Peter Willis on thu 21 nov 96
Hi all,
First of all I would like to say that I appreciate the free exchange of
technical info, philisophical info, and general good cheer that everyone
tends to generate.
I and a partner are trying desperately to finish our studio and make a
little of the green stuff. But, alas, murphy's law seems to rear its
ugly head around every corner.
My question and dilemma this week is how do other potters/sculptors keep
your clay from freezing. We have renovated an old barn and we have a
dirt floor. We are using an electric radiator heater, but it isn't much
help and uses a lot of electricity. We will be using a kerosene heater
during the day. But we are afraid that wet pots and sculptures might
freeze if we don't find a better way of protecting them.
Any suggestions are and will be appreciated.
Trying to keep warm in Kentucky,
Becky Lowery
Harvey Sadow on fri 22 nov 96
Peter Willis wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hi all,
>
> First of all I would like to say that I appreciate the free exchange of
> technical info, philisophical info, and general good cheer that everyone
> tends to generate.
>
> I and a partner are trying desperately to finish our studio and make a
> little of the green stuff. But, alas, murphy's law seems to rear its
> ugly head around every corner.
>
> My question and dilemma this week is how do other potters/sculptors keep
> your clay from freezing. We have renovated an old barn and we have a
> dirt floor. We are using an electric radiator heater, but it isn't much
> help and uses a lot of electricity. We will be using a kerosene heater
> during the day. But we are afraid that wet pots and sculptures might
> freeze if we don't find a better way of protecting them.
>
> Any suggestions are and will be appreciated.
>
> Trying to keep warm in Kentucky,
> Becky Lowery
Your local LP gas dealer can probably sell you a floor or wall mounted
LP furnace with a thermostat for surprisingly little money. It makes a
lot of heat, turns off and on easily and turns itself off when the
desired temperature is reached. You can turn it way down when you leave
and still keep your clay from freezing. If the barn has high ceilings,
or a loft, put in a ceiling fan. It will circualte the risen heat back
down in the winter, and keep the air moving in summer. For the cost of
fuel, you will get much more heat from an LP furnace than from kerosene
or an electric radiator. I used to keep a pan of water on the one I had
in Maryland and it kept the barn warm and a little humid. When I was in
Wisconsin in the 70's, I had a wood stove, which worked great, lots of
heat as long as I kept it fed with wood, but it was cold in the
morning! Ultimate solution.....Florida, but LP furnaces are pretty
good. Good luck in your new studio.
Harvey Sadow, in sunny Jupiter, where it is FINALLY turning into fall.
Leo Peck on fri 22 nov 96
Hello,
check into a propane heater with a tank outside. I wnt from wood burning to
that and it was beautiful and not that expensive. Prop your clay up off the
floor will help, use a pallet. I've heard some people wrap a heating blanket
over the clay and set the temp. At least the clay you intend to use the next
day. Good luck, Leo
Marcia Selsor & Matt Benacquista on fri 22 nov 96
> Becky Lowery
How to keep clay from freezing? Get an old refrigerator that does not
get cold, fix the light bulb to stay lit all the time, and keep your
clay in it. Should be toasty. Use a higher wattage than an appliance
bulb.
Marcia in Montana
--
Marci Selsor
Matt Benacquista
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls/
mjbmls@imt.net
Kirk Morrison on fri 22 nov 96
On 21 Nov 96 at 17:27, Peter Willis wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hi all,
>
> First of all I would like to say that I appreciate the free exchange of
> technical info, philisophical info, and general good cheer that everyone
> tends to generate.
>
> I and a partner are trying desperately to finish our studio and make a
> little of the green stuff. But, alas, murphy's law seems to rear its
> ugly head around every corner.
>
> My question and dilemma this week is how do other potters/sculptors keep
> your clay from freezing. We have renovated an old barn and we have a
> dirt floor. We are using an electric radiator heater, but it isn't much
> help and uses a lot of electricity. We will be using a kerosene heater
> during the day. But we are afraid that wet pots and sculptures might
> freeze if we don't find a better way of protecting them.
>
> Any suggestions are and will be appreciated.
>
> Trying to keep warm in Kentucky,
> Becky Lowery
>
I don't know if my method will work for you, I take all at the end of
the day and move it into the spare, read here, company bathroom, and we
just don't have company over. Well if we do I move it to the spare
bedroom or the walk in closet. After a few days, I take all over to my
Uncle inlaws and leave it there until I can get it fired. I just take
over indoor heated space until it is dry enough.
Tracy Dotson on fri 22 nov 96
How about an electric blanket? I usto use one when iI potter in an old gas
station. Just don't put the blanket under your clay or object you are trying
to keep from freezing. I did it to have warm clay to throw with.
Tracy
William Amsterlaw on sat 23 nov 96
Becky:
You want the least expensive way to keep your work and wet clay from freezing
in a dirt-floor barn during winter. Here are some thoughts:
For wet clay:
* Build a root cellar. Put an insulated door on it. If you go below the
level at which the ground freezes, it stays above freezing temperature down
there all winter. Heating cost = $0.
* Use an old refrigerator or freezer as an insulated cabinet. Instead of
using its cooling unit, put a heating pad in it and use it to store moist
clay.
* Frozen clay is still good. Thaw it out and wedge.
For work in progress:
* Build an insulated drying cabinet for work-in-progress. If you put on
enough insulation, you can keep it warm with a lightbulb.
On 21 Nov 1996 Becky Lowry wrote:
>>
My question and dilemma this week is how do other potters/sculptors keep your
clay from freezing. We have renovated an old barn and we have a dirt floor.
We are using an electric radiator heater, but it isn't much help and uses a
lot of electricity. We will be using a kerosene heater during the day. But
we are afraid that wet pots and sculptures might freeze if we don't find a
better way of protecting them.
<<
- Bill Amsterlaw (wamster@msn.com)
Plattsburgh, NY
Scott Harper (201) 540-2868 on sat 23 nov 96
:->----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Hi
all,
:->
:->First of all I would like to say that I appreciate the free exchange of
technical info, philisophical info, and general good cheer that everyone tends
to generate.
:->
:->I and a partner are trying desperately to finish our studio and make a
little of the green stuff. But, alas, murphy's law seems to rear its ugly head
around every corner.
:->
:->My question and dilemma this week is how do other potters/sculptors keep
your clay from freezing. We have renovated an old barn and we have a dirt
floor. We are using an electric radiator heater, but it isn't much help and
uses a lot of electricity. We will be using a kerosene heater during the day.
But we are afraid that wet pots and sculptures might freeze if we don't find a
better way of protecting them.
:->
:->Any suggestions are and will be appreciated.
:->
:->Trying to keep warm in Kentucky, Becky Lowery
If you have room in your barn, you might try digging a hole in your dirt floor,
about 3 ft deep, and keep your clay in there, with insulation on top. This
method worked well in the past as the "root cellar", and seemed to keep spuds,
etc. from freezing. You may need to experiment with hole dimensions, but if
you get deep enough, the earth's natural heat sink and insulation should do the
trick for you, especially in KY, where you don't get all THAT cold.
Jeremy/Bonnie Hellman on sun 24 nov 96
Actually, you can keep most things from freezing, including clay, by
keeping it inside a working refrigerator. I haven't done this with clay,
but we have used it every year for the last 8 years for food which we leave
in Colorado over the winter. We turn off the heat, drain all water pipes,
and put anything that we don't want to freeze inside the refrigerator,
which we keep turned on all the time. I would expect this to work with
clay, although it may not be cost efficient to run another refrigerator for
clay. Just a thought. I guess in an emergency you could put your finished
but unfired small pieces in the family refrigerator, especially just before
it's time to go shopping! Bonnie in Pittsburgh
Outside of a dog a book is man's best friend.
Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
--Groucho
ZALT@aol.com on sun 24 nov 96
I live in the land of the cold and snow. I don't worry about freezing
because I work in a heated studio. I can only suggest that you construct a
box large enough to store your work while it is drying. I suggest that the
box be built similar to the framing of a house. This will allow you to
insulate the walls and floor with the pink panther stuff.
Insulating will allow you to heat the space using less electricity. If you
want to get fancy install a thermostate that controls the heat and keep it
ste at a temp just above freezing. This room would be similar to a root
cellar only heated.
Good luck
Terrance F. Lazaroff
St Hubert, Quebec, CANADA !!!.
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