Crystalline Slow Cook

Crystalline Slow Cool Series
Slow Cool glazes can produce dramatically different finishes at different temperatures. Many Coyote glazes are specially designed to take advantage of this to create special effects, and many more affect glazes in surprising ways. All Coyote glazes can be slow cooled.

Slow cooling effectively extends the firing period, during which most crystals develop, resulting in more and larger crystals. Depending on the composition of the glaze, this will usually produce large visible crystals, or a matted surface (microcrystals).

To slowly cool a glaze, bake in an oven with a digital controller. Since the control panels of programmable ovens vary from brand to brand, you should consult your oven’s owner’s manual or contact the seller or manufacturer of the oven for instructions on programming your particular oven.

Once you know how to program your oven, it’s a matter of experimentation to find the firing curve that works best for your products. The only way to make sure your oven is fired correctly is to use witness cones. As a starting point, our diagram is below:

Ramps 5
100/hour to 220
350/hour to 2000
150/hour to 2200 hold for 15 minutes
500/hour to 2150 hold for 15 minutes.
125/hour to 1400

It is important to note that you must adapt this diagram for your own furnace and firing. Every kiln is different, so there is no diagram that works for every firing.
The tip of your self-supporting cone 5 should be flush with the base in every case, and the tip of the cone 6 should not touch the shelf.

Cooling glazes at different rates can provide dramatically different finishes. Many Coyote glazes are designed specifically to take advantage of this to create special effects, and many more are affected in surprising ways. All Coyote glazes can be slow cooled.

Slow cooling effectively lengthens the period of firing during which most crystals develop, resulting in more and larger crystals. Depending on the composition of the glaze, this will usually produce either large visible crystals, or a matted surface (microcrystals.)

To slow cool a glaze, you must be firing in a kiln with a digital controller. As the control panels for programmable kilns vary across brands, you should consult your owner’s manual, or contact the seller or manufacturer of the kiln, for instructions on how to program your specific kiln.

Once you know how to program your kiln, it will take some experimentation to find the firing cycle that works best for your ware. The only way to be sure your kiln fired correctly is to use witness cones. As a starting point, our schedule is below:

Ramps 5
100/hr to 220
350/hr to 2000
150/hr to 2200 hold for 15 minutes
500/hr to 2150 hold for 15 minutes
125/hr to 1400

It is important to note that you will need to tweak this schedule for your own kiln and firings. Every kiln is different, so there is no schedule that will work for every firing.
The tip of your self supporting cone 5 should be at least even with the base, and the tip of the cone 6 should not touch the shelf.