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arch bricks and kiln-top additional insulation

updated sat 30 nov 96

 

Richard Gralnik on sat 23 nov 96

I'm ordering the bricks for my kiln, and I have a couple of questions.

The local brick supplier can get me the #1 arch bricks I need in 3 flavors -
K28 @ 1.92 ea
G23 @ 2.02 ea
K23 @ 2.20 ea

I only need 56 bricks for the arch (3 1/2 courses, 16 per course) so
the money difference is pretty minimal. My question is one of practicality -
the rest of the kiln is being built with K23's so it seems to make sense to
use the same bricks in the arch, especially since there are 2 straights per
course in the arch, to keep the same insulating value and expansion from
heating. Does this make sense? Does it matter?

My other question is about additional insulation on top of the arch. I
have the 4 1/2" of brick in the arch itself, but would be a good idea to
add something over that? I'm not using fiber anywhere else in the kiln
due to the health issues discussed here many times, but would laying a
piece over the arch raise any health concerns? It would completely out
of the way up on top of the kiln. My other alternative is to put a piece
of 1/4" ceramic paper over the arch then lay additional bricks on top of
the paper. Or this step unnecessary overkill?

Thanks,
Richard
All that's left of building the kiln frame is to hang the door, hopefully
on Monday...then I have to wirewheel off the rust and paint it...

Marcia Selsor & Matt Benacquista on sun 24 nov 96

Richard Gralnik wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I'm ordering the bricks for my kiln, and I have a couple of questions.
>
> The local brick supplier can get me the #1 arch bricks I need in 3 flavors -
> K28 @ 1.92 ea
> G23 @ 2.02 ea
> K23 @ 2.20 ea
>
> I only need 56 bricks for the arch (3 1/2 courses, 16 per course) so
> the money difference is pretty minimal. My question is one of practicality -
> the rest of the kiln is being built with K23's so it seems to make sense to
> use the same bricks in the arch, especially since there are 2 straights per
> course in the arch, to keep the same insulating value and expansion from
> heating. Does this make sense? Does it matter?
>
> My other question is about additional insulation on top of the arch. I
> have the 4 1/2" of brick in the arch itself, but would be a good idea to
> add something over that? I'm not using fiber anywhere else in the kiln
> due to the health issues discussed here many times, but would laying a
> piece over the arch raise any health concerns? It would completely out
> of the way up on top of the kiln. My other alternative is to put a piece
> of 1/4" ceramic paper over the arch then lay additional bricks on top of
> the paper. Or this step unnecessary overkill?
>
> Thanks,
> Richard
> All that's left of building the kiln frame is to hang the door, hopefully
> on Monday...then I have to wirewheel off the rust and paint it...

Think about ICT (International Technical Ceramics, INC.)kiln "protector"
coating. I call it a wonder material.
I have been talking with the inventor who says he is getting reports
from his industrial clients that this material sprayed inside the kiln
can cut your fuel consumption by 46%. I used some on my new castable
soda kiln and it hit temperature in a surprising (to me) 8 hours! I just
bought some more to line the door blocks. Axner sells it and the company
advertises in Clay Times magazine. Give them a call. It may seem a
little expensive but it may save you future crumblimg of ceiling bricks.
904-285-0200 in Ponte Vedra, Fla.
Marcia in Montana
--
Marci Selsor
Matt Benacquista
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls/
mjbmls@imt.net

Arturo Devitalis on sun 24 nov 96


Richard - I don't pretend to have expertise, but I pass this on from what I
learned from Bob Schmits (sp) from the School for American Craftsmen when
preparing to build my first MFT. I suggest you contact him at RIT SAC
School, but the essence of his advice is to never to put anything on the
cool side of IFB without checking out what it will do to the heat transfer
capabilities of the brick, which in turn influences brick life, expansion
rates, etc. The bricks are rated with the assumption that the cold face is
NOT insulated. If you firing temp is close to 2300, and you are using
K23's, you don't want to mess up the heat transference...that's what you
have to consider. RIT phone# is 716-424-2511.

Note: all you techies - stop laughing - this is the best I could do!
--
Arturo DeVitalis
arto@uhura.cc.rochester.edu

Bob Hanlin on mon 25 nov 96

Richard wrote:

>"My other question is about additional insulation on top of the arch. I
>have the 4 1/2" of brick in the arch itself, but would be a good idea to
>add something over that? I'm not using fiber anywhere else in the kiln
>due to the health issues discussed here many times, but would laying a
>piece over the arch raise any health concerns? It would completely out
>of the way up on top of the kiln."
>Thanks,
>Richard
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have had 2" of ceramic fiber wrapped in aluminum foil of the crown of my
hard brick kiln for 23 years. I covered it with some sheet metal to keep
most of the rain off. I also have a sheet metal "roof" over the kiln that
covers to top and extends on the sides about 1' . This is from the "For What
it's Worth Department".

Bob Hanlin
3504 N. Tulsa
Oklahoma City, OK 73112

e-mail bhanlin@ionet.net