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Replace Those Shaky Firing Racks!

• Trish White

  

  Leader
   

  May 19, 2010

  

  How many times have you watched your perfectly placed trivet wobble on the firing rack as you carried it to the kiln? Some where, some how I came into the possession of a sheet metal rack that solved my problem, however, I wanted more but could not find another. It was time to visit Home Depot and build my own. For those of you who don't mind a little sawing, you are in for a treat!

  Step one: Purchase a sheet of Sheet Metal, 22 gauge in the Building aisle of Home Depot.

                  Measure and mark the size you would like your rack to be and saw it out using

                  a #4/0 saw blade. File the edges if they are rough.

  

  
  Step 2: Mark your corners with a template so that they will be exact. I used a square shape and held the corner of my metal to the corner of the square and drew a line across the center.

  Step 3: Lay your sheet metal on a metal block - align the fold line with the edge of the block and strike the edge several times with a brass hammer. Then Strike the flap against the metal block to form the leg. Repeat on all four corners. These flaps go down quickly and easily. You can also use another metal block against the flap to define your fold line.

  

  How many times have you watched your perfectly placed trivet wobble on the firing rack as you carried it to the kiln? Some where, some how I came into the possession of a sheet metal rack that solved my problem, however, I wanted more but could not find another. It was time to visit Home Depot and build my own. For those of you who don't mind a little sawing, you are in for a treat!

  Step one: Purchase a sheet of Sheet Metal, 22 gauge in the Building aisle of Home Depot.

                  Measure and mark the size you would like your rack to be and saw it out using

                  a #4/0 saw blade. File the edges if they are rough.

  

  
  Step 2: Mark your corners with a template so that they will be exact. I used a square shape and held the corner of my metal to the corner of the square and drew a line across the center.

  Step 3: Lay your sheet metal on a metal block - align the fold line with the edge of the block and strike the edge several times with a brass hammer. Then Strike the flap against the metal block to form the leg. Repeat on all four corners. These flaps go down quickly and easily. You can also use another metal block against the flap to define your fold line.

• Camille Knutson

  

  Member
   

  May 19, 2010

  Hi Trish...is the sheet metal stainless steel? what do you use to bend the corners down evenly? Do you file or sand the edges smooth after you've cut it out? Questions, questions but thanks for the post!! More really good info!! :)

  Hi Trish...is the sheet metal stainless steel? what do you use to bend the corners down evenly? Do you file or sand the edges smooth after you've cut it out? Questions, questions but thanks for the post!! More really good info!! :)
• Virginia Sajan

  

  Member
   

  May 19, 2010

  Hi, I'm only seeing step 1 and step 2. Is that it? Any suggestions on making trivets? My firing racks aren't the problem. My pieces are constantly falling off the trivets perhaps because of their shapes so I'd like to make some more of those....

  Hi, I'm only seeing step 1 and step 2. Is that it? Any suggestions on making trivets? My firing racks aren't the problem. My pieces are constantly falling off the trivets perhaps because of their shapes so I'd like to make some more of those....
• Trish White

  

  Leader
   

  May 19, 2010

  Hi Virginia,
  
  Your pieces could be falling off because you don't have the right size trivet. They come in many many sizes and its quite possible you are laying your work at the very top of the trivet and not
  further down in the trivet. This top positioning can be a problem when carrying it over to the kiln and just a little bit of movement sets it off balance. A good base firing rack also helps to absorb any sudden movement. From what I can see the trivets are welded together and that is another whole world. Try my suggestions and let me know.

  Hi Virginia, Your pieces could be falling off because you don't have the right size trivet. They come in many many sizes and its quite possible you are laying your work at the very top of the trivet and not further down in the trivet. This top positioning can be a problem when carrying it over to the kiln and just a little bit of movement sets it off balance. A good base firing rack also helps to absorb any sudden movement. From what I can see the trivets are welded together and that is another whole world. Try my suggestions and let me know.
• Trish White

  

  Leader
   

  May 19, 2010

  Hi Camille,
  
  The sheet metal is steel and I also made sure it could take a lot of heat. So far it has, accept for the oxides flaking off the underside, which I think will stop once they have been back in a few more times. I bang the corners down with a brass hammer, but you could also use another metal block. Just make sure you hold your fold line right to the edge of the metal block and hit it a few times to mark the metal then whack the flap down and back against the metal block to form the leg. IF you find the legs are bent to far in, then use your metal block to flatten them back straighter. I have had no problem with getting them down evenly. Just stay on your lines.

  Hi Camille, The sheet metal is steel and I also made sure it could take a lot of heat. So far it has, accept for the oxides flaking off the underside, which I think will stop once they have been back in a few more times. I bang the corners down with a brass hammer, but you could also use another metal block. Just make sure you hold your fold line right to the edge of the metal block and hit it a few times to mark the metal then whack the flap down and back against the metal block to form the leg. IF you find the legs are bent to far in, then use your metal block to flatten them back straighter. I have had no problem with getting them down evenly. Just stay on your lines.
• Joseph A Osina

  

  Member
   

  May 22, 2010

  Hi Trish, What a great idea! The photos and explanation make it so easy to do. It also saves money making your own.
  
  Joseph

  Hi Trish, What a great idea! The photos and explanation make it so easy to do. It also saves money making your own. Joseph
• Edmund Massow

  

  Member
   

  May 25, 2010

  Hi Trish,
  
  how do you deposite a counter-enamelled sheet to the shown firing rack? Do you use Mica or fiberglass mats as an underlay?
  Edmund

  Hi Trish, how do you deposite a counter-enamelled sheet to the shown firing rack? Do you use Mica or fiberglass mats as an underlay? Edmund
• Edmund Massow

  

  Member
   

  May 25, 2010

  Hello Virginia,
  
  what kind of firing rack do you use? Like that shown by Trish or trivets or similar racks?
  If your works are counter-enameled, roughen the counter-enamel surface with a diamond-file or a carborundum-stone a bit. That prevents the works slips.
  Edmund

  Hello Virginia, what kind of firing rack do you use? Like that shown by Trish or trivets or similar racks? If your works are counter-enameled, roughen the counter-enamel surface with a diamond-file or a carborundum-stone a bit. That prevents the works slips. Edmund
• Trish White

  

  Leader
   

  May 25, 2010

  I use a trivet to hold my work, and stand the trivet on top of the firing rack.
  Have you used the fiberglass mats? are they any good?

  I use a trivet to hold my work, and stand the trivet on top of the firing rack. Have you used the fiberglass mats? are they any good?
• Virginia Sajan

  

  Member
   

  May 25, 2010

  Hi, yes, my works are counter-enameled. This happens I think because I'm using the wrong trivet size. And they are old and need replacing. I'd like to make my own trivets. I've been making my own fire racks since I got my kiln. I use stainless steel cloth (various sizes available) and cut it and bend 2 edges over. They work nicely. Don't buy cloth too thin. I have also used steel sheet.
  
  But the question below about using mica or fiberglass mats interests me because sometimes I want to work on pieces that are too small for a trivet or too frustrating for me because they fall off. Anyone have any ideas on this?

  Hi, yes, my works are counter-enameled. This happens I think because I'm using the wrong trivet size. And they are old and need replacing. I'd like to make my own trivets. I've been making my own fire racks since I got my kiln. I use stainless steel cloth (various sizes available) and cut it and bend 2 edges over. They work nicely. Don't buy cloth too thin. I have also used steel sheet. But the question below about using mica or fiberglass mats interests me because sometimes I want to work on pieces that are too small for a trivet or too frustrating for me because they fall off. Anyone have any ideas on this?