Advancer® for electric kilns

Save Kiln Space. Save Energy. Save Money & Time.

ADVANCER® kiln shelves are available in square, rectangle, round, 8, 10 and 12-sided shapes to fit most top and front loading electric kilns. Standard kiln shelves and shelf posts can be used in conjunction with Advancer® - no specialised kiln furniture is required.

Light weight and low mass offer several advantages over traditional shelves.

While a 1” thick cordierite shelf has been the standard choice for electric kiln firings to cone 6 and above, it also consumes a lot of energy and stacking space. 

Advancer® lower mass and faster heat transfer (greater thermal conductivity) means shorter firing cycles and reduced energy consumption allowing potters to improve productivity and save money.

Advancer® provide superior ergonomics when lifting in and out of top and front loading kilns due to their lighter weight and smooth surfaces.

Glaze runs do not affect the surface integrity of Advancer shelves. 

Even without kiln wash glaze does not permanently stick to Advancer® and affected pots simply lift straight off after firing, rather than fusing to the shelf.  Using Advancer® there is no need to angle grind glaze runs off shelves - the GlazeEraser® removes any type of glaze within seconds. The smooth flat surface of Advancer® is not compromised by glaze removal.

KilnShelf.com advanced NSiC shelves never warp and they have an indefinite service life.

The initial investment for Advancer® shelves is significantly higher than conventional alternatives, however there is a substantial gain on investment when immediate energy & productivity savings are considered alongside the indefinite service life.

Using Kiln Wash with ADVANCER® Shelves

While many individual customers report that they do not need to use a wash coat on their ADVANCER® shelves, we generally recommend using a suitable high alumina wash on ADVANCER® shelves – particularly in studio or classroom settings where multiple users are present.

Stoneware and earthenware clay will not stick. Porcelain clay bodies and some B-Mix clays are highly fluxed with feldspar, usually to achieve translucency. The higher the firing temperature is, the greater the potential for the flux to interact with the oxide glass layer of the shelf. The higher the feldspar content in porcelain type clay bodies, the more likely they are to stick. Pieces with trimmed foot rings supporting larger pieces such as bowls tend to stick more than broad flat-bottomed pieces. When in doubt, the best thing to do is test how the clay interacts with the bare shelf surface.

Due to the extremely low porosity of ADVANCER (less than1%) vs. conventional silicon carbide
(18% typical) and cordierite (30% typical), it is true that there is much less of a tendency for glaze to penetrate into or stick onto the ADVANCER surface. Never the less it is still possible for glaze to react with the protective oxide glass surface of ADVANCER, especially at higher temperatures, and bond onto the ADVANCER surface. Glaze drips are usually easily removed without grinding because extremely low porosity of ADVANCER. On the other hand glazes that volatilize at temperature, leaving a fine mist of glaze on the shelf may require light grinding or sanding for complete removal.

Kiln Wash Formula
The general formula we recommend for kiln wash is 50 alumina hydrate, 25 kaolin, 25 calcined kaolin – all by weight. Apply 1-2 thin layers of kiln wash letting it dry between coats. The consistency for the wash application should be like light cream or half and half, not thick like heavy whipping cream or paste. Applying wash when the shelves are warm will help accelerate the drying process. Due to the ultra-low surface porosity of <1%, the wash will ultimately dry suspended on the glass surface of the shelf and will not soak down into the body of the shelf as with more porous shelves such as cordierite.

As with any type of powered equipment, observing common sense rules, precautions and maintenance recommendations will eliminate potential hazards. For instance, advanced NSiC shelves should not be used in kilns that are in poor repair with unpinned elements protruding out of their grooves, and an operator should never reach into an electric kiln unless the power is turned off.

Please get in touch with us if you require more detailed information.