JoAnn Axford on sun 19 may 96
I would like some advice on raku kilns. Which is a better kiln, one made
out of an old top loading electric kiln, or the "top hat" kind made out of
metal mesh and fiber? Which fires faster, more evenly, or more efficiently?
Those people
using the "top hat" style kiln, What is the largest size one person could
lift without using a pulley system??? Does anyone have experience using the
fiber kind that has a door on it????
Thanks
for any information anyone can share with me. The approaching warm weather
has me thinking RAKU. JoAnn Axford, near Albany, N.Y.
BWINER@UKCC.uky.edu on sun 19 may 96
Joan Axford asked about raku kilns re types and usability. I have asked a
similar question and have not received too many answers. Most answers dealt wi
th building a kiln. I am not interested in building a kiln and would like to
hear from those of you who have a purchased kiln. I would like to know which
commercially available kilns have worked and which ones are recommended for
durability, ease of usage and any other useful parameters. Hopefully some of yo
u use commercial kilns and will respond. Thanks, Billy
Lori Wilkinson on sun 19 may 96
At 11:12 AM 5/19/96 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I would like some advice on raku kilns.
Jo Ann,
I have a top loading kiln and when I do it again it will be front loading so
I can close it with my knee or foot between extraction of pieces by myself.
I presently have a top loading that is nice for one piece or maybe two and
it takes two people to pull or extract the raku because all the heat is lost
when you lift the lid so you have to work fast. Problem being that when
you take the cover off the top loading kiln all the heat excapes and it
hits you in the face. The top hat is nice because it traps the heat
whereby your pieces do not cool so quickly and some of them can be operated
by just one person.
Good luck
Lori Wilkinson
Jon Lovejoy on tue 21 may 96
I have the wire mesh style of fibre kiln and fire one piece at a time. The
first firing takes about 1:15 and thereafter at about 45 min. each. My
pieces are fairly large and I prefer concentrating on post reduction one at a
time, so it works out great. I do not have a pulley system, but simply lift
off the "basket" when I get to temperature, setting it on the concrete slab
next to the kiln while I move the piece from kiln to can. The kiln is
approx. 2.5 feet wide & 3 feet high, and one person can easily and safely
fire and reduce with it. I've used several different kilns for raku and this
is by far my favorite.
Good luck and happy (& safe) firing!
Jon Lovejoy
BWINER@UKCC.uky.edu on wed 22 may 96
Jon, did you make your raku kiln or did you obtain it commercially. If
you have purchased, please let me know from where and what make. Thanks.
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