Orton Cones and Pyrometric Bars

ORTON PYROMETRIC CONES AND BARS

Orton Cones and Bars all with Easy Shipping Included Pricing

Get 10% off automatically when you mix or match 12 or more boxes!

You can get the Complete Orton Cone Wall Chart in PDF format... Click Here.

Once it opens you can "Save To Disc" to store it on your computer or "Print".

We offer all four of the different types of Orton cones (Small cones, Bar cones, Large cones and Self-supporting cones).These are also known as witness cones and pyrometric cones.

The Large and Self-supporting cones are used to measure temperature uniformity and/or if there was sufficient heatwork done to mature the ware. Cones indicate whether the ware received an adequate amount of heatwork to properly mature the clay or glaze. A properly fired cone will bend over with the tip of the cone almost touching the shelf. After firing a kiln, a simple glance at the cone can tell if the firing was successful.

The small and bar cones are mainly used in the kiln shut-off device called the Kilnsitter. This is a mechanical device that shuts off the kiln when the temperature inside is sufficient to cause the cone to deform under the weight of the Kiln Sitter rod.

Temperature Equivalents use the same numbering system as small cones.

Under most conditions, the small cone or bar used in the kiln shut-off device will need to be one number higher than the shelf cone or witness cone. For example, to achieve a cone 04 witness cone in the kiln a small 03 cone is generally used in the Kiln Sitter shut off device.

The only true measurement of heat-work is from a Large or Self-supporting cone placed on the shelf next to the ware.

CONE NUMBERS - Orton makes cones from cone 022 up to cone 42. Cone 022 is the lowest melting cone and requires the least amount of heat to deform or bend. During firing, a cone softens and melts as it is heated. Cones used on the kiln shelf bend due to the effects of gravity pulling the tip down. This bending indicates the cone and the ware have received a specific amount of heat. It typically takes 15 to 22 minutes for cones to bend fully once they start bending. Each higher cone number requires more heat to bend. A cone 01 needs less heat treatment than cone 1 and cone 020 needs less than 019.

It is important not to confuse the lower maturing cones and bars, whose numbers begin with an 0, with the higher cones and bars not containing this prefix.

Although cones do not actually measure temperature, cone bending behavior and temperature are related. Generally, the faster the firing, the higher the temperature required to bend the cone and the slower the firing, the lower the temperature required to bend the cone. The 6 oclock position (90 angular degrees) is considered the end point of cone bending.

Typical uses for cone numbers are as follows:

NUMBER: 022 TO 011 - Used in firing of overglaze decorations, lusters, enamels and decals and for glass fusing, slumping and decorating. The temperature equivalent range is approximately 1050 - 1550F (560 to 850C).

NUMBER: 4 TO 12 - Used in firing porcelain, floor tile, china, stoneware, structural clay products and some refractory materials. The temperature equivalent range is approximately 2175-2345F (1180 to 1340C).

NUMBER: 13 TO 42 - Used for firing industrial products up to 3659F (2015C).

View the complete Orton Cone Chart of Temperature Equivalancies here...

You can get the Complete Orton Cone Wall Chart in PDF format... Click Here. Once it opens you can "Save To Disc" to store it on your computer or "Print".

What do the colors of Orton Cones and Bars mean?

Orton cones and Bars have 11 different colors. Knowing the colors can make it easier to tell at a glance which cone you have. Cones have their number stamped on the side and that is the most important thing to look at since there are colors shared by different cones. There are 10 different colors that span Large and Self Supporting as well as Small Cones and Bars. Cones and Bars from 05 to 3 are dark red because of the iron that they contain.

Here is a guide to Orton cones colors.