Ditmar/Gayle on fri 7 mar 97
The ceramics dept. at our art center is looking into building a salt/soda
kiln. We would like some feedback or suggestions regarding materials. Hard
brick vs. soft, high alumina vs.ceramic fiber etc. Fuel efficiency is a
concern too. Tell us your experiences & horror stories with building your
kiln. Mahalo from Alohaland.
DH gaylecat@maui.net
Ric Swenson on sun 9 mar 97
-------reply-------
The salt kilns I have built (three) have been all high alumina hardbrick
gas fired downdrafts: catenary arch kilns or sprung arch type kilns. One
was built with a soft brick outside shell...and another had a fiber blanket
outside layer. My understanding of the salting process...and my
experience, is that the inside of the kiln builds up a layer of salt
glazing and is seasoned by several preliminary firings where the wares are
a bit on the light side of sodium build-up on the clay surface of the
pottery. I have not tried a fiber salt kiln...wonder how that would work
and how long the surface would hold up to the attack of the salt/soda.
My advice would be to Read up on the techniques and the potential health
and environmental risks BEFORE you commit to a salt kiln. There are real
issues to deal with there.
I'm sure there are potters out there with more experience..... I look
forward to hearing from them.
Ric Swenson, Bennington, VT
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>The ceramics dept. at our art center is looking into building a salt/soda
>kiln. We would like some feedback or suggestions regarding materials. Hard
>brick vs. soft, high alumina vs.ceramic fiber etc. Fuel efficiency is a
>concern too. Tell us your experiences & horror stories with building your
>kiln. Mahalo from Alohaland.
>DH gaylecat@maui.net
sam wainford on fri 14 mar 97
Ric Swenson wrote:
>
----------------------------Original message--------------------------
my
> experience, is that the inside of the kiln builds up a layer of salt
> glazing and is seasoned by several preliminary firings where the wares are
> a bit on the light side of sodium build-up on the clay surface of the
> pottery. I have not tried a fiber salt kiln...wonder how that would work
> and how long the surface would hold up to the attack of the salt/soda.
------------------------------------
Ric, Although I haven't used fiber for any of my salt kilns, I did try
using fiberboard for the sliding damper on one of them. It was easy to
cut to the exact size I needed and easy to slide, but it gave off a
sulfuric like odor at high temps and became quite brittle after one or
two firings(from the salt, I guess). I ended up casting a damper slide
to fit out of high alumina castable. Sam
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