A studio challenge—and a smart adjustment

In a busy studio running an L&L Easy-Fire with three thermal zones, the loading pattern was all about small, flat pieces packed efficiently on each full-size shelf. The problem wasn’t space so much as heat access: full-diameter shelves can “shadow” the elements in a zone, especially when the ware is dense and close to the wall. The solution the studio tried was straightforward: keep the full-size shelf in the zone and add a smaller-diameter shelf above it on posts. Think of a 20″ shelf with a 15″ shelf centered above—leaving a clean perimeter gap so heat can rise and circulate.

What happens when you open a heat path

With the smaller shelf centered, the circular gap around it becomes a vertical “chimney” for convection and a clear line-of-sight for radiation from the elements. The larger shelf still carries most of the load; the smaller shelf adds a second surface while leaving that critical gap.

In practice, this did two things for the studio:

• Tightened evenness: flattening out hot/cool spots in the stack where small flatware is most sensitive.
• Increased net capacity: the posts took up the footprint of a few pieces on the full shelf, but the smaller shelf added back more usable spots than were lost—so total pieces per zone went up.

How to try it

1) Pick sizes that guarantee a gap
Stay in the ballpark of ~60–70% of the full shelf span for the smaller shelf (e.g., 20″ + 15″). The priority is an obvious, continuous perimeter gap.

2) Place and size the posts thoughtfully
Use three or more posts. Height should clear ware on the full shelf and maintain at least 1″ of vertical free space above and below for airflow. Avoid placing posts directly over element grooves out of caution, and make sure everything sits dead flat.

3) Load for flow, not just density
Don’t cram ware against the wall. Keep a little breathing room at the circumference and don’t overhang the smaller shelf past its posts.

4) Prove it with cones
Set self-supporting witness cones at the wall, center, and near the perimeter gap at the smaller-shelf elevation. Fire a normal cycle. Compare cone bends and log data with your baseline firing.

5) Scale gradually
If results are consistent over a few firings—better evenness and no negative surprises—replicate the pattern in the other zones.

Practical notes from the floor

• Flat shelves are non-negotiable: minor warp compounds as you stack. Dress or replace offenders.
• Mind your clearances: keep shelves and ware safely away from elements, element holders, and thermocouples.
• Don’t defeat the gap: the perimeter space is the point—avoid loading that blocks it.
• Track the truth: witness cones and firing logs tell you what your eye can’t. If evenness drifts, adjust post height, shelf spacing, or ware density.

Have results to share—or questions about your setup?
Email us at service@hotkilns.com. We love seeing shop-floor experiments that make firing better, faster, and more predictable.