Joyce Lee, Jim Lee on sat 18 jan 97
Marshia and others,
I've only had personal experience with my one year old Geil kiln. It's
the smallest one, about 12 cubic feet and is fiber-lined, although you
can get brick. I bought it on the advice of our high school ceramics
teacher, who ordered a much, much larger one the same year for the
school, and that of my mentor, each of whom uses Geils. Both would
order a Geil again. If I ever go to a bigger kiln, it will be Geil, I'm
sure. As a novice, I especially appreciated the emphasis on safety and
the kind support for a relatively insignificant customer. Geil even
advised me to get the smaller, less expensive, kiln since I was so new
to clay and might opt to drop out (I almost can't key in those last two
words. I'll never drop out, but the advice was good for me.)
Joyce
It snowed in the upper Mojave. All gone now except in the mountains
which are glorious.
Charles and Tamara Schulz on sat 7 aug 99
Does anyone know how I can contact the Geil kiln company or the Kilnray web
page? I can't seem to access either of these sites.
I am interested in purchasing a fiber lined gas kiln and need literature
and pricing info.
Thanks
Tamara
Okinawa--it's a beatiful day...hard to imagine a typhoon is on the way
Lisa Goldberg on sun 8 aug 99
Kilnray is at Kilnray.com.
Good luck,
Lisa in Yellow Springs, OH
Art Wolfe on mon 9 aug 99
Kilnray's e-mail address is kilnray@warwick.net
Geil kiln has an 800 telephone number. If it works from where you are it is:
1(800) 887-4345. They also have a fax: (310)532-2471. Hope this helps.
Beverly
Posedel's on fri 10 sep 99
Right now I will appologize if this subject has been recently covered. I
have been off the list serve for a while and to tell you the truth even if
this had been discussed I probably would not have paid much attention.
My query is in regards to the Geil kilns. We have been potting here for
25 plus years and have always built our own kilns. ( variation of a
Minnesotta Flat Top). Recently a really nice potter came into our shop and
visited because she recognized our business name from this wonderful list
serve. She got to chatting with my husband about kilns and she ranted and
raved about her love of her Geil kiln. Dave came home all excited about
the prospect of maiking this our next kiln. Well, never having "purchased"
a pre-built kiln, we had no idea how expensive they were!!!! (Ouch!)
However, we are still very interested in researching the possibility of
making this our FINAL kiln. (Hoping to retire before we die!!!) What I
was hoping from all of you knowlegable potter folk, is an honest opinion of
your Geil kiln or any info you have on them. We are starting to save our
pennies already!!! Thanks
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Cheri :-)
mudpie@cyberis.net
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
June Perry on fri 10 sep 99
I have a Geil 17cu.ft kiln. I've had it for about 22 years. I have been very
happy with it's performance. The nice thing about these kilns is that they
can be moved. I've moved mine 4 times!
My first kiln was a hardbrick 20+ cu.foot which I sold for the bricks to a
young potter. I vowed after that to buy or design kilns that I could move, if
needed. Even my wood kiln was designed so that I could lift the main chamber
with a fork lift. :-)
With the fiber kilns you have to get used to the fact that some of your matt
glazes may not be matt due to fast cooling. You will either have to fire down
or use matt glazes that don't depend on crystal formation during slow cool
downs.
Regards,
June
Joyce Lee on sun 12 sep 99
Hey June,
With my new fiber-lined Geil which is noticeably larger than my first
"hobbyist" sized one, I have an electronic controller which will allow
me to fire down easier, thus slowing up the cooling process. The
controller is not the fanciest one and has minimum number of doohickeys
but will help control cooling. The smaller Geil, 8 cu ft stacking space,
12 overall, by the way, is a jewel of a kiln, also, and seems to me is a
perfect size for most of us non-production types most of the time. I
still love it ... don't give up my old loves when I adopt new ones...
makes for a crowded studio/house/life, but a good one.
Joyce
In the Mojave at 4:00 a.m. preparing for first mentee of the year ...
Toni who is already an exquisite potter, far far better than I ... hope
to provide some gentle focus where she's already functioning wonderfully
... and to help her develop some new directions for her work as well.
Funny, how we can do it for others................
Joyce Lee on mon 29 jan 01
Those who've been on the List awhile know that I am enamored of both my
Geil fiber kilns, to say the least. Clayarters heard about my thrill at
deciding to buy my own kiln, advised me on each step of making the
purchases, and suffered ad infinitum through my ITC sprayings (which
worked great!) and learning to fire ^10 reduction ... the ins and outs
of all the runny glazes, ruined shelves and my seeming psychotic need to
burn right past ^10 to sometimes ^13 ... were patiently explained to me
again and again. ( A lovely, normally judicious clayarter pronounced me
simply&clearly as "a firebug/arsonist ... but still probably more
neurotic than psychotic." She's a kick.)
In spite of all my reckless dashing to become a full-fledged potter...
still not at the FINISH line .... my Geils have held up and are
functioning as if brand new. They were, and are being, truly challenged!
The second one, somewhat larger than the first, was NOT the piece of
cake I anticipated ... I thought it would be the same as the first one,
just would hold more and larger pots. NOT. Firings were very different.
But the problems were NEVER with the kilns, just with their operator.
Fiber vs Brick. I've only known fiber so to me (at least with a Geil),
it's fiber hands down for all the reasons mentioned previously. I know
brick is preferred by most potters and I did marvel at the artistry and
technology displayed by Nils Lou when I observed him building a brick
kiln at one of his workshops. And when we participants formed a human
chain to pass the unending number of bricks down a hill to the kiln
area, the spirit of community was touching and fun ... but for me
personally a fiber Geil is my choice... though perhaps less romantic.
Joyce
In the Mojave tickled that the mentees were back today after about a six
weeks break .... they are SUCH fun to the point of hilarity ... so
clever... such artists ... I loved teaching always, but mentoring is the
best!
KYancey on tue 30 jan 01
Joyce Lee wrote:
> Clayarters heard about my thrill at deciding to buy my own kiln, advised me on
> each step of making the purchases, ....
I haven't been on clayart long enough, so.... I am wondering how you are housing
the kilns? Do they have their own separate sheds? Are they in the studio with you?
Did you need to purchase additional stacks?
When the delivery truck arrived, did you have a forklift handy? or does the
delivery truck driver place the kilns for you? Are they natural or propane gas? If
propane, is it piped in or do you use bottles? Is electrical hookup mandatory?
> "personally a fiber Geil is my choice... though perhaps less romantic."
I am considering the options of either building or buying a gas kiln. If I do
purchase a gas kiln, I am decided on a Geil. I like the burner placement. I also
have enough of a back yard to place the kiln away from my house, therefore I must
build a small shelter around the kiln to keep it out of the weather. The size
requirement for adequate ventilation will predispose the shelter to take on the
appearance of a small building. I can do this (I think) but there are still many
things I am unsure of. Right now its the electrical requirement, bottled propane
requirement and how to place the kiln once it arrives.
I have already checked with code enforcement. Considering my large back yard
(80'X175') I am well over 200' from any neighbor. Permitting should be tedious but
do-able.
Thank you Joyce,
I promise I won't be a pest. Ken
Bob Santerre on tue 7 oct 08
Since in the past I've been a vocal critic of companies that will not
back the products they sell, I am now pleased to report that Geil Kilns
has replaced the defective (slpit out) plastic cup on their glaze spray
gun with an aluminum cup. They sent me the replacement cup about a
month ago. It took them about 2 years to do it, but they did make it
right. Thank you Geil Kilns.
I purchased the Geil spray gun from Brackers and when the plastic cup
split I complained to Brackers who in turn passed my complaint on to
Geil. If any Clayarters have experienced this problem with the Geil
spray gun, it appears Geil is now prepared to make the replacement(s).
Bob
Arrowsic Island Pottery
344 Old Stage Road
Arrowsic, ME 04530
(207) 443-5858
(207) 443-6333 FAX
aipots@gwi.net
http://arrowsicislandpottery.com
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