the clay studio on tue 23 jul 96
Hello,
I am researching electric oval kilns (aprox. 32"Wx42"Lx27"D) for the school
at The Clay Studio. The kiln that we buy will be fired to cone 06-04 three
times a week all year. It will be loaded and unloaded by people with
experience. The students will not have access to the kiln. Does anybody
have a suggestion? We have been buying L&L kilns but they don't make an
oval.
Thanks,
Matt Courtney
claystdo@libertynet.org
Bob Kavanagh on tue 23 jul 96
I'm certain there are many suppliers of such items. The supplier with whom
I deal, Tucker's Pottery Supply, manufactures oval kilns. I have been
using one of their Cone Art Kilns for a few years and am very pleased with
its performance. Try 1-800-304-6185 for info and catalogue etc.
bob kavanagh
Levine Meg Jessica on thu 25 jul 96
Hi Matt- I recently purchased a large oval from Seattle Pottery. Their
brand name is Crucible Kilns. I have been quite happy with their kiln and
with their customer service. I had done a bit of research myself into
what kind of kiln to buy. I could not get a Bailey (ConeArt) because it
drew too much electricity for the industrial studio I was in - although
that seemed like a great kiln. I spoke to several people who owned the
Crucible kiln who really liked them. It draws the same amount of
electricity as the Olympic oval - if that is also an issue for your
studio as it was for mine.
Seattle Pottery will add extra insulation in the lid and floor and also
walls if you want it. The lid of the kiln has a fiber gasket around it
which helps to keep the large oval lid from leaking. The only thing which
surprised me was that the lid with the extra insulation is quite heavy.
They sent me a diagram with the kiln of a pulley system (quite easy to
install....) and that makes opening the lid a breeze.
If you can get the controller...I highly recommend it. They recommend and
will install the Orton Kiln Vent with their ovals.
One of the nicest things about this kiln was that it was already in stock.
I received it a week and one half after ordering it. When I got it they
were having a sale and they included 3 layers of shelves and bricks in the
cost. Feel free to write me if you have any more questions. Meg
Original message:
I am researching electric oval kilns (aprox. 32"Wx42"Lx27"D) for the
....
Matt Courtney
claystdo@libertynet.org
Jim Connell or set clayart mail on fri 26 jul 96
WINTHROP UNIVERSITY Electronic Mail Message
Date: 26-Jul-1996 09:27am EDT
From: James Connell
CONNELLJ
Dept: Art and Design
Tel No: 323-2126
TO: SMTP%"CLAYART@lsv.uky.edu" ( _SMTP%"CLAYART@lsv.uky.edu" )
Subject: Re: Oval kilns
As my Mom always said "You get what you pay for" and if you buy the cheap kiln
it will fall apart a lot quicker than you expect. I hate to bash anyones
product but the university bought an Olympic oval right before I got here and it
has been a pain in the butt ever since. Whats wrong? Basically it is designed
poorly and made cheaply. The main problem is the lid. It is heavy which in
itself is understandable but the hinge system is awful and can't stand up to the
weight of the lid. The weight of the lid is supported by the thin sheet metal
and soft brick(what were they thinking of?). Our kiln is 7 years old and the
lid is cracked in half and the the back of the kiln where the hinge assembly
connect is crumbling apart.
If you are serious about an oval get one that has a stong hinge system and one
with a pulley or counter weight will be worth the extra money you spend.
Another factor to consider is to get a kiln that has elements in the floor.
Ovals are big and can be uneven in temp. Floor elements won't insure even
temps but the sure won't hurt.
Nothing last forever but I would expect a kiln to last more than 7 or 8 years.
I know the Olympic don't cost nearly what a Bailey cost but a little extra is
worth it.
ARTMOLIN@ACS.EKU.EDU on fri 26 jul 96
I'd like to add my 2 cents to the discussion on the oval kilns, and
more importantly agree with Jim about the Olympic oval kiln. We also
have them here at EKU and I find them to be made cheaply and therefore
have a shortened life span (keeping in mind the wear and tear from
school use!). But, I would like to add that they (Olympic) have changed
their hinge system on the oval and they are now much better. The old one
could not withstand the weight of the lid and the hinge part would
stiffen over the years and make opening difficult, plus cause craking in
the top ring from the tork when opening the lid. The new hinge is a
simple method of a free arm that clicks into place once open (much like
the hood of a car except the hook is at the bottom.) This is greatly
improved over the older ones, but the rest of the kiln remains the same.
Jim is correct about the oval kilns from Bailey (which I believe are
ConeArt kilns?), and you will certainly pay more for the better product.
Joe
*************************************************************
Joe Molinaro INTERNET: artmolin@acs.eku.edu
Department of Art BITNET: artmolin@eku
Eastern Kentucky University VOICE: (606) 622-1634
Richmond, KY 40475
*************************************************************
FARRERO on wed 15 jan 97
I am planning to purchase an oval kiln...any comments on Olympics, Cone art or o
lid problem.firing only to ^6. approx 40" x30" x 27".thank you all.
Susan Goldstein on thu 16 jan 97
Olympic is not a pleasant company to deal with if there should be problem or
if you need parts.
Margaret Arial on thu 16 jan 97
I used a friends olympic when I ran out of space on a commission a few years
back. It was great to load because of the breakdown but on one firing the
connection was bad due to imperfect alignment as far as we could tell and it
blew all the ware in that segment up. I hear you can save if you order direct
and pick it up ,but check around as that was awhile ago. Hope this helps.
Margaret Arial in chilly 20's Lexington, S.C.
Hertz Pottery on fri 17 jan 97
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I used a friends olympic when I ran out of space on a commission a few years
>back. It was great to load because of the breakdown but on one firing the
>connection was bad due to imperfect alignment as far as we could tell and it
>blew all the ware in that segment up.
Blowing up pots is the fault of the potter not the kiln!
everyone is looking to place blame when it is in the individual
Erik
I hear you can save if you order direct
>and pick it up ,but check around as that was awhile ago. Hope this helps.
>Margaret Arial in chilly 20's Lexington, S.C.
>
>
erik hertz
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