PurpleLama@aol.com on fri 10 may 96
OBSESSION: It seems that I am becoming more and more fixated with getting a
raku kiln, so my questions are increasing as well. Hope you all don't mind.
Last Sunday was the last raku firing at Baltimore Clayworks with Sarah until
next October, so I am getting desperate. I don't think I can wait that long!
FURTHER RESEARCH: Last time I asked about using a small electric kiln. While
I got some positive responses from several ClayArters ( along with the
electrocution warnings), I didn't get as warm a response from some the
companies whose catalogues I have. One company, whose name I promised I would
not name, didn't want to quote me a price for an electric kiln because he
didn't want me to use it for raku. Based on several factors, my research is
now pointing me in the direction of a gas.
BRICK OR BLANKET: If I go with a gas (propane) kiln, what are the relative
plusses and minuses of brick vs a fiber blanket. I don't know whether I
will make it myself or buy one. I have seen both brick and fiber kilns in
catalogues. One blurb about a brick kiln says that it may be used for firings
up to cone 10, including reduction. I assume that the same cannot be said
about the kiln made with the fiber blanket?
PLACEMENT: How far should the kiln be from my house? I have a frame house
with asbestos shingles. I would like to fire on the cement patio which would
mean a max of 6 to 10 feet from the house. But then it would be right up
against the grass & that might be a problem? (I haven't been able to persuade
my partner that a sand pit in the middle of our back yard is very attractive.
Some people just have no taste!) Is there anything else that I could use
temporarily so that I could fire the kiln in the middle of the back yard
rather than on the patio? I know that there is some sort of plaster-board
type of stuff that people use on their walls next to pot bellie stoves. Would
that work?
TEMPORARY: No matter what I go with, the set-up will not be permanent. When
it cools off, I will store it in the garage.
SAFETY DO-HICKIES: There are two kilns which I am currently considering. One
offers an ignition ring-thermocouple safety shut-off as an option and the
other a Baaso safety system. For all I know, they may be the same thing.
Should I include this in my budget?
What about kiln shelves? What kind should I get?
Am I going to need to win the lottery to afford all of this?
TIA
Shula
Lori Wilkinson on fri 10 may 96
At 08:22 AM 5/10/96 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>OBSESSION: It seems that I am becoming more and more fixated with getting a
>raku kiln, so my questions are increasing as well. Hope you all don't mind.
>Last Sunday was the last raku firing at Baltimore Clayworks with Sarah until
>next October, so I am getting desperate. I don't think I can wait that long!
>
>FURTHER RESEARCH: Last time I asked about using a small electric kiln. While
>I got some positive responses from several ClayArters ( along with the
>electrocution warnings), I didn't get as warm a response from some the
>companies whose catalogues I have. One company, whose name I promised I would
>not name, didn't want to quote me a price for an electric kiln because he
>didn't want me to use it for raku. Based on several factors, my research is
>now pointing me in the direction of a gas.
>
>BRICK OR BLANKET: If I go with a gas (propane) kiln, what are the relative
>plusses and minuses of brick vs a fiber blanket. I don't know whether I
>will make it myself or buy one. I have seen both brick and fiber kilns in
>catalogues. One blurb about a brick kiln says that it may be used for firings
>up to cone 10, including reduction. I assume that the same cannot be said
>about the kiln made with the fiber blanket?
>
>PLACEMENT: How far should the kiln be from my house? I have a frame house
>with asbestos shingles. I would like to fire on the cement patio which would
>mean a max of 6 to 10 feet from the house. But then it would be right up
>against the grass & that might be a problem? (I haven't been able to persuade
>my partner that a sand pit in the middle of our back yard is very attractive.
>Some people just have no taste!) Is there anything else that I could use
>temporarily so that I could fire the kiln in the middle of the back yard
>rather than on the patio? I know that there is some sort of plaster-board
>type of stuff that people use on their walls next to pot bellie stoves. Would
>that work?
>
>TEMPORARY: No matter what I go with, the set-up will not be permanent. When
>it cools off, I will store it in the garage.
>
>SAFETY DO-HICKIES: There are two kilns which I am currently considering. One
>offers an ignition ring-thermocouple safety shut-off as an option and the
>other a Baaso safety system. For all I know, they may be the same thing.
>Should I include this in my budget?
>
>What about kiln shelves? What kind should I get?
>
>Am I going to need to win the lottery to afford all of this?
>
>
>TIA
>
>Shula
>
>For anyone interested in Raku or building a raku kiln I strongly suggest
reading Steve Branfman's Book RAKU A PRACTICAL APPROACH. It can be ordered
from : The Potter
shop, 31 Thorpe Rd., Needham Heights, MA 02194. Since each situation is
different, this book will help you get where you want to go and is very easy
reading with many illistrations.
There is no reason you cannot high fire in a fiber blanket kiln. Steve has
the instructions for one in his book that can be brought in and out for
firing. It has handles on the side. Check out the book for how to figure
burner size and different kiln building approaches. It also has receips for
glazes. Steve is on the list and I did have his address untill my computer
crashed last fall.
I am not affiliated with the above in any way. Just trying to pass on info
that saved me a lot of frustration. Isn't Clayart wonderful!
Lori Wilkinson
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