preheat for cone 5/6 firing?

[Helen]

I am wondering if it is necessary to preheat the kiln for a cone 5/6 electric firing. I have a vent system but can't really use it now as the tube goes out the door and it is too cold to leave it open during the firing. So I prop the top of the kiln for an hour and also leave the top peep open for an hour or two, till I do not notice moisture escaping. Should I leave it open longer? I fire slowly, about 12 - 13 hours with a 30 min soak at the end, so preheat would add another 4-6 hours. That's a lot of wattage.
Thanks!
Helen

[Andy Clift]

Do you mean cone 05/06 firing? Is it a glaze firing or bisque firing?
-Andy

[Helen]

It is for a glaze firing

Helen

[Andy Clift]

Hi Helen,
You do not need to pre-heat for a glaze firing. I typically firing a cone six glaze in about 8 hours in a electric kiln, so you should be able to go faster.

No reason to prop the lid either. I do leave the top peep out though during the entire firing until it the kiln gets to temp. It seems silly but that's what is recommended in the manual. If you have your vent running though it would not be necessary to keep that peep open.

-Andy