Robin Wolf on sun 1 apr 07
Lee,
Yes, it is very possible that I over reduced or over smoked.
I used a Bosch Oxygen sensor mounted in a carved out IFB just like I had
seen in CM and on some posts in these very archives. I was prowling around
the kiln like an expectant parent, everything seemed like the best firing
that I had ever accomplished. Peeping in the peep holes showed an unclear,
wavy interior. There were small wisps of smoke coming out of the edges of
the peep holes, the flame at the top flue was a good 2" long, and a solid
orange. The wares that were in this load had JAC Turquoise, Winnie Blue,
Patina Green, Johns Red, and Leach Temmoku are currently all grey and black,
smoked. I had one piece of Yangahira white that is still white, but just a
bit underdone. There was one piece that had Desert Sand glaze on it, and
it came out well developed. That is what makes me think that I had just
made cone 8. My cones were a 9 and a 10. The ^9 may have just the
slightest bend to it.
As a newbie in this, I am learning - lots! I just want to build UPWARDS on
this - the lateral moves tend to frustrate me.
Thank you - I do appreciate your thoughts on this.
Robin Wolf
Rt 2 Box 142W
Kingfisher, OK 73750
robinwolf@pldi.net
405.368.0919
Lee Love on mon 2 apr 07
Good luck Robin! A friend of mine fires a very simple lpg kiln here
in Japan. He is a student of Jerry Horning. He learned how to
"break rules" from Jerry. He built his own forced air burners from
plumbing fittings. His kiln is just a pile of softbricks with
corderite kiln shelves on top. He runs kiln posts over the top of
the last kiln shelves and then use these to hold up the two row of
shelves that makes the roof. Two burners go in the front, under
the first layer of shelves and then an opening in the roof at one end
serves as the flue exit. He puts a layer of fiberblanket on top of
the roof for insulation.
Could you just fire your kiln propane. Bigger burner if you need it?
Also, I visited the Hamada museum for the umpteenth time
last week. Looking at his enamel muffle kiln made me think of
something I have thought of in the past: I wonder if it would be
possible to put a muffle in an electric kiln? Could be something as
simple as stacking saggers with holes in the middle connecting them
and a hole in the bottom for the burner and a hole at the top for the
exhaust. You could introduce a flame into the muffle while
protecting it from the elements. It is just an idea.
I know several potters here in Japan who reduction fire in the
heavy glowbar electric kilns, by packing a sagger with charcoal and
putting it in the bottom of the kiln. It looks exactly like gas fired
reduction.
again Good luck!
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
http://potters.blogspot.com/
"To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts." -
Henry David Thoreau
"Let the beauty we love be what we do." - Rumi
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