SBRANFPOTS@aol.com on mon 28 oct 96
Gary Ferguson writes:
I am finally getting around to building a garbage can raku kiln. I am
wondering where the flue hole in the lid needs to go. Does it need to go
right in the middle or sould it be placed to one side so that a circular
air flow can be created?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------
To Gary and all who are wondering about the flue in a trash can raku kiln:
Cut the flue right in the middle of the top of the can. That is how you will
get even draft and an even firing chamber. Make the flue opening large as not
enough draft is the most common cause of a raku kiln not reaching temperature
or over-reducing. A large opening can always be made smaller by covering it!
Steven Branfman
John Ford on sat 2 jan 99
------------------
I am contemplating building a small trash can/ceramic fiber/propane raku =
kiln
and am thinking of purchasing a weed burner to use as the burner. I have =
heard
it can be a problem because it takes a long time to get the kiln to
temperature. Would this be a problem for a small one person trash can kiln?
=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F==
5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5=
F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F
More than just email--Get your FREE Netscape WebMail account today at
http://home.netscape.com/netcenter/mail
Nick Zappa on sun 3 jan 99
We use a" weed burner" in our Raku kiln and reach 1900 degrees in about 15
minutes. We are at 6500 ft. in elevation. A primary consideration is
keeping enough propane vapor to keep a temp climb going, especially after
several pieces have been fired. It's also important to make sure your flue
opening is large enough or it will stall. We keep 2 -20 LB and one 30 LB
bottle ready to use. Hope that helps. One more thing, "In the Art of
Firing" Nils Lou has a liquid propane burner that is extremely efficient as
well as safe with the safety controls. I would caution you to be VERY
CAREFUL with a "weed burner" because of the lack of safety features. Nick
Zappa
-----Original Message-----
From: John Ford
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Saturday, January 02, 1999 4:54 PM
Subject: Trash can raku kiln
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>------------------
>I am contemplating building a small trash can/ceramic fiber/propane raku
kiln
>and am thinking of purchasing a weed burner to use as the burner. I have
heard
>it can be a problem because it takes a long time to get the kiln to
>temperature. Would this be a problem for a small one person trash can kiln?
>
>_________________________
>5F________________________
>F_________________
>More than just email--Get your FREE Netscape WebMail account today at
>http://home.netscape.com/netcenter/mail
>
Stephen Mills on sun 3 jan 99
I've never had that problem, average time for a first firing is usually
about 35 minutes, 20/25 minutes thereafter. If you have flames coming
out of the flue hole, that'll slow it down 'cos you'll have a reducing
atmosphere in there. The Burner I use has a maximum output of 67,000 Btu
(19 kW) per hour @ 30 psi (that's flat out!) I never go above 8 psi in
my small drum (about 5 UK gallons capacity) or 12 psi in the big one
(approx. 30 gallons). The Fiberfrax lining in the small one is 1 inch
thick, the large one 2.5 inches thick (it also does cone 9 occasionally)
both are coated with Fiberfrax Rigidiser (w) to prevent blanket
degradation by the burner flame (and me breathing in ceramic fibre
dust!!!).
Pyromantics Rule OK!
Have fun
Steve
Bath
UK
In message , John Ford writes
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>------------------
>I am contemplating building a small trash can/ceramic fiber/propane raku =
>kiln
>and am thinking of purchasing a weed burner to use as the burner. I have =
>heard
>it can be a problem because it takes a long time to get the kiln to
>temperature. Would this be a problem for a small one person trash can kiln?
>
>=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F==
>5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5=
>F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F
>More than just email--Get your FREE Netscape WebMail account today at
>http://home.netscape.com/netcenter/mail
>
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
home e-mail: stevemills@mudslinger.demon.co.uk
work e-mail: stevemills@bathpotters.demon.co.uk
own website: http://www.mudslinger.demon.co.uk
BPS website: http://www.bathpotters.demon.co.uk
Karen Shapiro on sun 3 jan 99
Hi John,
I purchased a trash can raku kiln from a really nice guy in Florida who sells
them. He does the kaowool lining, cuts the flues, etc. and the price is the
same or lower than doing it yourself. If you're interested I can find his
name. He makes them with weed burners. My experience wasn't too great. I
ran my natural gas line out to my yard and used a venturi burner. I had
trouble getting it up to temp and since have bought a new (used, actually)
larger kiln. Two of my friends also bought kilns from him -- both using
propane. One friend does very well with it (actually tends to overfire -- her
fault -- but shows the possibilities); the other friend can't get it up to
temp.
Hope this info is of value to you.
Karen in Sonoma
Lana Reeves on mon 4 jan 99
Hi, I have a 30 gal. trash can raku kiln that I fire with a weed burner and
propane. I use 30 lb tanks because 20 lb seem to freeze up more easily, and=
40
lb is a bit heavy. I've never tried to get up to temperature in 15 minutes,=
but
I do get there in about 45 to 60. I candle for the first five minutes, then
turn it up fairly high for another ten, then crank it way up. =5BKeep an =
eye on
it to make sure you're not in reduction.=5D You have to leave the burner =
outside
of the opening to get enough oxygen to keep climbing. On windy days, I prop
pieces of broken kiln shelf on either side to keep the flames heading in the
right direction. If you want to do reduction in the kiln, push the end of =
the
burner just up to or a little into the kiln for about 5 minutes at the end.
Watch the flames coming out the flue, turn down the gas if they get too =
high.
It's such a tiny kiln that it's easy to over-reduce and get ugly, muddy =
colors.
Disadvantages: the kiln will only take 2 or 3 pots per firing, and it =
doesn't
fire very evenly. Advantages: light, portable and cheap. Definitely low =
tech.
Happy Firing.
Lana in Somerville, MA
kilnkat=40javanet.com
Stephen Mills on tue 5 jan 99
Lana,
Try setting the burner so that it circulates the flames round the kiln,
(clockwise in the northern hemisphere), and use a square shelf about 4
inches off the bottom to set the pots on. The circulating flames get
deflected into the pots by the shelf corners giving you a much more even
firing. My 30 UK gallon drum kiln uses one burner and square shelves,
giving me even firings with approximately half a cone difference top to
bottom. Cone 8 flat at the top, cone 9 over at the bottom.
Steve
Bath
UK
>Disadvantages: the kiln will only take 2 or 3 pots per firing, and it =
>doesn't
>fire very evenly. Advantages: light, portable and cheap. Definitely low =
>tech.
>
>Happy Firing.
>
>Lana in Somerville, MA
>kilnkat=40javanet.com
>
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
home e-mail: stevemills@mudslinger.demon.co.uk
work e-mail: stevemills@bathpotters.demon.co.uk
own website: http://www.mudslinger.demon.co.uk
BPS website: http://www.bathpotters.demon.co.uk
| |
|
