Using a Preheat for Wet Student Projects
With school starting back in full force, that often means its time to fire a kiln full of students' projects. Too often, the pieces are extremely wet, but it's time to move on to the next project. It's always good to dry your pieces as much as possible before firing to avoid issues. However, sometimes there's not always time to allow pieces to air dry thoroughly. This is where using a preheat with the kiln comes in handy!
Why Preheating Is Important
Preheating extremely wet pieces helps dry out the wet ware and helps prevent steam from cracking or exploding ware. Water turns to steam at approximately 212ºF, so it's important to preheat at a temperature lower than that. Typically firing between 180ºF and 200ºF is just right for drying out ware.
