Description
Orton cones are pyramid-shaped ceramic devices used to measure the combined effect of time and temperature—known as “heat-work”—inside a kiln.
What They Do
- Measure Heat-Work: Instead of just showing the peak temperature like a digital thermometer, they bend when they absorb a specific amount of cumulative thermal energy.
- Verify Firing Success: Potters and ceramists look at the bent cone after firing to see if clay and glazes reached full maturity.
- Calibrate Equipment: They help test kiln uniformity and check if electronic controllers or thermocouples need adjustment.
How They Work
- Bending Action: Made from carefully blended ceramic materials, the pyramids soften and slump over gradually as heat progresses.
- Numbered Scale: Cones are numbered (from low-fire numbers like 022 up to high-fire numbers like 32) to match different target temperatures.
- Witness Systems: Users often place a three-cone series—a lower guide cone, a target firing cone, and a higher guard cone—to gauge the exact progression of heat.
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