Are you using witness cones with every firing? We recommend putting cones in each firing to ensure your kiln is firing correctly every time. Place 1 cone on your top, middle, and bottom shelf to ensure all areas of your kiln are reaching Cone 06. The right amount of heat, and the right duration will produce a proper firing. Cones measure “heat-work” (time and temperature). When placed at various areas in the kiln, witness cones will measure the time and temperature within the kiln and the uniformity of the firing. Check out the kiln room section of our website https://ceramicarts.com/zkilns100/kiln-room