pyrometric cones
Ceramic firing gauges
Pyrometric cones are small, elongated pyramids of ceramic material formulated to bend and slump at specific temperatures.
Potters place them in kilns to gauge heat work—the combined effect of temperature and time.
When a cone bends until its tip touches the kiln shelf, the firing has reached that cone's rated temperature: The glaze matures at cone 6.
Different cone numbers indicate different temperatures, with higher numbers generally meaning hotter firings.
- thermocouplesHeat-sensing wire junctions
- maturingDeveloping toward completion
- heat sensorsDevices measuring temperature changes
- phase transitionsMatter shifting between states
- vitrificationTransformation into glass
slump · glazes · heat resistance · witness · saggers · temperature probes · stoneware · porcelain · earthenware · pottery wheels · firing · shelf · flux · heat · kiln · ceramic · clay · silica
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pyrometric conesdigital thermometer
Device displaying temperature numerically
thermocouple · infrared thermometer · thermistor · thermometer · pyrometer
pyrometric conesfreezer thermometer
Device monitoring frozen storage temperature