramic industry, artisan potters and ceramists. That’s why I wanted to hear about the latest technological innovations from the founder Reinhard Bentrup.

Connecting a ceramic kiln to solar energy is more complex than it seems. The solar energy generated must first be converted from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) by an inverter. The cabling must be constructed in such a way that the various components guarantee safe and efficient power transmission. This system is known as the PV (Photovoltaic) installation.

If the power from the PV system is not used directly, it can be discharged in two ways: to the electricity grid or to a home battery. But is it possible for an electric kiln to use power directly and efficiently from the PV system?

This was a question I posed to expert Reinhard Bentrup.

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Glaze, Technique

Ceramic decoration spectrum in perspective: Slip, Engobe, Glaze and Wash

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Slip, engobe, glaze and washes are terms you often hear when you delve into ceramic decoration. These terms have always been a source of confusion for me, especially since different ceramists give them different meanings. A clear definition can help to bring order in the chaos. But even more important is gaining insight.

You can memorize definitions, but I’m happy to leave that to AI models. More important is understanding both the differences and similarities between these materials for ceramic decoration. In my opinion, it is essential to recognize that all of these decorating techniques are part of a continuum.

This continuum extends from slip, through engobe and glaze, to washes. Based on the amount of clay (the source for Al2O3) and quartz (SiO2) you can put this into perspective.

Stull Chart from 1912

This is easy to visualize with the help of the “Stull graph”. R.T. Stull made this graphic in 1912 to classify glazes. But also very useful to gain insight into the entire ceramic decoration spectrum.

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Firing, News, Technique

Bentrup Superwise: a livestream of your ceramic firing

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With the new generation of Bentrup controllers, everyone can follow a ceramic firing live online: the Bentrup Superwise live stream.

Bentrup Superwise is platform-independent, so you can just as easily track your firing via your PC, laptop, tablet or mobile. But the Superwise app can do more than just live stream your ceramic firing.

It’s also an online logbook and a Swiss Army knife for your Bentrup controller. You can use the app to set and quickly adjust your personal firing programs. Also view and adjust the controller settings, receive live error messages and use the “KilnAssist”.

One of the first livestreams was of a coffee machine (Trojan Room coffee pot) in the computer lab of the University of Cambridge. In 1991, Quentin Stafford-Fraser put the webcam live. So the entire department was able to follow online whether the coffee was ready.

About ten years later, I wanted exactly the same thing, but to see if the pottery was ready. 🙂

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Firing, Technique

Ceramic kiln controller: what does today’s ceramist need to know?

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A ceramic kiln controller is as essential as a rudder for a ship. Without this crucial component, you may be able to move forward, but whether you will reach the desired destination remains in question. It is the same with a regulator or kiln controller: a ceramic kiln simply cannot do without a control, certainly not the current generation of kilns.

Modern ceramic kilns do not have an on or off switch, only a plug input (connector). Selecting a new ceramic kiln is a challenge in itself, let alone finding the right controller. This is especially true if you deviate from the standard controllers that come with the kiln.

Personally, I’ve always chosen a kiln controller that suited better my specific needs than the standard option. More than twenty years ago I chose the Bentrup TC 507, which I am still very satisfied with. However, the new generation of controllers offers significant advantages, such as SmoothPOWER for solar energy and Superwise for logging and an online firing livestream.

Is it time for an upgrade?

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Firing, Technique

Ceramic kiln control: from Kiln Sitter to microprocessor

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“The Times They Are A-Changin'”, Bob Dylan sang in 1964, and that’s right: the ceramic kiln control has changed a lot in recent decades.

Maybe he wasn’t singing about ceramic kilns, but he certainly could have done it! Political climate and human nature may have changed little since the ’50s. But the way ceramists operate their kilns has evolved dramatically.

From a hole in the ground to an electric kiln, it was a huge technological leap that took thousands of years. However, the transition from manual to fully automated control has taken place in less than 50 years. Making it accessible to urban potters like me.

For me, Lucie Rie is the founder of all “urban potters”. Rather than setting up a studio in the countryside with a gas or wood-burning kiln, she established her pottery shop at 18 Albion Mews, in the heart of London.

She ordered her first real electric stoneware kiln in 1948. It soon became clear that firing was more difficult than expected: the first firing during Christmas failed completely. The kiln over-fired!

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Technique

New tool: PTCR Calculator

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The PTCR Calculator: for anyone who uses PTCR rings during ceramic firing. With this PTCR tool you can check the temperature (in Celsius) of your ceramic firing.

Click this link for full screen

Disclaimer:

This PTCR calculation tool is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The results generated by the tool are estimates and may differ from the actual situation. The user is solely responsible for checking the accuracy of the results and their use.

The author of this tool does not accept any liability for direct or indirect damages resulting from the use of this tool or the information provided therein.

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News

Dutch ceramics podcast: I’m making a mess of it!

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The first Dutch-language ceramics podcast has recently become a fact: “Je maakt er een potje van” (that’s Dutch for “You make a mess of it”). Merisa, the host of the podcast, has already conducted more than 20 interviews with Dutch and Belgian ceramists about their profession, vision and skills.

And I’m not the only fan of this ceramics podcast. Six months after the release of the first episode, the podcast has already passed the 15,000 download mark!

A great initiative and even more fun to be able to contribute to it….

This time Merisa and I have a great conversation about ceramics, teaching and much more. Curious? Watch our conversation on YouTube, follow the announcements on Insta and subscribe to the one and only podcast for the Dutch-speaking ceramics community.

How did I make a mess of it?

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Inspiration, Personally

Readymade ceramic art by Ai Weiwei; in search of humanity

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For me, Ai Weiwei is the Duchamp of the 21st century: a modern, provocative creator of readymade ceramic art. But Ai is much more than that. He is an artist, human rights activist, provocateur, writer, architect, filmmaker, blogger and dissident.

Until March 3, 2024, a large-scale exhibition of one of the leading artists of the moment can be seen at the Kunsthal Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

At the beginning of the new year, we had the chance to visit this exhibition, and it was definitely worth it. Not only to be able to see the objects live, but especially to be confronted with the (in)humanity in China, Europe and other parts of the world. These are issues that Ai has been looking for throughout his career.

Ai Weiwei exhibition "In Search of Humanity" Kunsthal Rotterdam 2023-2024
Ai Weiwei exhibition “In Search of Humanity” Kunsthal Rotterdam 2023-2024

It is not for nothing that the exhibition bears the name “In Search of Humanity”. A search that is always topical, especially now that inhumane measures seems to have become the norm in Dutch politics.

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Firing, Technique

New ceramic kiln? First calibrate and compare!

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If you have invested in a new ceramic kiln (new for you, 2nd hand is of course also possible), you must first get to know him (or her). Just like a new friend, you have to discover each other and slowly grow closer to together. Then something beautiful can blossom between you and your new kiln or soulmate!

Building strong relationships between people can take a long time. But with a new ceramic kiln it can be done much faster. The difference? With a ceramic kiln you can set and measure everything.

So first calibrate and compare is my motto, but how do you do that?

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Glaze, Technique

Ceramic raw materials: calcining is nothing but hot air, LOI explained

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If you make your own glaze recipes, you use ceramic raw materials with hot air… or “LOI” for short. Sometimes this LOI is removed from the raw material beforehand by “calcining” it. But what exactly is that and why do ceramists do it?

By hot air, I don’t mean (this time) all the crap that bloated types spew into the ether. I’ll probably talk about that another time, but this time I want to talk about “Loss On Ignition” or the abbreviation LOI. In other words, the evaporation of substances by intensely heating them: calcining.

Let me explain using the raw material kaolin and a kiln that we will fire at 750 0C (1382 F). Time for an experiment!

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Clay, Firing, Glaze, Technique

Top three reasons to buy a small ceramic test kiln (and one to get rid of it)

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I recently purchased a small Rohde ceramic test kiln from Keramikos. In addition to congratulations on ” the little one” :-), I was also asked: why buy a test kiln? After all, I can also fire my work in my larger (150 liter) kiln.

glaze testing unfired

A good question and a nice reason to list my reasons for my investment in this blog. I came up with this top three and one to get rid of my kiln…

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News

We live together for a year and the little one is coming!

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Big news: the little one is coming! For more than a year I have been living with my new flame . But something was missing in our relationship… Besides my great love, I was looking for something smaller; because size certainly matters.

After in-depth conversations, we figured it out: our relationship would only survive if there was also a little one…

But how do you get a small one? We sought assistance from Keramikos. And they were able to help us immediately. There was a lot of choice, but in the end we agreed. The choice was made, the papers arranged. And Keramikos went to work for us.

And finally the time has come: we have a small Rohde 35 liter ceramic kiln, isn’t it a cutie? Together with my big flame: a 150 liter Rohde frontloading kiln, we now form a beautiful family….

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[English] Handgevormd en gedraaid figuratief steengoed keramiek