John McCain on wed 9 apr 97
In response to the question from Sylvia See (sylviac@telusplanet.net) "I
find my 100 lb bottles of propane frost up on me if I use too much
pressure to fire it too fast.", Nikom
(koratpot@korat.loxinfo.co.th) mentioned heating the propane bottle. We
suggest that you check with your local gas supplier about the pressure
regulator you are using. It may be that you can use a different (higher
or lower pressure) regulator and solve your problem.
John and Judy McCain
Palo Pinto Pottery
mccain@our-town.com
Michelle Campbell on fri 11 apr 97
Koratpot says:
If you're stupid, inattentive, and
rich, get a 500 gallon tank to fire your little toy kiln. That's safe
for sure. But if you're hip and have a limited budget, you can heat
gas tanks to great advantage.
!!!!!!!!
Hey, I'm not stupid or rich. I have a 500 gal tank for my toy raku kiln.
I remember all the fighting with propane bottles, the hose dripping, etc.
etc. Then when I moved to the country, and built my brick raku kiln, I
found out that rental of one of these big suckers is only $120/yr. Well
worth it for the cheaper cost of propane, the convenience of having a truck
come and fill it for me. When they charge you $10 a pop to fill those rinky
dink little bottles no matter how (un)empty they are, it doesn't take many
firings to pay for the rental. Now I run 2 torches off the same tank, and
have even and reasonably fast heat. NO complaints!
(except that someone up there doesn't know that this is SUPPOSED TO BE
SPRING! Seems like we're getting 8 months of winter up here!)
Just my .02
Mich
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Michelle Campbell
Lacka Creek Pottery
Drayton Valley, Alberta
Lackacreek@ccinet.ab.ca
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Marc Brackley on fri 11 apr 97
I used to high fire off of a 100 lb propane tank. To keep it from freezing,
all I did was drape the garden hose on the top so that a slow trickle of
water dripped onto the tank throughout the entire firing. It worked fine.
A better suggestion though is what I eventually did. Just order a 250
gallon tank from you gas supplier. From my supplier, the lease on such a
tank is only $57.00 a year. The gas company comes to you to fill it
instead of you having to lug a tank to them. And in my case, the company
sells to me at a reduced, industrial rate, since they are delivering, and
since the account is in a company name with a state tax exemption. The
large tank will not freeze up, even when I fire both kilns at the same
time.
Marc Brackley
Jane Wolters on fri 10 oct 97
My propane supplier wants me to exchange my 500 gal tank (rented from same
supplier) for a 250 gal. My kiln is a 27 cu ft downdraft: usually uses
about 40 gals per ^ 10 firing (!) Any problems with the smaller tanks?
Also: My old kiln used to use about 25 gals per firing, had to build a new
one beause I moved; same dimensions but old one was IFB inside, then fiber,
then 4" vermiculite, then cement blocks filled with more vermiculite
outside (very messy). New kiln (2 yrs) is IFB inside/ fiber/ lower temp IFB
outside. Also chimney is one layer of bricks closer to chamber; e.g. one
layer (4.5") between chimney and chamber. I am still learning to fire this
kiln; it is a lot different. Any suggestions?
A.D. on sun 12 oct 97
Well the smaller tanks are more likely to freez up. Other than that there
shouldn't be any problem
At 11:45 AM 10/10/97 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>My propane supplier wants me to exchange my 500 gal tank (rented from same
>supplier) for a 250 gal. My kiln is a 27 cu ft downdraft: usually uses
>about 40 gals per ^ 10 firing (!) Any problems with the smaller tanks?
>Also: My old kiln used to use about 25 gals per firing, had to build a new
>one beause I moved; same dimensions but old one was IFB inside, then fiber,
>then 4" vermiculite, then cement blocks filled with more vermiculite
>outside (very messy). New kiln (2 yrs) is IFB inside/ fiber/ lower temp IFB
>outside. Also chimney is one layer of bricks closer to chamber; e.g. one
>layer (4.5") between chimney and chamber. I am still learning to fire this
>kiln; it is a lot different. Any suggestions?
>
>
Marin Ceramic Supply on tue 14 oct 97
I have a question about propane tanks. I have a 30 cubicfoot hardbrick kiln
and am planning on firing it using two 25 gallon propane tanks. It has two
alpine blowers which are rated at 325,000 btu's each. Will I be able to
reach cone 10 with the two tanks, or do I need a 250 gallon tank.
Erik Owens
Marin Ceramics
ceramic@slip.net
At 09:46 AM 10/12/97 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Well the smaller tanks are more likely to freez up. Other than that there
>shouldn't be any problem
>
>At 11:45 AM 10/10/97 EDT, you wrote:
>>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>>My propane supplier wants me to exchange my 500 gal tank (rented from same
>>supplier) for a 250 gal. My kiln is a 27 cu ft downdraft: usually uses
>>about 40 gals per ^ 10 firing (!) Any problems with the smaller tanks?
>>Also: My old kiln used to use about 25 gals per firing, had to build a new
>>one beause I moved; same dimensions but old one was IFB inside, then fiber,
>>then 4" vermiculite, then cement blocks filled with more vermiculite
>>outside (very messy). New kiln (2 yrs) is IFB inside/ fiber/ lower temp IFB
>>outside. Also chimney is one layer of bricks closer to chamber; e.g. one
>>layer (4.5") between chimney and chamber. I am still learning to fire this
>>kiln; it is a lot different. Any suggestions?
>>
>>
>
>
chip parker on wed 15 oct 97
Marin Ceramic Supply wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I have a question about propane tanks. I have a 30 cubicfoot hardbrick kiln
> and am planning on firing it using two 25 gallon propane tanks. It has two
> alpine blowers which are rated at 325,000 btu's each. Will I be able to
> reach cone 10 with the two tanks, or do I need a 250 gallon tank.
>
> Erik Owens
> Marin Ceramics
> ceramic@slip.net
>
> At 09:46 AM 10/12/97 EDT, you wrote:
> >----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> >Well the smaller tanks are more likely to freez up. Other than that there
> >shouldn't be any problem
> >
> >At 11:45 AM 10/10/97 EDT, you wrote:
> >>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> >>My propane supplier wants me to exchange my 500 gal tank (rented from same
> >>supplier) for a 250 gal. My kiln is a 27 cu ft downdraft: usually uses
> >>about 40 gals per ^ 10 firing (!) Any problems with the smaller tanks?
> >>Also: My old kiln used to use about 25 gals per firing, had to build a new
> >>one beause I moved; same dimensions but old one was IFB inside, then fiber,
> >>then 4" vermiculite, then cement blocks filled with more vermiculite
> >>outside (very messy). New kiln (2 yrs) is IFB inside/ fiber/ lower temp IFB
> >>outside. Also chimney is one layer of bricks closer to chamber; e.g. one
> >>layer (4.5") between chimney and chamber. I am still learning to fire this
> >>kiln; it is a lot different. Any suggestions?
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
We fire a 60 cubic foot kiln with propane and use a 500 gal tank. You
need a large area inside the tank for the propane to vaporize and too
small will cause the tank to ice up and cool off the vaporization
process and stall the kiln. we started with a 250 and sized up to 500
to reach cone 10
Chip Parker, AIA
George Mackie on thu 16 oct 97
Erik I think you need the large tank. Given the drop in pressure as the
tank cools during firing you need an ample reserve. George
On Wed, 15 Oct 1997, chip parker wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Marin Ceramic Supply wrote:
> >
> > ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> > I have a question about propane tanks. I have a 30 cubicfoot hardbrick kiln
> > and am planning on firing it using two 25 gallon propane tanks. It has two
> > alpine blowers which are rated at 325,000 btu's each. Will I be able to
> > reach cone 10 with the two tanks, or do I need a 250 gallon tank.
> >
> > Erik Owens
> > Marin Ceramics
> > ceramic@slip.net
> >
> > At 09:46 AM 10/12/97 EDT, you wrote:
> > >----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> > >Well the smaller tanks are more likely to freez up. Other than that there
> > >shouldn't be any problem
> > >
> > >At 11:45 AM 10/10/97 EDT, you wrote:
> > >>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> > >>My propane supplier wants me to exchange my 500 gal tank (rented from same
> > >>supplier) for a 250 gal. My kiln is a 27 cu ft downdraft: usually uses
> > >>about 40 gals per ^ 10 firing (!) Any problems with the smaller tanks?
> > >>Also: My old kiln used to use about 25 gals per firing, had to build a ne
> > >>one beause I moved; same dimensions but old one was IFB inside, then fiber
> > >>then 4" vermiculite, then cement blocks filled with more vermiculite
> > >>outside (very messy). New kiln (2 yrs) is IFB inside/ fiber/ lower temp IF
> > >>outside. Also chimney is one layer of bricks closer to chamber; e.g. one
> > >>layer (4.5") between chimney and chamber. I am still learning to fire thi
> > >>kiln; it is a lot different. Any suggestions?
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> We fire a 60 cubic foot kiln with propane and use a 500 gal tank. You
> need a large area inside the tank for the propane to vaporize and too
> small will cause the tank to ice up and cool off the vaporization
> process and stall the kiln. we started with a 250 and sized up to 500
> to reach cone 10
>
> Chip Parker, AIA
>
mel jacobson on sat 21 aug 99
a good rule of thumb is to buy the biggest tank that you can afford.
i realize that yards, neighbors etc. must be considered, but why
have a 120 gallon tank that needs to be filled all the time, when
a 500 will serve you for years. (and rarely freeze up.)
at our farm we have two 500's and a 250. we can hook them in series
if need be.
(that is my millennium hook up if things go to hell.
throw grandma in the truck and head to the farm.)
in most places you have to pay about a dollar a gallon for a tank..
so, simple math, a thousand gallon tank will cost you a grand.
many propane companies will rent, lease, trade, or loan you a tank...depends
on how competitive your area is. talk to your propane people, get to know
them, tell them what you are doing...they are usually good people.
i posted before how i had to get the guy to come and see us fire...look
into the kiln....`jesu kristis, that sucker is really hot man!...now he
understands
why we need 15 lbs of pressure. he no longer argues with me. he no longer
installs pre-set house regulators....
i am a firm believer in using a good, new regulator...don't back off on that.
marc ward, nils will always tell you, use the regulator...automatic shut offs
and big pilots.
they work, and save lives.
mel/mn
http://www.pclink.com/melpots
from minnetonka, minnesota, u.s.a.
don hunt on tue 20 aug 02
Karen,
I think we swapped an email earlier, and you don't live near me (east
county of San Diego). The reason I mention it is that Amerigas
installed a 500 gallon propane tank for me at $1 per year lease. They
also installed both regulators for nothing. They also give me a
commercial rate on propane for both my kiln and house tank. The only
advise I have is to shop every propane dealer and let them all know your
shopping. Amerigas, incidentally was the only dealer I talked to who
said the magic words, " oh yea, we do that all the time" and not look at
me like I building a backyard creamatorium.
Don
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