Sheila Drummer on tue 17 dec 96
I'm thinking of buying my a kiln. My first choice would be a gas kiln.
However, I would like a small and relatively inexpensive one. Small would
be about 30 inches by 30 inches and inexpensive would be under $1,000 (I
don't know if such a kiln exists). Putting it together myself would be ok
if it can be done with little knowledge on my part to start.
The fastest and easiest choice for me would be to buy a Skutt KM818, but
then I can't do reduction firing.
A question I have is why don't people do bisque and other low fire "things"
in their gas kilns? Is it because it's more expensive and requires more
work than with electric kilns?
I've just started to look at Daniel Rhodes kiln book (this edition is from
1968).
Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Please email me
privately if that's more appropriate.
Sheila Drummer
email sheila.drummer@cusys.edu
Richard Gralnik on wed 18 dec 96
Sheila,
I checked out Alpine, Summit, Olsen and Geil before I decided to do it
myself. I couldn't afford to buy a new one, and used ones were few and
far between here in L.A.
I'm building a gas kiln of roughly the dimensions you describe. The bricks
alone will cost almost $1000 (and I got a lucky on the 500 I need at $1.75
each (plus sales tax). Add to that burners, framing steel (and possibly
some welding :), shelves, gas line, Water Column Pressure gauge, pyrometer....
and I don't think you can do it for under $1000. Keep your eyes open for
a used one and be ready to jump if it comes along.
As my wife likes to say "All that to make a teapot!"
Richard
39 years old today. Funny I still feel 25.
At 09:40 AM 12/17/96 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I'm thinking of buying my a kiln. My first choice would be a gas kiln.
>However, I would like a small and relatively inexpensive one. Small would
>be about 30 inches by 30 inches and inexpensive would be under $1,000 (I
>don't know if such a kiln exists). Putting it together myself would be ok
>if it can be done with little knowledge on my part to start.
>
>The fastest and easiest choice for me would be to buy a Skutt KM818, but
>then I can't do reduction firing.
>
>A question I have is why don't people do bisque and other low fire "things"
>in their gas kilns? Is it because it's more expensive and requires more
>work than with electric kilns?
>
>I've just started to look at Daniel Rhodes kiln book (this edition is from
>1968).
>
>Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Please email me
>privately if that's more appropriate.
>
>Sheila Drummer
>email sheila.drummer@cusys.edu
>
>
Talbott on wed 18 dec 96
Sheila
If you want a serious kiln for reduction glazes then build yourself
a car gas kiln (the car is a "necessity" and not a luxury if you intend to
do much firing). Also, Nils Lou's book the "Art of Firing" has excellent
information on how to construct such a kiln. It is far cheaper to build
your own kiln than to buy a pre-built gas kiln... Probably in what you
would pay for shipping for such a kiln would pay for a large portion of the
cost to construct your own gas kiln. And, there may be potters in your
area that might assist you in this project for a fee. It is still cheaper
and easier to do your bisque fire and other low fires in the gas kiln. BTU
for BTU either propane or natural gas is probably one third to one forth
the cost of using electricity for firing your kiln.... ...Marshall
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I'm thinking of buying my a kiln. My first choice would be a gas kiln.
>However, I would like a small and relatively inexpensive one. Small would
>be about 30 inches by 30 inches and inexpensive would be under $1,000 (I
>don't know if such a kiln exists). Putting it together myself would be ok
>if it can be done with little knowledge on my part to start.
>
>The fastest and easiest choice for me would be to buy a Skutt KM818, but
>then I can't do reduction firing.
>
>A question I have is why don't people do bisque and other low fire "things"
>in their gas kilns? Is it because it's more expensive and requires more
>work than with electric kilns?
>
>I've just started to look at Daniel Rhodes kiln book (this edition is from
>1968).
>
>Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Please email me
>privately if that's more appropriate.
>
>Sheila Drummer
>email sheila.drummer@cusys.edu
Celia & Marshall Talbott
Pottery By Celia
Route 114
P.O. Box 4116
Naples, Maine 04055-4116
(207)693-6100 voice and fax
clupus@ime.net
Vince Pitelka on wed 18 dec 96
>I'm thinking of buying my a kiln. My first choice would be a gas kiln.
>However, I would like a small and relatively inexpensive one. Putting it
together myself would be ok if it can be done with little knowledge on my
part to start.
>>A question I have is why don't people do bisque and other low fire "things"
>in their gas kilns? Is it because it's more expensive and requires more
>work than with electric kilns?
>I've just started to look at Daniel Rhodes kiln book (this edition is from
1968).
>
Sheila -
Anyone can build their own gas kiln with the proper information. Even
building it yourself, you will be lucky to get off so cheaply unless you
scrounge lots of materials for cheap or free. Rhodes has lots of good
information, but get a copy of Fred Olsen's THE KILN BOOK and Nils Lou's
THE ART OF FIRING. These are the best sources currently available.
We do most of our bisque firing in gas kilns. People bisque in electric
kilns because it is easy, but at the same time, the outgassing which occurs
during water smoking causes considerable wear and tear on the elements and
on all mild steel components. Gas kilns are really much better for
bisque-firing, as long as the schedule is adequately cautious. Last night I
loaded a full gas kiln of wet vases and planters that were barely stiff
enough to handle and to sign the bottoms. I finished the firing tonight, 24
hours later, with no problems. It is just a question of care and caution.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@Dekalb.Net
Phone - home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801
Appalachian Center for Crafts, Smithville TN 37166
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