Jonathan Kaplan on sat 23 aug 97
I was sort of asked, thanks Jeff Lawrence, for some experience on this
latest thread. Please, don't take this as dogma, just from my experience.
I have been a devote of IFB/sprung arch kilns for years. I love to build
and fire them. And in fact, I don't really think there is anything wrong
with them. If you build them in a basic cube, take care to level and plumb
your corners, measure all the time, spring that arch, figure out the door,
etc.etc., that puppy will give you years of use with proper care. In fact,
my Pennsylvania kiln, 100 cubic feet IFB with a hinged fiber door gave me
years of trouble free use from 1976 to 1988. I was dismantled and hauled by
Bert Lowery to his studio in upstate New York, where to the best of my
current information, it is still cooking.
My current gas kiln is a 40-50 cubic foot fiber car kiln, flat roof,
7inches of highly compressed fiber, fabricated into long module strips
running the length of each wall and roof, stainless steel impalement type
anchors. Double hinged door. Hearth, firebox, car, all 2600 degree IFB.
Shelves from Sphinx and Acme Marls, car piers from Ferro. Two forced air
power burners, digital controller etc.etc. Works fine. Some early problems,
rectified, I like my kiln.
The fiber has not really moved appreciably, the roof is flat, no sheading
fiber junk on the pots, $12.00 per firing to cone six. I like the flat
roof, even visually. Kiln fires even, smoothly, even atmosphere according
to my probe, and I am pleased to have this kiln. Kiln built by Jim Cooper
of CooperWorks, outside of Denver, to my general specification. Combustion
by Jim Cooper and myself, to finally get it dialed in. He builds good
kilns.
I like the small bulk, read the small foot print of this kiln. Steel
framework built like a tank, not a hulking brick behemoth. I like the
efficiency of the fiber. I'd recommend if if you can afford it. A sprung
arch is a joy to build and behold. They both work. Its a matter of choice
and economics.
For what its worth
Jonathan
Jonathan Kaplan, president jonathan@csn.net
Ceramic Design Group Ltd./Production Services
PO Box 775112
Steamboat Springs CO 80477
Plant Location (please use this address for all UPS shipments)
30800 Moffat Ave Unit 13
Steamboat Springs CO 80487
(970) 879-9139*voice and fax
http://www.craftweb.com/org/jkaplan/cdg.shtml
http://digitalfire.com/education/clay/kaplan1.htm
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